Page 208 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025
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One Piece of the Puzzle: How a Single Digital Identifier Can
Unravel Your Entire Online Life
The Hidden Risks of Reusing Emails and Phone Numbers—and How They Become
Gateways to Your Entire Digital Identity
By Raphael Marchand, CEO, ChatOdyssey
One Piece of the Puzzle: How a Single Digital Identifier Can Unravel Your Entire Online Life
In an era where our lives are increasingly lived online, our digital identities are sprawling networks of
accounts and personal data. A simple email address or phone number—often considered a secondary
identifier—can serve as the key to this entire web of information. Privacy advocates warn that if an
attacker or unauthorized person discovers just one of these identifiers, it could trigger a chain reaction,
exposing a trove of connected accounts and sensitive details. This article explores how a single digital
identity marker (like your phone number) can unravel your whole online presence, the cybersecurity
implications of this vulnerability, and what can be done to mitigate the risks.
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