It’s 2025, and cell phone numbers are everywhere. We rely on them to register for websites and digital services whether it’s shopping, banking, social media, or healthcare. People also commonly use them to recover forgotten passwords and receive two-factor authentication codes for secure account access.
But if someone manages to steal your phone number, they can essentially impersonate you.
With control of your number, a hacker can begin accessing your online accounts and deceive automated systems into believing they’re you during customer service calls. In some cases, attackers can use a compromised number to infiltrate a company’s network, pose as an employee, and access confidential files and information.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect your phone number from SIM swapping a cyberattack where a hacker seizes control of your number. The upside? Safeguarding your number is now easier than ever.
How SIM Swap Attacks Hijack Your Phone Number
In a typical SIM swap attack, the hacker contacts your mobile carrier while pretending to be you. Using personal details found online like your name and birthdate they convince a customer service agent to transfer, or “port out,” your number to a new SIM card or carrier. Once the transfer is complete, your number is active on a device the hacker controls, giving them the ability to make calls and send or receive texts as though they were you.
In many cases, the only indication of a SIM swap attack is a sudden and unexplained loss of cell service.
These attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities in mobile carriers’ internal systems specifically, the ability of support staff to make changes to customer accounts without always verifying the customer’s consent.
To counter these social engineering tactics, major U.S. carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have rolled out new security measures designed to make it harder for attackers to fraudulently change account details, such as porting a number to a new SIM.
It’s worth taking a minute to review your carrier account these protections are often poorly advertised and might not be enabled by default.
AT&T
In July, AT&T introduced its free Wireless Account Lock security feature to help guard against SIM swap attacks. This feature lets customers add an extra layer of protection by enabling a setting that blocks any attempts to transfer a SIM card or phone number to another device or account. Account holders can activate it through the AT&T app or online portal. To keep your account secure, ensure it’s protected with a strong, unique password and multi-factor authentication.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile offers customers a free way to prevent SIM swaps and block unauthorized number port outs through their online account. To enable or disable this setting, the primary account holder must log in and make the changes directly.
Verizon
Verizon offers two security features SIM Protection and Number Lock that help block unauthorized SIM swaps and phone number transfers. Account owners or managers can enable both features through the Verizon app or online account portal. If either feature is turned off, Verizon imposes a 15-minute delay before any changes can be made, giving the legitimate user time to undo unauthorized activity.
Read the original article on: TechCrunch
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