How to Keep Your Cell Phone Number Private

In the old days, when we all had landlines and everyone was in the phone book, people could protect themselves by requesting an unlisted number from the phone company. Making sure your phone number did not appear in the various telephone directories helped provide a level of privacy and protection against everything from solicitors and telemarketers to criminals looking for unoccupied homes to rob.

These days the number of landlines is dwindling rapidly, as more and more people turn to cell phones for all of their calls. Whether you have abandoned your landline or not, it is important to treat your cell phone number with the same care you used to give your home phone number. You may not be able to stop everyone from getting your private number, but there are things you do to minimize the risks.

Watch Your Registrations
Many website registrations ask for a phone number, and some even require it. If you put your cell phone number in that block, it could make its way to an online directory or other resource. That could mean a flood of telemarketing calls, unwanted text messages and other annoyances.

If you must provide your phone number, be sure to read the terms and conditions of the website carefully. Only provide your cell phone information to websites that promise not to sell or otherwise provide that data to third parties.

Be Careful When Selling Online
The Internet has revolutionized the way we buy and sell. From online auction sites like eBay and online classifieds like Craigslist to the power of social media, there are more ways to advertise your unwanted items than ever before.

That convenience comes with its risks, however, and it is easy to inadvertently divulge your phone number when you buy or sell online. Check the site carefully to see if they obscure your phone number and email address. Some sites provide dummy information that automatically links to your real contact information.

If the site does not automatically provide it, you can get a temporary phone number that automatically forwards to your cell phone. It requires a bit more work, but it is worth it to protect your privacy.

Watch Who You Text
It is often easier to text someone than to call them, but texting can put your cell phone number at risk. Your texting number is the same as your actual number, so when you text someone they have your number and can do with it what they will.

You can avoid that problem by using texting apps instead of texting directly from your phone. There are plenty of apps that obscure your cell phone number and protect your privacy.

Nothing is perfect, and there are still ways for your cell phone number to leak out. Even so, taking a proactive approach to privacy is one of the best ways to protect yourself in the digital age.