Cybersecurity Tip of the Week – Your Phone Number Is a Digital Key

Most people think of their phone number as a way to make calls and send texts, but today it serves as a key to many of their online accounts. Banks, email providers, social media platforms, and shopping sites often use phone numbers for account recovery and multi-factor authentication. Because of this, cybercriminals increasingly target phone numbers through scams such as SIM swapping, where they convince a mobile carrier to transfer your number to a device they control. Once they have your number, they may be able to intercept security codes and gain access to your accounts. Protect yourself by adding a PIN or passcode to your mobile carrier account. Be cautious about sharing your phone number publicly. Treat your phone number like any other sensitive piece of personal information; it can unlock far more than just your phone.