According to the report „Digital 2024 Global Overview Report“ prepared by the Kepios company, the number of unique mobile subscribers worldwide has reached 5.65 billion and has a growing trend in the years to come. This data shows that the majority of the world’s population has at least one phone number.
The mobile phone number has evolved into an important factor for personal identification, almost completely supplanting traditional identification documents (eg ID cards) when logging into numerous online services, from social networks to banking applications. Phone cards with associated numbers are so integrated into users’ digital identities that losing control over them opens the door to unauthorized access to important personal and financial data. Therefore, the protection of telephone connections becomes crucial for preserving the digital well-being of users, and Kaspersky experts share some useful tips in this regard.
Safety after losing your phone and SIM card
Losing or stealing a phone together with a SIM card brings a lot of stress, not only because of the loss of a personal device, but also a risk to the user’s digital security. Since SIM cards can easily be switched to another phone, the absence of PIN protection makes personal accounts associated with that phone number vulnerable to unauthorized access.
In such cases, the first step should be to contact the mobile operator as a service provider, with a request to block the SIM card. After the SIM card in the lost device is deactivated, the danger of its misuse no longer exists. The next step after blocking is to download a new SIM card with the same phone number.
For e-SIM users, the process involves contacting the service provider with a request to deactivate the SIM card on the lost device and set it up on the new device. These proactive measures help minimize the impact of a loss and effectively protect personal data.
Safe management of phone number changes
When the need arises to switch to a new number, whether due to persistent spam calls, scam calls or unwanted attention, it is crucial to manage the process thoughtfully. The existing phone number is likely used as a username or account recovery option for various important services, including social networks and banking applications.
Mobile operators often return numbers to use after 90 days and assign old numbers to new users. If the accounts associated with a certain number are not transferred, the new owner could potentially access them, putting personal information at risk.
It is recommended not to rush during this process. The safest option is to secure a new number to begin with, and keep the old one active. This overlap period is essential to unobtrusively separate the order from the previous number. Usage password manager can be very useful during this phase: it can help identify services that use the number as a login credential. In addition, reviewing the history of incoming SMS messages for verification codes can provide clues about which services need to be updated.
SIM card download
SIM download scams begin when fraudsters have collected enough personal information needed to impersonate. These data are often obtained through phishing, i.e. by sending fake emails that look like those from mobile operators, in which they ask for personal data on fake websites, or via phishing, i.e. calls in which they pose as representatives of mobile operators and trick users into revealing sensitive information.
Once they collect the name, address and ID number, the fraudsters can get the mobile operator to change the phone number to a new SIM card they control. This allows them to intercept all messages sent to that number, such as one-time passwords, allowing fraudsters access to financial and personal accounts. Victims usually don’t realize they’ve been scammed until they lose carrier service or notice strange activity on their accounts.
To protect yourself from these scams, it is recommended that you be wary of emails and calls that ask for personal information or encourage quick action. Verify any suspicious communication by contacting the service provider directly through official channels. If SIM card hijacking is suspected, contact your carrier immediately to secure your account and monitor your account statements for unauthorized transactions. Adding a unique PIN code or password for account changes with a mobile operator also improves protection, while enforcement comprehensive solutions for cyber security helps protect against interactions with websites that aim to obtain sensitive user data.
“In today’s interconnected world, phone numbers have become one of the most important personal identifiers, like a digital fingerprint. It is very important to approach phone number security with utmost care. By recognizing abuse risks and potential problems, we can protect ourselves from significant future trouble and loss. Moreover, vigilance combined with modern cyber security solutions makes for a solid defense against various threats,” comments Ana Larkina, web content analysis expert at Kaspersky.
E2 portal
Source: www.e2.rs
