Cybersecurity

Your Cell Phone Is a Security Threat Hackers Can Use to Steal Your Accounts. Luckily, There's a Fix


If you're at all savvy about online security, you already know to be cautious about sharing personally identifiable information. You think twice before you post your birth date to social media, or tell people your street address or your mother's maiden name.

But there's one piece of personal information you can't avoid giving out--your mobile phone number. Without it, no one would be able to contact you. Whenever you buy anything online, subscribe to a new service, meet a new friend, or sign up for any kind of text notification, it's something you inevitably share.

It turns out that, in the wrong hands, that simple piece of information can be used to steal your identity and take over nearly every online account you have. And it's surprisingly easy for hackers to do just that in a simple two-step process:

Step 1: A hacker who's found out your cell phone number and one or two other bits of information, such as your address and date of birth, contacts your mobile carrier provider claiming to be you. The hacker tells your carrier to "port out" your number to a different phone--one in the hacker's possession. If your provider asks questions such as your address and date of birth to confirm this is you, the hacker will answer them correctly. Soon the hacker has switched your phone and is able to receive calls and texts intended for you. (You will probably continue receiving calls and texts as well, so you may have no idea that anything has changed.)