How to Protect Yourself Against a SIM Swap Attack

guest · Aug 19, 2018

How to Protect Yourself Against a SIM Swap Attack
August 19, 2018
https://www.wired.com/story/sim-swap-attack-defend-phone/

If a skilled SIM hijacker targets you, there’s realistically not much you can do to stop them, says Allison Nixon, threat research at security firm Flashpoint.
Use Better Two-Factor
We’ve talked about this recently, but it bears repeating. Getting your two-factor authentication codes over SMS is better than nothing, but it won’t help at all if a SIM swap hits.

Apps like Google Authenticator and Authy give you that extra layer of security like SMS-based two-factor does, but they also tie it to your physical device rather than the number the phone company assigned to you.
Extra Measures
If a hacker has a phone number that’s associated with some of your online accounts, they can sometimes circumvent two-factor requirements altogether [...]
Click to expand...

guest · Jul 10, 2020

How to protect your Verizon number from SIM swapping attacks
July 10, 2020
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...our-verizon-number-from-sim-swapping-attacks/

Verizon now makes it possible for customers to defend against SIM swapping attacks by enabling the free Number Lock protection feature through the My Verizon app or the My Verizon website.

SIM swapping (aka SIM hijacking, SIM splitting, or SIM jacking) is a type of account takeover (ATO) fraud that allows criminals to take control of a target's phone number by convincing their mobile phone service providers to swap the mobile number to an attacker-controlled SIM card by using social engineering or with the help of a bribed employee.

"Thieves may try to trigger an unauthorized number transfer, sometimes called a port-out scam, as a way to steal a number and reset passwords to gain access to a customer’s accounts for email, online banking, or social media," Verizon explains.
"Number Lock makes it harder for thieves to use this method to take control of a customer’s online accounts."
Click to expand...

Enabling Number Lock for your Verizon phone numbers
Once you activate a lock on a phone number in the My Verizon app, that number can no longer be ported to another line/carrier or swapped to another SIM unless you remove the lock.
To enable Number Lock to protect your Verizon number from being ported without your permission you can go through the following steps in the My Verizon app (iOS, Android):
Click to expand...

Wired: Verizon Adds Protection Against SIM Swapping Hacks in Mobile App

Verizon’s new feature ‘Number Lock’ add an extra layer of security, but it’s not foolproof.
Click to expand...

Palancar · Jul 14, 2020

mood said: ↑

How to protect your Verizon number from SIM swapping attacks
July 10, 2020
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...our-verizon-number-from-sim-swapping-attacks/

Wired: Verizon Adds Protection Against SIM Swapping Hacks in Mobile App
Click to expand...

This makes great sense. However; if a customer service rep is gullible enough to swap a phone they might just be gullible enough to override the the num lock feature. One simple addition to this process would be to REQUIRE 24 hours to elapse before the sim is swapped to another phone. In the 24 hour period the carrier would send emails, and texts to the devices of record on the account. Then the customer could call and stop a sim swap BEFORE damage is done. Design it so there is NO way to circumvent the 24 hour sim swap rule in the carrier system.

Log in or Sign up

How to Protect Yourself Against a SIM Swap Attack

guest Guest

guest Guest

Palancar Registered Member

Log in or Sign up

How to Protect Yourself Against a SIM Swap Attack

guest Guest

guest Guest

Palancar Registered Member

Useful Searches