Hidden Dangers of Phone Number Changes

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Changing your phone number could cost you personal data.

Specialists from Positive Technologies have found that nearly every second phone number has already been used to register for various online services. Moreover, one-third of these numbers are still linked to active accounts, which poses security risks for their new owners. The study analyzed 38 out of 80 popular applications, including social networks, online stores and delivery services. The tests were conducted using SIM cards purchased through both official and unofficial channels, including "white", "gray" and virtual numbers.

It was discovered that 43% of SIM cards had previously been used to create accounts and 37% had active accounts. The greatest danger lies in the potential for unauthorized access to other people's accounts, especially on trading platforms, although bank accounts were found to be protected from such access. Researchers also noted that some mobile operators don't adequately protect information about previous owners of the numbers, increasing the risk of personal data leaks. Experts recommend that users be particularly cautious when changing their phone numbers and use additional authentication methods, such as email or code-generating apps, to ensure the security of their online accounts.