Paypal login does not work due tio requirement for telephone number

[dev_null]

I am a long-time (more than 20 _years_) user of PayPal, and have recently encountered an issue with the login process that prevents me from being able to login (or even contacting customer service!). I do not have any phone that supports SMS (text messaging), and my ears no longer hear all the frequencies from voice. Communication via telephone is not reliable method of reaching or communicating with me.

As a computer security professional, I know that text messaging (SMS) protocol is UNSECURE, can and has been spoofed, does not provide reliable method for verifying the sender's path. Attempting to rely on SMS for security for something as critical as a payment is not an option for me. If PayPal wants/needs multi-factor authentication, then at least provide us with a better option (for example, the RSA OATP device that I use for MFA in other systems = PIN + unique security code each time).

Please provide us with a better way to contact customer service -- especially for those of us who cannot communicate with audio; we need a reliable method for WRITTEN communication.

[dev_null]

Further detail:This is at least one public source to back up my original statement. Many others exist, not all of which are publicly disclosable.

Even Microsoft is now recommending AGAINST using SMS and telephone-based MFA:

https  ://  [ www.  zdnet. com ]  /article /microsoft-urges-users-to-stop-using-phone-based-multi-factor-authentication/

"Microsoft is urging users to abandon telephone-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions like one-time codes sent via SMS and voice calls and instead replace them with newer MFA technologies, like app-based authenticators and security keys."

"The warning comes from Alex Weinert, Director of Identity Security at Microsoft. For the past year, Weinert has been advocating on Microsoft's behalf, urging users to embrace and enable MFA for their online accounts. "