Can someone hack your phone just by knowing your number?

A phone number alone is generally not sufficient to gain direct access to a person’s device. However, cybercriminals can use phone numbers to target individuals through techniques such as phishing, social engineering and SIM-swapping, potentially putting personal information and online accounts at risk.

One of the major risks is a SIM-swap attack, in which a scammer attempts to convince a mobile carrier to transfer a victim’s phone number to a SIM card controlled by them.

If successful, the attacker can receive the victim’s calls and SMS messages, including verification codes used to access online accounts.

This can put accounts linked to the phone number at risk, particularly when SMS is being used for two-factor authentication. An attacker who obtains verification codes may attempt to gain access to email, social media, financial or other accounts.

Cybercriminals can also use phone numbers to target people with phishing messages and fraudulent calls. They may pretend to be representatives of banks, mobile operators or other services and attempt to trick victims into sharing passwords, OTPs or other sensitive information.

The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers not to share verification codes with anyone who unexpectedly asks for them. It also recommends using stronger authentication methods, such as an authenticator app or security key, where available.

Cybersecurity authorities also recommend setting a PIN or password on a mobile carrier account to make unauthorised changes to a phone number more difficult.

Therefore, knowing someone's phone number does not automatically allow a person to hack their phone. However, the number can be used to target the individual through scams, phishing or SIM-swapping attempts, potentially leading to the compromise of other accounts.