The application is generally directed to transmitting and receiving signals in a fashion that can mask the presence of the signals by including timing information in the signals using artifacts in a carrier signal. For example, one embodiment includes a method of transmitting a signal in a way to mask the presence of the signal or to reduce the ability of external entities to extract data from the signal. The method includes accessing a data signal. A phase of the data signal is correlated to a phase of a substantially continuous carrier signal carrying the data signal. The substantially continuous carrier signal carrying the data signal with the phase of the data signal correlated to the phase of the substantially continuous carrier signal is transmitted to a receiver, such that the data signal can be extracted by using phase correlation between the data signal and the substantially continuous carrier signal.