A short-term, disposable telephone number is utilized to receive a confirmation code from Yahoo during account creation or security settings modification. This alternative to a personal mobile phone number allows individuals to bypass the need to provide their permanent contact information. An example of its use would be when setting up a new Yahoo email account for a specific, limited-duration project where maintaining privacy is desired.
Using such a number can enhance online privacy and security by preventing the association of a personal phone number with a Yahoo account. This offers a layer of protection against potential data breaches and unwanted communications. The rise of these services corresponds with increasing awareness of digital privacy and the desire to limit the sharing of personal identifying information online. It also enables access to services that require phone verification in situations where a user may not have a readily available or suitable personal phone number.