Tag: number

Why You Should Buy a Disposable SMS Number Secure Your Privacy with Ease

In today’s digital age, protecting your privacy has become more important than ever. With data breaches, spam, and unwanted marketing calls on the rise, many users are searching for ways to keep their personal information secure. A disposable SMS number is one of the most effective solutions to this problem.

In this article, we’ll explore what a disposable SMS number is, how it works, and why you should consider using one. Plus, I’ll show you where to get one and how to make the most of it.

What Is a Disposable SMS Number?

A disposable SMS number is a temporary phone number that can receive text messages. It functions just like a regular number but is often used for short-term purposes. These numbers are especially useful for situations where you don’t want to share your personal phone number but still need to receive SMS.

Think of it as a temporary email address you might use for signing up for a new service to avoid spam in your main inbox. Once you no longer need it, you can stop using it, protecting your real number from unwanted texts or calls.

Why Use a Disposable SMS Number?

There are countless reasons why using a disposable SMS number can be incredibly beneficial. Let’s break down a few of the most common use cases:

1. Online Verification

Many websites require phone number verification through one-time passwords (OTPs) for added security. But do you really want to give out your personal number to every service? By using a virtual number for OTP, you can complete the verification process without exposing your private information.

2. Signing Up for Free Trials

We’ve all been there – signing up for a service that promises free trials, only to forget to cancel, resulting in surprise charges. Using a disposable number lets you keep track of trial services without using your actual number.

3. Maintaining Privacy

Imagine you’re selling something online. Sharing your personal number with buyers might not feel secure, especially if you’re posting on public platforms. A disposable number keeps your real phone number out of the picture, ensuring your privacy is protected.

How Does It Work?

Buying a disposable SMS number is straightforward. Services like www.freeje.com offer easy access to temporary numbers. Here’s how the process generally works:

  1. Choose Your Country: Disposable numbers can be chosen from various countries, allowing you to select a region that fits your needs.
  2. Pick Your Plan: These numbers usually come with flexible plans – pay-per-use or a subscription for long-term use. You only pay for the duration you need it.
  3. Use It for SMS Verification: Once you’ve purchased the number, use it for whatever verification or communication you need. After the task is done, you can dispose of the number or keep it for future use.

Just like disposable cups are handy when you don’t want to wash dishes after a party, disposable SMS numbers are great for avoiding spam or excessive communication.

Practical Ways to Use a Disposable SMS Number

If you’re still unsure about how to integrate disposable numbers into your routine, here are some examples of where they can be helpful:

  • Social Media Accounts: Platforms like Instagram or Facebook often ask for phone verification. If you don’t want them to keep your personal number in their database, a disposable number does the trick.
  • Classified Ads: When selling items on websites like Craigslist, a temporary number gives you a layer of privacy, reducing the chances of getting spammed after the deal is done.
  • Dating Apps: For those who prefer keeping their personal life separate from their phone number, using a disposable SMS number for dating apps is a great solution.

Long-Term Security and Convenience

Many people believe disposable numbers are only useful for short-term purposes. However, they can also serve long-term needs. If you run a business, you may want to separate different areas of your work life – for example, having a separate line for customer inquiries without giving out your personal phone number.

Moreover, they are perfect for travel. If you’re in a foreign country and need a local number to receive messages or verify accounts, disposable SMS numbers are a convenient option.

Final Thoughts: The Smart Way to Protect Your Privacy

A disposable SMS number provides a smart, easy, and affordable way to protect your privacy and streamline communication. From online signups to selling products, there are numerous applications where having a temporary number can make a big difference.

Next time you need a quick solution for receiving texts without revealing your personal number, consider purchasing a virtual number for OTP. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your privacy is intact.

SIM swapping: when your cell phone number is used for fraud

SIM swapping is a type of fraud in which criminals take control of a cell phone’s SIM card. Find out here what the consequences can be and how you can protect yourself.

