Preventing SMS/Phone Hijacking of Account?

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UncleAdolf

Power Member

Oct 30, 2021

650

145

• Jul 13, 2022

• #1

If I use a throwaway SMS/Phone service to register an account that I will only be using from a desktop computer (not a phone), and the phone number gets recycled later, the new owner of the phone number can easily gain control over my account that is registered to that number, no? How can I prevent this, without retaining the phone number, as I intend for it to be a throwaway number? Thanks.

 

ViP

Regular Member

Nov 28, 2006

227

137

• Jul 13, 2022

• #2

Do not use a "throwaway" SMS service. You won't be able to recover your account if anything happens
Get a real sim card and use it. Never ever leak phone number and nobody would be able to "sim swap"

 

4ry4n

Power Member

Dec 25, 2021

650

450

• Jul 13, 2022

• #3

Some platforms allow changing from a phone number to a user name login which will stop the old Sim from being the key to the account. Such as Telegram.

 

TelegramDominator

Power Member

Nov 22, 2018

669

372

• Jul 13, 2022

• #4

You did not specify which account exactly, if you are talking about a telegram account then you can set a 2fa its a second password

 

Moonshots

Registered Member

Jun 28, 2022

77

28

• Jul 13, 2022

• #5

But what are the odds the new owner of the sim would come across the account??

I'd say it'd virtually impossible.

 

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UncleAdolf

Power Member

Oct 30, 2021

650

145

• Jul 14, 2022

• #6

Moonshots said:

But what are the odds the new owner of the sim would come across the account??

I'd say it'd virtually impossible.

Click to expand...

Couldn't they just go to IG, enter the number for the account, and request a reset password or something?

 

ReaL_GainZ

Senior Member

Jun 2, 2021

851

341

• Jul 14, 2022

• #7

Don't use a throwaway number from a verification website.
Instead, buy a cheap prepaid sim card, and use that to verify your instagram in case it gets lost, you may recover it.

Sim jackers won't have your phone number and since websites are aware of sim jackers they won't share it when recovering the password (most of the time, not sure).

 

proxygo

Elite Member

Executive VIP

Jr. VIP

Nov 2, 2008

55,810

25,114

• Jul 14, 2022

• #8

Common targets of SIM hacking:​

• High-earners
• Social media influencers
• Popular gaming channels
• The elderly

Cybersecurity tips for avoiding SIM hijacking​

1. Understand how SIM hijacking works
2. Add a PIN to your phone account
3. Change to a 2FA app
4. Don’t put personal information online
5. Don’t open phishing emails
6. Remove your phone number from your accounts
7. Know how to respond