How to Tell If You Are the Victim of a SIM Swap Attack
SIM swap attacks may sound like one of the horror stories of identity theft that only happens to people who are too careless or careless about their personal information, but more of us are at risk than we think.
A recent study from Princeton found that some US carriers are vulnerable to SIM swap attacks, and prepaid accounts are most vulnerable. The researchers each registered ten prepaid accounts with AT&T, T-Mobile, Tracfone, US Mobile, and Verizon. They were then able to successfully trick customer service representatives into bypassing account security protocols to gain control of the activated devices. They then remotely disabled those devices’ access to the network, and this is where most SIM swap attacks begin. You can read the entire article here (via Engadget ).
The results are alarming. SIM swap attacks are one of the most dangerous forms of identity theft, and while it takes time and effort to complete, the goal is obviously much easier to use a prepaid account on AT&T, T-Mobile, Tracfone, US Mobile, or Verizon.
However, all smartphone users of any carrier should be aware of how SIM swap attacks work. You’ll find more information on how and how to respond to SIM swap attacks in our explanation, but we wanted to talk more about how to detect a SIM swap attack in light of Princeton’s research.
Detecting an attempted attack before it happens
SIM swap attacks usually start with outdated phishing scams. Email phishing is still surprisingly common , but hackers also use fake login pages, spyware or keylogger loaded apps, fake ads, and malicious message attachments to gain access to your accounts. Once they get it, all they need to do is know their phone number and some personal details to carry out a SIM swap attack.
Phishing isn’t the only way to launch a SIM swap attack; hackers can extract your information from leaked personal data or even physically remove it from your devices. You should always take due care to react to leaks and not lose your device (or allow the wrong people to use it).
Some Warning Signs About Early SIM Swap Attacks
When you are attacked with a SIM swap, your device will take effect. Here are some tips that you might fall victim to this type of hack:
- Sudden changes in service. The first sign of a SIM swap attack is when you receive notifications from your provider that your phone number or SIM has been activated elsewhere. However, many providers take security measures to reduce the likelihood of a successful takeover and may try to confirm account changes with you before they affect you. At least that’s what they say .
- Unauthorized security alerts. Likewise, if you have the appropriate settings enabled, you can receive notifications or email alerts that important profile data such as passwords, pin codes, security issues, contact information for your service provider and other accounts have been changed or that you have been logged in. (or attempt) from unknown locations or devices.
You need to respond to these alerts immediately, regardless of whether something has been successfully changed. Someone is trying to hack into your accounts and steal your identity – be it a SIM swap attack or in some other way. The sooner you catch and respond to these change attempts, the better your chances of reducing the severity of the breach .
Signs of a Successful or Ongoing SIM Swap Attack
Even scarier is what you will experience after a successful SIM swap attack. As soon as someone gains access to your phone number, they gain access to any apps, accounts, or associated personal data (including 2-Step Verification requests ). It’s just a few minutes from there before they block you from everything and take over your identity.
Here are some more warning signs to watch out for:
- You cannot send or receive text messages or phone calls. As soon as your phone number has been activated elsewhere, the device to which it was previously linked becomes inert.
- Someone says your social media or email has been hacked. As Matthew Miller reported on ZDnet after falling victim to a SIM swap attack, a compromised Twitter account might not just be a sign of poor password strength – it is one of the easiest ways to catch a SIM swap attack. If you can still log in despite an obvious hack attempt, change your username and contact information as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will need to contact customer service.
- Not being able to use any apps on your phone. If you are suddenly logged out of all your apps and various other accounts and cannot log in again, this is a clear sign of identity theft. The severity of this depends on the applications affected and their extent of distribution. If this is just one application, your password may have been changed on your behalf by a company in response to a data breach or suspicious activity. Check if you can still sign in to email, take a close look at your tests, and double check for missing password change push notifications. However, if this happens with multiple apps – or you experience any of the other symptoms described in this post – it is a sign of a SIM swap attack or another serious issue with your security.
- Unauthorized banking activities. Your financial institutions will send alerts about fraud or suspicious activity, however, if your phone number and email addresses are compromised, your attacker will likely be able to intercept them before you know. However, if you get warnings or notice anything suspicious, contact your bank.