In SIM swapping, criminals manipulate mobile phone providers to transfer the victim’s phone number to a SIM card that is in the possession of the fraudsters. In this way, you yourself are locked out of your cell phone and no longer have access to your own data. You will lose passwords as well as your saved performance at National Casino Ireland.

Access to your smartphone allows criminals to receive calls and messages from the victim and often bypass the two-factor authentication that many online services use to protect accounts.

SIM swapping: how the scam works

The SIM swapping process can take place in several steps, as the North Rhine-Westphalia police explain:

Obtaining information: criminals collect personal information about the victim, for example through data leaks, phishing, social engineering or buying data on the dark web.

Contacting the mobile phone provider: Using the information collected, the fraudsters contact the victim’s mobile phone provider and pretend to be them. For example, they claim to have lost their SIM card or that it is damaged and ask for the number to be transferred to a new SIM card.

Overcome verification: Accounts with mobile phone providers are often protected with two-factor authentication. This means, for example, that the mobile phone provider will send you a code via text message that you have to enter to confirm your identity. Fraudsters often try to circumvent this authentication by calling you and pretending to be a trustworthy institution. For example, they might introduce themselves as a parcel delivery service and say they need the code sent to them to deliver a parcel. If you tell them the code, they will give it to the mobile phone provider and can then proceed with the SIM swapping.

Number transfer: If the scam is successful, the victim’s phone number is transferred to the scammer’s SIM card. From this moment on, they can receive calls and messages from the victim.

Consequences of SIM swapping

SIM swapping means you lose access to your cell phone. SIM swapping can be devastating for those affected. Once fraudsters have access to the mobile account, they can use the data to gain access to other accounts. The consequences of SIM swapping therefore include

  • Financial loss: Fraudsters can access bank accounts, make bank transfers or steal credit card information.
  • Identity theft: With control of the phone number, criminals can steal more personal information and take over the victim’s identity.
  • Loss of access: Victims can lose access to their email accounts, social media and other online services that are protected by the phone number.

How to protect yourself from the scam

To protect yourself from SIM swapping, you can take the following preventative measures:

 

  • Be careful with your own data and don’t give it out carelessly over the phone or by email.
  • Make sure you publish as little personal data as possible, for example on social media or in Telegram channels. You should be particularly careful with your cell phone number.
  • If possible, use an antivirus program on your smartphone.
  • Do not download any data from unknown or insecure sources.
  • Use strong, unique passwords for your accounts and activate two-factor authentication (2FA), ideally via authentication apps instead of text messages.
  • Choose security questions and answers that are difficult to guess and cannot be derived from publicly available information.

If you have already fallen victim to SIM swapping, you should take the following steps:

Check all your relevant accounts and change your access data.

Inform your mobile phone provider about the fraud and all other account providers that the fraudsters are likely to be able to access (e.g. your bank). File a criminal complaint.

 

Quside and Equinix to offer quantum random number generation technology to Irish businesses

Quside, a quantum technology company,  is working closely with Equinix, the world’s digital infrastructure company®, to enable access for businesses in Ireland to the latest quantum random number generation (QRNG) technology. This will help Equinix customers to build the strongest cryptographic foundation to defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks. True QRNG and quantum cryptography provides a vital defence for businesses as AI advancements lead to a new era of cybercrime.

Equinix has led the way in facilitating access to quantum computing for businesses in Ireland recently, announcing partnerships with Oxford Quantum Computing and Alice & Bob in 2023.

The unusual concept of randomness in cybersecurity is known as entropy. In cryptography, entropy creates completely unpredictable strings of random numbers, making it exceptionally difficult for bad actors to predict patterns and hack into systems. Entropy, which can only be produced by hardware, is at the foundation of security, but poorly generated entropy can lead to insecure and vulnerable systems.

Through its globally interconnected Equinix Fabric network, Equinix enables businesses worldwide to connect with this highly innovative and robust cybersecurity solution on high-speed, low-latency, and private network connections. By allowing seamless communication between quantum entropy systems and operational data processing infrastructure, Equinix and Quside are lowering the barrier to world-class security for businesses in Ireland, as well as thousands of businesses across the globe.

