What to Do When Your Phone Number Is Exposed in a Data Breach

You could become the next target of spam calls, smishing, and identity theft if your phone number is exposed in a breach. In such a case, it’s crucial to take immediate preventive steps to minimize the damage data breaches could cause to your privacy while monitoring your personal information to prevent future exploitation on the dark web. 

5 Immediate Steps to Take if Your Phone Number Is Exposed in a Data Breach

Keeping your data safe is essential. In case your personal details appear in a breach, you must immediately verify the breach details from the company or organization involved and then take the following preventive steps:

1. Change Associated Passwords and PINs

If your phone number is linked to any online accounts, change your passwords immediately.  Also, update your PINs along with other ways of authentication. 

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Wherever possible, activate 2FA on your accounts. Avoid SMS-based 2FAs as they could be vulnerable to SIM swapping. Instead, opt for authentication apps or even security keys. 

3. Monitor Your Accounts

Monitor your bank statements, credit card activity, and other online accounts for any suspicious activity. 

4. Be Wary of Unknown Calls and Texts

Be extremely cautious of unknown calls or text messages that ask for personal information. Avoid clicking on links and attachments from unknown senders.

5. Inform Your Phone Provider

Contact your phone provider to report the breach. Moreover, you can request additional security measures, such as account verification codes that warn you of any SIM swapping attempts and prevent unauthorized access.

5 Risks to Know If Your Phone Number Is Exposed in a Data Breach 

In case your phone number is leaked in a data breach, it's essential to be aware of it as you could become a target of:

1. Increased Smishing and Spam

Data breaches often expose phone numbers to spammers who could use them for smishing and phishing attempts. You may experience a sudden rise in unwanted texts and calls attempting to trick you into revealing sensitive information.

2. Targeted Social Engineering

Your phone number, combined with other sensitive data, could be used to create highly convincing social engineering attacks, potentially leading to long-term damages such as financial and identity fraud.

3. Account Recovery Vulnerability

Many online services use phone numbers for account recovery. If your number is compromised, hackers could attempt to recover your accounts, even without your password.

4. SIM Swapping Attempts

Data breaches can provide criminals with enough information to attempt SIM swapping. They can easily impersonate you and convince your mobile carrier to transfer your number to a new SIM card that's under their control.

5. Exposure to the Dark Web

Your phone number, when combined with other breached data, can be used to create detailed profiles about you. These profiles, if sold on the dark web, would result in your data being exploited multiple times.

How to Minimize Damage During Data Breaches

If your phone number is compromised in a data breach, you need to act swiftly!

Cybercriminals waste no time exploiting stolen data, and if you do not act quickly, you could risk becoming their next target. 

All your private data, including personal accounts, passwords, SSN, and other sensitive data, is at risk of being used for malicious or fraudulent purposes, damaging your online reputation. To prevent your data from being sold and exploited multiple times on the dark web, you must use a dark web monitoring service.

How Does Dark Web Monitoring Work?

PureVPN's Dark Web Monitoring protects your most critical data by:

• Continuously scanning dark web marketplaces, forums, and networks for breached data.
• Detecting compromised email addresses, phone numbers, and other sensitive information.
• Sending timely notifications and actionable security recommendations to prevent exploitation of your digital assets.

Currently, PureVPN is offering a free Dark Web Exposure Scan to see if your email has been compromised.

Discover if Your Most Critical Identifiers Have Been Exposed on the Dark Web

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Enable PureVPN's Dark Web Monitoring

Here's how you can use Dark Web Monitoring and take action before it is too late:

1. Install or update the PureVPN app on your device.
2. Visit the Members Area to get access to Dark Web Monitoring.
3. Select Dark Web Monitoring from the main menu.

4. Select Add Assets to Monitor.

5. Enter the details you want to monitor, such as your email, SSN, credit card number, passport number, and phone number.

6. Verify by entering the code sent to your registered number, and you’re done.

7. Take the recommended steps if your data is part of a breach. 

8. You can mark the breaches as resolved. Mark breaches as resolved once they are addressed.

Interesting Reading

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• Social Security Number is Found on the Dark Web
• Credit Card Info is Found on the Dark Web
• Username is Found on the Dark Web

Use Dark Web Monitoring to Get Alerts About Information Leaks

Your personal information is a target for hackers and scammers, that will ruin your online identity and finances.

Imagine losing your hard-earned money, your reputation, and your peace of mind to a cybercriminal.

With PureVPN, you can scan the Dark Web 24/7 and receive alert notifications whenever someone posts your private information (Email Address, Phone Number, Credit Card Number, SSN, Passport Number). Get instant Dark Web Alerts and the power to stop data breaches dead in their tracks.

Get Dark Web Alerts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Should I worry if my phone number is on the dark web?

  

  You should be concerned but shouldn’t panic. While there may not be immediate consequences, your vulnerability to dark web exploitation would increase significantly. Your phone number could be used for targeted attacks, social engineering scams, and SIM-swapping attempts.

• What happens if your phone number gets leaked?

  

  If your phone number is leaked, you may experience a rise in spam calls and text messages. Over time, you could be targeted for other cyber intrusions, such as identity theft and more.

• Should I change my phone number after a data breach?

  

  You don’t always need to change your number immediately. However, if you’ve been a victim of SIM swapping or other serious phone-related fraud, then changing your number may be the best option. Otherwise, you can enable stronger security measures like multi-factor authentication and account monitoring.

• Can a hacker do something with just your phone number?

  

  Yes. Hackers can use your phone number for several crimes, such as smishing, SIM swapping, social engineering scams, and identity fraud. It can be combined with other leaked data to gain unauthorized access to your online accounts.

Wrap Up

Sensitive information like your name, address, SSN, and phone number must remain strictly private. If you’ve been affected by a data breach, take swift action and prioritize preventive security measures to strengthen your cybersecurity defenses.