The first time you heard of a burner phone—a cheap prepaid mobile intended for temporary use—was probably while watching a crime drama. But an extra cell phone comes in handy even when you operate on the right side of the law.

A second number can help you stay safe while chatting with strangers online, establish a business, and protect your privacy. And these days, you don't need a second phone to have a burner. Several apps make it easy to put a second (or third or fourth) number on the same phone.

Why you need a second number

Burners have two main benefits: They're temporary, and they're largely anonymous. So a second number will be useful in any scenario where you need one or both of those things.

Think about any one-time occasion when people might have to text you or call you, but you don't really want to give out your main number. If you're organizing a wedding, going to a festival, or helping arrange any kind of local event, you'll need to get in touch with lots of new contacts...but you might not want to give them your personal information.

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