SIM Jacking: How Criminals Gain Access to Your Accounts
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get you, as Joseph Heller memorably wrote. This idiom rings especially true in today’s digital world. Cybercriminals are always changing their techniques in order to find exploits for any system or service you use on a regular basis. SIM jacking is a new approach for threat actors to harm you (also called a SIM Swap Scam).
What You Should Know About SIM Swapping Theft
SIM Swapping, unlike the majority of cybercrime, does not necessitate hacking or the installation of any software on your phone. Your phone’s SIM card is the means through which it communicates with a cellular network. When a phone breaks, is stolen, or you move to a newer model that requires a different type of SIM card, it’s usual for people to keep the same identity (or phone number). Carriers offer a service to transfer all of your data to a new SIM card to facilitate this.
Cybercriminals take advantage of this tactic, known as “porting,” to acquire access to your account information. Fraudsters abuse the service using a minimal bit of personal information to exploit your carrier and steal your identity.
A Sim Swap Attack’s Mechanics
This type of attack can be carried out in a number of different ways by criminals. It usually necessitates some kind of personal data access. In certain circumstances, simply knowing your date of birth, phone number, and name is sufficient to gain access to your account. Hackers use a variety of phishing techniques to get you to provide sensitive information.
After that, hackers will contact your carrier and impersonate you to fool the agent. The attack is practically complete once you request that your phone number be ported to the criminal’s phone. The two-factor authentication security methods are then exploited by hackers to gain access to your accounts and lock you out of your own device and digital services.
How Can You Avoid a Simjacking Attack?
The most important thing to remember is to keep all of your PPI confidential at all times. Never throw away your phone bills, and keep as much of your personal information on your computer as hidden as possible. You can save digital bills in an encrypted folder on your PC, which will be protected if your PC is hacked.
Additionally, you should contact your carrier and request that your account be given additional security measures. When it comes to porting requests, make sure you have a pin number or password that isn’t stored on the phone. Because carriers are now aware of this form of fraud, it will be on to them to devise additional security measures to protect their customers.
