PROTECT YOUR PHONE NUMBER
Sign up using a fake phone number
Lots of websites now ask you to provide your phone number when you sign up for an account. In some cases, this is understandable - for example, so an online store can contact you about your order - but often the only reason is to take your personal data. It’s especially annoying when an asterisk indicates that you have to enter your phone number to complete the registration process.
The easiest solution is to make up a phone number, or use a fake-data tool to generate one, but you run the risk of accidentally entering a valid number and linking its owner to your account. To avoid compromising your privacy and that of an unsuspecting stranger, you can grab a fake phone number from ‘UK phone number generator’ ( www.snipca. com/40313). This free online tool generates landline and mobile numbers that begin with 01632 and 0770 - codes that Ofcom recommends for use in TV and radio shows because phone networks can’t allocate them to customers. It also offers local (non-allocated) numbers for major UK cities.
One obstacle to using a fake phone number when signing up with a website is that you may need to activate your account by entering a verification code you receive by text message. You can beat this by using a free site such as Temporary Phone Number ( www.snipca.com/40315 - see screenshot below) or Receive SMS Online ( www.snipca.com/40316), which provide fake UK phone numbers and let you access the relevant ‘inbox’ to get the code you need. These inboxes are public, which means you can view other people’s messages, but because confirmation texts contain only codes and no account information, they won’t jeopardise your security. However, because the phone numbers are disposable, you shouldn’t use them for two-factor authentication, which requires a permanent number that’s linked to your account.
Withhold your number in mobile calls
It’s sometimes desirable to conceal your mobile number from the person or company you’re calling. For example, you might want stop a company taking your number for marketing purposes, report something anonymously to the authorities or ensure you’re not called back at an inconvenient time.
As on a landline phone, the easiest way to withhold your number for a single call on a mobile phone is to press 141 before dialling. Or, if you’re on the ID Mobile network, type #31#. To preserve your anonymity for all your calls, you can tweak your phone’s settings to hide your caller ID. On an Android phone, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner and choose Settings. Select ‘Call settings’ - this option may also be named Calls, Supplementary Services or ‘Calling accounts’ - then tap ‘Additional settings’ (you may need to select your network on certain phones). Press ‘Caller ID’ and choose ‘Hide number’ (see screenshot left).
On an iphone, simply open Settings, choose Phone and untick Show My Caller ID.
Set up a ‘burner’ phone number
Some companies (and people) won’t accept calls from withheld ‘private’ numbers, so if you hide your caller ID you won’t get through. To get around this problem, you can use a disposable ‘burner’ phone number to avoid revealing your real one. Burner numbers also let you receive calls privately, by forwarding them to your main number.
There are lots of free apps offering temporary phone numbers, but most either don’t work or have dubious privacy policies, so you’re better off paying for a trustworthy service. Most providers are Us-based, but Hushed ( https://hushed. com) also covers the UK, and is available for Android ( www.snipca.com/40319) and IOS ( www.snipca.com/40320) - even on tablets, if you call over Wi-fi. Install the app, grant it the permissions it needs, then sign up with Hushed and tap the Add Number button (see screenshot 1 below left). Select ‘United Kingdom’, then Mobile and choose a disposable phone number (see screenshot 2 below). Plans cost from £2.59 for seven days’ use, which includes 20 minutes of talk time or 60 text messages, and can be topped up with extra credits. Sadly, the three-day free trial is only available to US and Canadian users. Once your burner number is active, you can make and receive calls anonymously using the Hushed app.