When you want to sign up for an online service without using your own phone number, temporary SMS numbers can be the best alternative.
You can buy these numbers online, usually for up to an hour of use, during which you can receive verification codes for apps and platforms without sharing your real contact details.
But if you’ve never used a temporary number for this purpose before, you might be wondering if it’s safe to use for creating online accounts. Here, we’re breaking this down so you can decide if this option is for you.
How do Temporary SMS Numbers Work?
When you buy a temporary number from a service like https://www.smspool.net/, you can use this number to receive text messages for a short period.
How you use the number is up to you, but a lot of people use them for tasks like signing up for apps or verifying accounts, so they don’t have to sacrifice their own number to marketing lists (not to mention potential data breaches).
You can enter the number in place of your own when you’re creating an account, then receive the SMS verification code, enter it as required, and move on. Once the rental time is up, the number is then released and made available to other users.
The Risks of Using Temporary SMS Numbers
If you’re just carrying out a low-stakes task like creating a trial account or signing up to a site that only requires a phone number for verification once, a temporary number is fine to use.
But, for obvious reasons, it’s best to only use your own personal number to access any accounts that hold financial data or other sensitive information. Plus, you’ll need to use a real number for a service you plan to keep using, like a social media or banking app. You need to be able to recover the account later if you’re ever asked to verify your identity again.
When Temporary SMS Numbers Make Sense
If you just want to sign up for a platform to see what it offers or you’re sick of getting spam from every company you create an account with, a temporary SMS number will keep your real number safe and protect it from unwanted contact.
From a business perspective, you may also want to use temporary numbers if you’re a developer or tester planning to test an online service’s SMS verification features without using personal numbers.
How to Use Temporary Numbers Safely
When you’re deciding whether to use a temporary number or your own for a signup, it’s worth asking yourself how important the account is. This is the easiest way to gauge the safety of using a temporary number.
You’ll also want to choose a trusted temporary SMS service, like SMSPool, that clearly explains how they handle numbers and security.
Takeaway
The bottom line is that temporary SMS numbers can be safe, but only for certain situations. They’re ideal for when you’re creating quick, throwaway accounts and want protection from spam, but for anything you care about keeping long term, you’ll need to use a number you control.
