A new ‘ultra-secure’ phone carrier says it can make you harder to track

Cape’s privacy-focused service comes with a pre-configured Android phone and aims to minimize data collection.

A new cell phone carrier is launching with an interesting pitch: it says it will offer secure cell service that limits how much personal data users give up, as reported earlier by 404 Media. The service, called Cape, is geared toward “high-risk” individuals like politicians, journalists, activists, and others.

Cape is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses UScellular’s network. But since it runs its mobile own core, Cape says it can control the technology powering the mobile network and “implement protections over what data enters and leaves your phone.” When signing up for the service, Cape says it will ask users for the “minimum amount of personal information” and will store it “for as little time as possible.”

The carrier currently pairs its service with a preconfigured Android phone that offers several privacy features, including the ability to hide a user’s location by changing the unique identifiers associated with their device. Cape can also rotate a phone’s mobile advertising ID, which could make it harder for companies to track users and serve targeted ads. It has protections against SIM swapping and SS7 attacks, which can intercept calls and text messages, as well.

“We can’t leak or sell data that we don’t have,” Cape’s FAQ page says. “What’s more, we utilize modern cryptography and authentication protocols to secure your account, ensuring that any data that does pass through our systems is protected with security measures of the highest standards.”

It’s too early to tell how well Cape works, but the concept seems attractive in a world with persistent data breaches and other security threats. The company previously offered its service to government officials, but now high-risk individuals can access it, too. Cape plans to make its features available to everyone early next year.