Verizon Number Lock in 2024: Your Complete Guide

As a telecommunications analyst with over 10 years of experience, I‘ve seen an explosion in phone scams like SIM swapping and fraudulent port-outs in recent years. With hackers constantly evolving their tactics, having robust security measures in place is more important than ever.

Verizon‘s Number Lock feature adds a vital layer of protection on top of your account password and PIN. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide key details on how Number Lock works and why you should enable it in 2024.

What is Verizon Number Lock and Why it Matters

Verizon Number Lock prevents your mobile number from being transferred to a new carrier without your authorization.

Here‘s an overview of how it works:

• Only the account owner can enable/disable Number Lock or approve a number transfer.
• Port-out requests get blocked if Number Lock is on.
• Temporary 6-digit codes sent to your phone are required to disable Number Lock or validate port-outs.

This provides powerful protection against hackers and scammers trying to hijack your number, which protects your digital identity and accounts secured by texts or calls.

According to data from Princeton University‘s Center for Information Technology Policy, over 150,000 phone numbers are lost annually to fraudulent port-out scams.

Number Lock acts as an account firewall that stops this type of phone hijacking in its tracks.

Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling Verizon Number Lock

Setting up Number Lock is quick and easy through the My Verizon app or website:

Via Mobile App:

1. Open the My Verizon app and go to Settings > Number Lock.
2. Tap the switch next to your number to enable Number Lock.

Via Website:

1. Log into your My Verizon account.
2. Go to the Number Lock section.
3. Toggle your number to On and select Save.

And that‘s it – your Number Lock protection is now active.

When Should You Disable Verizon Number Lock?

The only time you should disable Number Lock is when you need to legitimately port your number to a new carrier.

Here are the steps to temporarily disable Number Lock for a port out:

• Log into your My Verizon account.
• Under Number Lock, toggle your number to Off.
• Enter the 6-digit authorization code texted to your phone.
• Select Save Changes.

This will allow your number to be transferred. Be sure to re-enable Number Lock after the port out is complete.

Is Verizon Number Lock Really Safe?

Based on my telecom security research, Verizon Number Lock provides robust protection:

• Stops unauthorized port-out attempts dead in their tracks.
• Generates an alert if someone tries to disable Number Lock.
• Requires physical access to your phone to receive authorization codes.
• Prevents hackers from SIM swapping your number to a new SIM.

No security solution is completely impenetrable. However, Number Lock requires significant effort to bypass and protects your number from most scam attempts.

Here‘s how Number Lock enhances account security:

You do need to keep your mobile device physically secure, as it produces the authorization codes required to disable Number Lock. But overall, this free feature meaningfully bolsters your account security.

Conclusion: Enable Number Lock for Added Security

Based on my telecom expertise, I highly recommend all Verizon customers enable Number Lock in 2024 to protect your mobile number and identity.

The free feature only takes minutes to set up in the My Verizon app or website. Make sure to disable Number Lock temporarily when you do want to port your number to a new carrier.

Overall, Verizon Number Lock provides vital defense against unauthorized number porting and SIM swap scams. Turn it on and have confidence your number is far more secure from digital threats.