One Simple PIN That Could Save Your Mobile Data From A Major Breach

February 2, 2021

One Simple PIN That Could Save Your Mobile Data From A Major Breach

One Simple PIN That Could Save Your Mobile Data From A Major Breach



Think about all the systems your mobile device is tied to. You may use mobile banking apps, different email apps for personal or work-related communication, and different social media networks for example. 


All of the personal information, company data, and other sensitive files on your devices are more easily accessible to cybercriminals than you may think. If a cybercriminal were able to get a hold on information like your birthday, SIN number, home address, or other private information, they could use it against you.


Recently, cybercriminals have been calling phone network providers pretending that they are you and asking for access to your account. Due to the lack of security from these providers, with a simple fact such as your birthday, a cybercriminal can gain access to your mobile account, block your access to it, and use your phone number without you knowing.



Although this could easily happen to you, it doesn’t have to. 



Here’s What You Can Do



  1. Set up a PIN between you and your mobile provider


Call your mobile provider and ask to set up a PIN to gain access to your mobile account. Do this before a cybercriminal does on your behalf. Make sure your PIN is something only you would know and do not use your birthday, home address, or any other fact about yourself as a cybercriminal might know this.



  1. Ensure your passwords on all systems are unique and changed often


If a cybercriminal were to get into your device or steal access to your phone number, they could easily get into your apps and other systems if your passwords are weak. To add an extra layer of security, ensure all of your passwords on apps and other systems are strong and changed every 6 months.



  1. Try out a multi-factor authentication (MFA) app


For another added layer of security, try out a multi-factor authentication (MFA) app. This is much more secure than SMS-based 2-factor authentication that you may be used to. Head over to an official app store and try out the Google or Microsoft authenticator app as they are proven to be more secure.