Level Up Your Phone Security: Cybersecurity Co. Issues New Phone Number Guidelines

Leaders of a global cyber security major have published a guide for Pakistani mobile phone users outlining the means for the security of their identity, particularly their personal and financial details.

Thus, while Kepios’ “Digital 2024 Global Overview Report” reveals that there are now 5. 65 billion unique global mobile phone users. This means that majority of the people have at least one phone number, a factor that keeps on increasing every year. Kaspersky expert identified concerns and obligations regarding managing the phone line, as well as protective measures to consider in case of numbers’ compromise.

Having lost a phone with the SIM card this can be very unpleasant, the SIM at anytime can be transferred to another phone. If a phone number is connected to a person’s personal accounts and there is no protection by means of a PIN number, then these accounts can become vulnerable. The security company Kaspersky specifically suggests to block the SIM card and get a new one immeditely with the same number.

As people change their phone number for example due to spam, scam or unpleasant attention, they have to do it wisely. This is due to the fact that the current number often is a login name or the recovery code for many online platforms, starting with social networks and ending with banking applications. Mobile carriers invariably reuse the number and if there are other accounts attached to the said number and they are not updated then the new owner might get into these accounts and there is risk to one’s privacy.

It is advised to forward the newly created number and maintain the old one active while porting to a new number. When employing a password manager, it becomes easier to identify the various services in which that number is used as the password, hence enable the change to be made securely.