Ever get a phone call or text from a number you don’t recognize, and it turns out to be a weird robocall or spam? You’re not the only one. In the US, people received 11.9 billion spam text messages and 6.4 billion spam calls in May 2022 alone.
It’s an annoying but unsurprising problem, considering how much people tend to share their numbers with companies without giving it a second thought. Every time you share your number beyond your immediate circle of family and friends, you run the risk of having it shared with third-party partners eager to add you to their spam list. But what’s the solution? Never signing up to a loyalty program again? It’s tough when sharing your number has become an ubiquitous part of many online registrations.
One solution could be Firefox’s expanded Relay product.
What is Firefox Relay?
Firefox Relay first launched in 2020 and focused mainly on hiding your real email address and identity, helping to block millions of spam messages from people’s inboxes. Now the service has expanded to hide personal phone numbers.
Once you sign up for the phone number masking plan, Firefox will generate a burner phone number for you to use instead of your actual phone number however you like, from making reservations to signing up to online services. Currently only available in the US and Canada, it includes up to 50 minutes for incoming calls and 75 text messages per month.
There are some limitations to the service though. For example, you can’t place outgoing calls or texts to just anyone, though you can reply to your last sender. And while Firefox Relay allows you to generate multiple email addresses, you’re limited to just one number. The Verge also points out that there’s no mention of whether the service offers encryption. While SMS isn’t an encrypted protocol, it’s worth bearing in mind if you were considering using the service for sending messages of a sensitive nature, your words won’t be protected from falling into the wrong hands.
The service isn’t free either, coming in at either $3.99 per month for a yearly plan, or $4.99 per month for a monthly plan. It’s up to you whether you think that price is worth it.
Do you need a phone number hiding service?
If you’re uncomfortable with giving out your number widely, then Firefox Relay is a solid choice, though the cost means it likely isn’t suitable for everyone. If you don’t have the cash to spare, a good way to reduce spam is simply exercising caution before signing up for a new service or program. Actually read the fine print and find out whether or not your data will be shared with third parties. In the US, entering *67 before a number you call will ensure your number won’t appear on the recipient’s phone. There are also many apps you can use to hide your phone number, though they will still be tied to your real one. For sending messages of a private nature, you’re probably best off using an encrypted messaging service such as Signal.
Cora is a digital copywriter for SSLs.com. Having eight years of experience in online content creation, she is a versatile writer with an interest in a wide variety of topics, ranging from technology to marketing.