Can a person be tracked via only a phone number?

[suhashini25]

Mobile Network Operator (MNO) Data (Legitimate and Illicit Access):
Cell Tower Triangulation: This is the most common method for location tracking by phone number. When a mobile phone is on, it constantly communicates with nearby cell towers to maintain a signal. Mobile network operators record which cell towers a phone connects to, and the signal strength. By analyzing the signal strength or timing advance data from multiple (at least three) cell towers, the network can triangulate or estimate the phone's approximate geographical location.

Accuracy: The accuracy varies depending on the density of cell towers. In urban areas with many towers, it can be within a few hundred meters. In rural areas with fewer towers, the accuracy can be several kilometers.
Data Retention: MNOs typically store historical location data as part of their regular operations for billing, network optimization, and compliance with data retention laws.
GPS Data: While less common for passive tracking solely by phone number, if a phone has GPS enabled and apps or services are granted permission to access it, this highly accurate location data can be associated with the phone number by MNOs or third-party services.
Lawful Interception: Law enforcement and intelligence agencies, with appropriate legal warrants or orders, can compel mobile network operators to provide real-time or historical location data associated with a specific phone number. In many countries, including Bangladesh, telecommunication laws permit such interception for national security, public order, and crime prevention.
SS7 Vulnerabilities: Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) is the core protocol used globally by telecom networks for call routing, SMS delivery, and other services. Unfortunately, SS7 has known security switzerland phone number list vulnerabilities. Malicious actors (often state-sponsored or highly sophisticated criminals) who gain access to the SS7 network can exploit these flaws to:

Track Location: By sending specific queries to the network, they can determine which cell tower a device is connected to, and thus its approximate location, without the user's knowledge or permission.
Intercept Calls/SMS: They can reroute calls and text messages, including two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, allowing them to access online accounts associated with that phone number.
2. Online Services and Data Brokers:
Phone Number as a Universal Identifier: Many online services, social media platforms, messaging apps (like WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram), and banking apps use phone numbers as a primary or secondary identifier for user accounts, registration, and verification.
Contact Syncing: When users enable contact syncing, these apps upload their phone's contact list (which includes phone numbers) to their servers, enabling them to connect people based on numbers.
Data Aggregation: This allows these companies to link your phone number to your online profiles, activities, and interactions across different services.
Data Brokers: These companies collect vast amounts of personal data from various sources (public records, commercial sources, websites, apps, social media, data breaches) and compile detailed profiles on individuals. Phone numbers are a key identifier in these profiles. Data brokers can sell or provide access to this aggregated data, which can include names, addresses, demographic information, interests, and sometimes even location history, all linked to a phone number.

Publicly Available Information & Data Leaks: If your phone number is publicly listed somewhere (e.g., on a business website, public social media profile, old forum posts) or is part of a data breach, it can be harvested and used to cross-reference with other leaked data, revealing more information about you.
SIM Swap Fraud: While not direct tracking, a compromised phone number (via SIM swap) allows fraudsters to gain control of online accounts (social media, email, banking) linked to that number, effectively enabling them to track your online activities and potentially extract more personal data.
3. Malicious Apps and Spyware:
If a user is tricked into installing a malicious app, even if the app's primary purpose isn't tracking, it can gain permissions to access the phone's GPS, network data, and other sensors. This data can then be correlated with the phone number and sent to a third party.
Limitations and Considerations:
Consent and Legality: For most entities other than law enforcement (with a warrant), real-time, precise location tracking solely by phone number is generally illegal without explicit user consent or the installation of specific tracking software.
Accuracy: As mentioned, cell tower-based tracking is not always precise, especially in less dense areas.
Phone Status: The phone must be powered on and connected to a cellular network for network-based tracking to work.
In Bangladesh, the biometric SIM registration process means every active phone number is legally tied to an individual's National ID, date of birth, and fingerprints. This makes phone numbers a very strong identifier for tracking purposes by authorities when legally mandated, and also enhances the potential for data aggregation by services that require NID verification alongside phone numbers.