Today, protecting your online presence is more critical than ever. Using a VPN like Surfshark is a solid step toward securing your digital life by hiding your IP address and encrypting your data. Combining this with antivirus software to detect malicious threats and an ad blocker to prevent tracking and intrusive ads, you can insulate yourself against many online threats.
But despite all of these precautions, one thing remains a risk: the personal information you willingly give away. Every day, millions of people fill out forms online, sharing their email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, and more—often for something as small as a discount or access to a free service. Unfortunately, once your information is out there, your VPN and antivirus software can’t protect you from how it’s used or misused.
The Hidden Risks of Sharing Your Information
Why do companies offer discounts for newsletter sign-ups or promotions in exchange for your contact details? Because your personal information has value. Unfortunately, this makes it a prime target for criminals and marketers alike. Whether it’s ending up on a spam list or being sold to third parties, the consequences of sharing your details can be long-lasting, from identity theft to phishing attacks.
Thankfully, Surfshark is providing a solution that puts you back in control – Alternative ID and Alternative Number.
What Is Alternative ID?
Alternative ID is a simple, foolproof way to protect your identity by creating dummy email addresses, phone numbers, and other personal details. This feature allows you to shield your real contact information while enjoying the benefits of sharing your details where necessary.
Ever signed up for a newsletter to get a discount, only to receive endless spam emails afterward? Or perhaps you’ve had to give your email for a one-time download, and now your inbox is overwhelmed with irrelevant content. Alternative ID solves these issues by letting you use fake information while keeping your true details private.
But it’s not just about avoiding spam. In today’s online world, data breaches are rampant. In 2021, Facebook saw a data breach that exposed the personal information of over 530 million users, including their phone numbers and emails. With Alternative ID, your real details never need to be at risk, as your dummy identity acts as a barrier.
In addition to protecting your email and name, Surfshark’s Alternative Number feature allows you to protect your phone number by generating a virtual, disposable number. This number can be used for calls and texts, ensuring your real number stays hidden from unwanted attention.
So why is this important? Phone scams are on the rise. In 2023 alone, phone scams were the second most common form of scam in the U.S., costing victims billions of dollars. Yet, awareness of these threats remains low, especially in countries like Japan, where 8% of phone users are unfamiliar with phishing fraud. Alternative Number helps safeguard against these risks by acting as a buffer between you and potential scammers.
Both Alternative ID and Alternative Number offer countless practical uses too – here are a few of them:
Online Shopping and Newsletters: Use Alternative ID to sign up for e-commerce discounts and avoid your inbox being flooded with marketing spam. Use Alternative Number for delivery notifications and discounts without risking robocalls or texts.
Traveling or Public Wi-Fi: Avoid giving out your real number or email to access free public Wi-Fi or services while traveling. These environments can be prime targets for scammers or data thieves.
Contest and Giveaway Entries: Participate in online contests or giveaways with Alternative ID to keep your inbox spam-free and safe from potential data breaches.
Verification Codes and Two-Factor Authentication: Use Alternative Number to receive verification codes while keeping your real number private.
Global Trends: Why You Need to Protect Your Information
In 2023, Americans lost around $39.5 billion due to phone scams, highlighting just how critical phone number protection has become. Similarly, the 162 billion spam emails sent daily worldwide make email protection more important than ever. With the number of email users expected to reach 4.6 billion by 2025, this flood of unwanted content and phishing attacks will only continue to grow.
So Why Choose Surfshark’s Alternative ID and Alternative Number?
These features set Surfshark apart as they offer a complete, integrated solution for protecting both your email and phone number. With Alternative ID, you can generate dummy contact details to use anywhere, eliminating the risk of spam, data breaches, and phishing attacks. With Alternative Number, you get a virtual phone number to keep your real one safe from scams, robocalls, and smishing.
Best of all, these features work together seamlessly with Surfshark’s existing VPN, antivirus, and ad blocker—all available for as little as $2.49 a month.
Take control of your personal information and shield yourself from scams, spam, and identity theft by using Surfshark’s Alternative ID and Alternative Number.
