Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst. Update, Jan. 25, 2025: This story, originally published Jan.

Online verification has become a big part of how we stay safe and private on the web. Every app, website, or service now wants to confirm you’re real. But giving out your personal number can be risky.

You can’t sign up for Telegram without a number entirely, but you can avoid your personal one in four ways: use a virtual number (like Google Voice), a temporary/burner number, a disposable SMS ...

What is phone number spoofing? Phone spoofing is when scammers get control of your phone number. They can then use your phone number to steal your data or use it to target other people. Instead of a ...