Registering your SIM card? Here are 3 things to remember

The registration of new and existing SIM cards kicked off yesterday, December 27. 

According to the implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Card Registration Act, mobile users in the country are required to input their personal information such as full name, birthday, sex, recent or official address, and identification card and ID number during the registration process. 

Once this data ends up in untrustworthy hands, fraudsters might launch various types of phishing attacks from spam calls to voice phishing. Global cybersecurity and digital privacy company Kaspersky describes phishing as a form of cybercrime that involves stealing of confidential data from a person’s device and using the same data to steal their money. 

Privacy risks are another major concern. For a cybercriminal, having a potential victim’s phone number significantly increases the opportunity of a successful attack, since most online services require entering a phone number along with other personal data. Doxing, cyberbullying, blackmailing and extortion are among the potential cyberthreats victims might face.

To stay safe against fraudsters, Kaspersky reminds those who will register their SIM cards of the following:

1. Visit and use links of official websites/platforms only. Globe, Smart, and DITO have announced their online SIM registration platforms. Make sure that you visit only these official websites.

2. Check each link and email carefully. When you receive an email, don’t rush to reply or follow its instructions. The first thing you should do is look for telltale signs of phishing such as mistakes, typos, and strange characters in the text as well as inconsistent sender address. Check the links in the email if it contains them or the website they lead to. You can check a link by hovering your cursor over it and reading the address carefully. Cybercriminals bet on victims who do not pay enough attention to detect slight changes made to the names of well-known companies or brands like sumsung.com or qoogle.com. 

3. Use reliable security protection on your device. It’s hard to be on the constant lookout for red flags and to check every single address, link, and so on. But it’s a task you can automate, and you can rely on security solutions to protect you against phishing.