ULPT request: How to get a WhatsApp messages without installing WhatsApp to you own number
Posted by RRautamaa@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 9 comments
Long story short, an organization basically tries to force me to communicate with them with WhatsApp. I'd rather not give Zuckerberg a single shred of my personal info. I need to fight the unethical with unethical. How can I set up a WhatsApp account so that it's not actually mine?
unpretentious@reddit
Depends where you are in the world but in some countries a cheap sim (or burner I guess as it’s called in America) will allow you to get WhatsApp. From that point even if you don’t use that sim it will be connected for at least a few months if not longer even after that sim dies. So essentially just set up WhatsApp once using a disposable sim and you can use the WhatsApp for a while.
Gypsyfella@reddit
I don't think it's possible, I believe it needs to be linked to a mobile phone number.
Buy a cheap burner phone.
RRautamaa@reddit (OP)
Where does that info go if I use a separate SIM? I can get then quite easily.
Bubbly_Comparison776@reddit
One thing I know that works is a Google Voice number. Google Voice is free but requires your real number to give you another VOiP number. You can then use that Google Voice number to sign up for WhatsApp. If you care for privacy just make a burner Google account that doesn't use your real info. I did this last year for WhatsApp and it worked, not sure if it's changed by now but it's an easy thing to try.
Gypsyfella@reddit
Not sure, sorry.
Someone more knowledgable than me will need to chime in...
pitshands@reddit
Most burner numbers don't work, but there are specialized services that supply one time numbers that do work
mktmaria@reddit
Get an eSIM
Effective_Talk_5246@reddit
Can't you just get a prepaid sim for one month and use that number? But if you lose the phone or something happens then you no longer have access to WhatsApp...
ablativeyoyo@reddit
You can create an Android emulator on a PC and install WhatsApp on that. Possibly use a burner SIM for sign up.