Digital Control vs. Privacy: Why are Authorities Shutting Down Activation Services?

[HeroSMS]

Once upon a time, the internet was a place of freedom, anonymity was the standard, and users set their own rules. Today, everything has changed — to the point where Europol is shutting down "SIM farms." Every action now leaves a digital footprint, and governments tighten their grip on the internet every year.

Authorities have a particular distaste for disposable SIM cards. At the end of 2025, the world’s largest provider of temporary numbers, SMS-Activate, closed permanently, and other similar services are shutting down due to new laws and restrictions. For now, workarounds exist. For instance, HeroSMS acquired the SMS-Activate software, allowing users to comfortably purchase temporary numbers for their own purposes at the same prices (or even cheaper). However, it is difficult to say what comes next as these crackdowns intensify.

Why Authorities Dislike Temporary Number Services
Today, temporary virtual numbers are a powerful tool for those who want to maintain online privacy and save money. Here is how they are typically used:

• Personal Security and Spam Protection: You can use a temporary number to sign up for loyalty programs, classified ads, or dating sites. As a result, you won’t receive spam or fraudulent offers on your personal phone.
• Marketing and Traffic Arbitrage: Marketers create multiple social media accounts to launch ad campaigns or manage engagement (likes, follows, comments).
• Cost Savings: Many delivery services offer discounts on first orders. If you’ve already used your personal number, you can create a new account using a temporary SIM.
• Bypassing Geo-restrictions: Virtual numbers allow you to register for services that are unavailable in your country or require a number from a specific region.
• Professional Use: For example, QA testers need to verify registration scenarios for users in different countries.

As you can see, most uses are quite harmless. However, authorities are tightening the screws because disposable numbers have also become a primary tool for cybercriminals. Governments now want a specific person to be identifiable behind every digital action. Phone numbers are being linked to passport data, making it increasingly difficult to use them through intermediaries.

Furthermore, disposable SIMs are used for:

• Sending millions of phishing SMS for pennies.
• Creating botnets to attack government services.
• Money laundering via micropayments.
• Mass-scale fraudulent or threatening calls.

Since these numbers are temporary, tracking the source is extremely difficult. This is why authorities are trying to shut down services like SMS-Activate — to destroy the very infrastructure that supports this business.

What Will the War on Temporary Numbers Lead To?
Yes, life will get slightly harder for scammers as temporary numbers become harder to obtain. While any schoolkid could previously buy a number for a few cents, it is now dangerous in some countries. Owning a SIM farm can even lead to imprisonment. This will, at the very least, weed out small-time fraudsters.

However, professional scammers may simply move their operations. While this activity is banned in Russia or UAE, there are countries that still turn a blind eye to SIM farms. Consequently, major criminal players will remain.

Unfortunately, ordinary people will suffer the most. They will have to hunt for specialized services, and prices may rise as demand grows while supply drops. But for now, we are in luck. HeroSMS, which acquired technology from SMS-Activate, is currently selling numbers at competitive rates. This is an excellent opportunity for marketers, business owners, and regular users to take advantage of the service.

And how are you fighting for your anonymity online?