Your SIM (subscriber identity module) is a memory card that lives in your phone containing unique identifiers such as your mobile plan, phone number, and other contents of your smartphone. If hackers obtain access to this, there is a risk they could access your personal data. This could potentially have severe personal, financial, and psychological implications.
A remote crime
This is not merely a theoretical risk. SIM swapping attacks can be carried out remotely if a hacker can obtain information such as your phone number and other private information from a data breach. With this information, they can ask your mobile plan provider to assign your number to a new SIM card. Once in charge of your number, they can lock you out of your online accounts regardless of whether you have a phone with a single SIM, multiple SIMs, or a multi network SIM card.
How will you know?
Signs that you have been a victim of a SIM swapping attack include a notification from your mobile provider saying your SIM is no longer active or simply being unable to make calls, send texts, or access your data plan.
How to protect yourself
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself in the event of a SIM-swapping attack. Check the effectiveness of your communication services provider to see how it will look out for your security. If you are a business with devices using multi network SIM cards, consider using a service provider such as www.lister-communications.co.uk/business-mobiles/multi-network-data-sim-cards with a long track record of securely managing its clients’ communication.
Be aware of the signs of a phishing attack using these tips from Microsoft . Do not click links in emails from unknown addresses and check for signs that communications are genuinely from who they say they are from.
Set up multi factor identification, such as passcodes sent to your phone or email or biometric information, for as many of your accounts and applications as you can. A password manager is also a good idea and is more secure than saving passwords directly to your browser.