Equinix already supports a number of quantum businesses as part of its network of over 10,000 customers worldwide. It is well-placed to support businesses such as Quside on their growth journey and lead the transition towards a range of quantum technologies for multiple sectors, including enhanced cybersecurity options and improved power efficiency.

Peter Lantry, Managing Director, Equinix Ireland, said: “Advanced cyber defences such as Quside’s quantum cryptography are becoming increasingly necessary to defend businesses in Ireland, and around the world, from bad actors. Equinix is proud to be a leader in providing businesses in Ireland with access to quantum computing to help them to explore and unlock its potential. Access to this latest cutting edge solution comes at a time when the need for strong, reliable cybersecurity is at an all-time high.”

Carlos Abellan, CEO & co-founder, Quside, said: “Equinix plays a crucial role for customers in facilitating global access to Quside’s unique quantum entropy technology. To truly harness the benefits of Quside’s entropy solution in their cloud transition, customers require secure, private, and scalable infrastructure. Equinix’s IBX data centres offer the perfect scalable solutions that can easily adapt to changing computational demands, allowing our customers to effortlessly connect to and expand their quantum entropy capabilities as needed.”

Operating in the heart of Europe’s bustling interconnectivity network, Quside focuses on key sectors including government, finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and cloud computing. Quside products deliver highly performant, scalable, quality, and measurable quantum entropy and can be used in conventional, post-quantum, and quantum cryptography systems.

Equinix data centres provide the essential infrastructure, security, and connectivity required to support the development and deployment of quantum cryptography and entropy generation systems, enabling organisations to leverage the power of quantum technologies for enhanced cybersecurity and data protection.

How Random Number Generators are Used in your Favourite Games

Random number generators have a major part to play in the world of gaming. They’re used in multiple ways, to provide a fun and exciting experience for players across the world. RNG makes games unpredictable. 

Why is Unpredictability Fun?

The exact placement of where enemies spawn in a room might be mildly inconvenient, but a boss randomising their attacks would prove to be disastrous. In short, without random number generators, games would be predictable and boring, but by including them, it’s possible to complete the same game over and over again whilst getting a different experience each time.

Unpredictability is fun. It’s easy to see, because with unpredictability, comes a rollercoaster of emotions. From highs to lows and everything in between, it helps to add a new dynamic to gaming. A prime example of this would be roulette. The numbers on a roulette wheel are generated via an RNG, and this ensures that every time, the same numbers have the chance of appearing. The game comes purely down to luck, which makes for a unique experience. As a player, you might be able to find historical information that highlights hot or cold numbers, but there’s no chance that this streak will continue.

Another example would be with loot chests in games. If you open a loot chest on one save, the next time you load up the game, you can’t guarantee you’re going to get the same item. Sometimes players save, then reload their game, and re-open the same chest over and over again until they get the item they want. With that being said, there’s no way of predicting what the item is going to be. Although item rarity can come into the equation, the overall seed number used to dictate the chest reward is purely random.

Combat and Fighting Systems

Have you ever had a character in a game that’s just…bad? It doesn’t matter who you go up against because you just can’t seem to come out with a win.  Why does this happen? Because of RNGs. No matter how much you train, there is always going to be another character who is better than you. This power creep helps to make games exciting, as the power of your character will always be determined by an RNG. One time you may do 50 hit points of damage, and the next only 25. RNG can also dictate when a hit is critical. 

RNGs are also evident in map creation. When generating map seeds, RNG is used to come up with a number in which the entire map is found. Cliffs, rivers, ravines and forests can be spawned so that they look natural in the given world, purely because it’s random. If a developer had to place individual trees in a game, you’d start to see patterns which would pull away from the general realism of the game. 

RNG helps to eliminate this, by ensuring that worlds are generated differently each time the game is loaded, providing players with an exciting landscape that encourages exploration.