One possible protection from this data collection is a burner phone. The idea is that cops, or other actors, are unlikely to be tracking a fresh burner phone in real time. Anonymity is the goal.”Using a burner phone may seem like overkill, and it takes money, time, and some know-how to actually use them effectively. This guide talks about burner phones that meet the strict definition, as well as “alternative” phones, or altphones, that apply many of the same concepts of burner phones but don’t offer the same degree of anonymity. Unless you are actively hiding your existence or residence, you likely do not need to regularly use burner phones.