Protect Your Phone Number: Essential Steps to Prevent SIM Swap Attacks
SIM swap attacks target your mobile phone number, allowing criminals to hijack your calls and texts. These cybercrimes have surged 400% in recent years, making carrier security settings crucial for protection.
Hackers execute SIM swaps by convincing your wireless carrier to transfer your phone number to their device. Once successful, they intercept two-factor authentication codes for banking, email, and social media accounts. The Federal Trade Commission reports victims lose an average of $5,000 per attack.
Major carriers now offer enhanced security features to combat this threat. Verizon’s Number Lock prevents unauthorized SIM changes, while T-Mobile requires additional verification steps. AT&T implemented similar protections after facing multiple lawsuits from affected customers.
Security experts recommend activating carrier-specific locks immediately. Create unique PINs for account access and avoid using easily guessed information like birthdays or addresses. Enable account notifications for any SIM-related changes.
Additional protection includes using authenticator apps instead of SMS for two-factor authentication. Google Authenticator and similar applications generate codes locally, bypassing phone number vulnerabilities entirely.
Contact your carrier’s customer service to enable these protections today. Most security features are free and take minutes to activate. Proactive steps now can prevent thousands in potential losses later.
SIM swap prevention requires vigilance, but these carrier tools provide essential first-line defense against increasingly sophisticated phone number theft attempts.
