Osiptel requires the use of a unique password for new mobile lines: how to prevent them from stealing your identity?

As of today, Friday March 31, the use of the unique password to validate the identity of users each time they contract a mobile line additional, request the chip replacement or change of ownership. This measure ordered by Osiptel seeks to avoid frauds related to the mobile servicesuch as spoofing and unsolicited hires.

However, according to Carlos Zúñiga, president of the Association Choosethe implementation of the single password will not be enough to combat these cybercrimes, especially when the illegal sale of mobile phone chips continues to prevail on the streets, exposing thousands of users.

Faced with this vulnerable scenario, the cybersecurity expert Miguel Guerra León provides five recommendations to prevent your data from being stolen in informal centers.

• Avoid leaving your fingerprints on surfaces that can be used to clone them: glasses, mirrors or touch screens. It is recommended to ask the person who does the process to clean the glass of the biometric reader to prevent the information of your fingerprints from being stored.
• Do not share documentation, personal data or, even worse, photos of your footprints on social networks: they can be used to create copies. Information that is shared online can be used by third parties.
• Use different passwords on your mobile devices and profiles of your accounts: a password of at least 12 characters with letters, capital letters, special signs.
• It is also recommended using apps to create and manage passwordssuch as KeePass, which can generate random and hard-to-guess passwords.
• Set password lock and wipe data option after several failed unlock attempts. To do this, you can use the configuration of biometric recognition, security pattern or access pin that comes in the different cell phone models.
• uses security software on your devices. There are various applications on the market, such as ESET Antivirus, Kaspersky Antivirus, which help protect your data from computer attacks.

Which operators lead the list of claims for unsolicited contracting of mobile lines?

In accordance with Osiptel, only in the year 2022 the operating companies registered more than 10,000 questions of ownership of mobile services. Of this total, Entel (4,472) and Clear (4,379) reported the highest number of complaints about false ownership, followed by bitel (940) and Movistar (332).

During that same year, the four largest operating companies also registered 77,597 user claims for unsolicited contracting of the mobile service. Movistar presented the largest number: 61,126 claims. Claro followed with 8,214 claims, Entel with 7,374 and Bitel with 883.