SIM spoofing is an attack that involves manipulating the data stored on a SIM card to impersonate a legitimate user’s phone number or identity. A SIM spoofing attack can be carried out using various techniques, including social engineering, phishing, or specialized tools.
The most common way that SIM spoofing works is by obtaining the victim’s personal information, such as their phone number and other identifying information, through various means such as social engineering, phishing, or purchasing it on the dark web. Once the attacker has this information, they can use it to contact the victim’s mobile carrier and request a new SIM card with the victim’s phone number.
Alternatively, attackers SIM spoof using software or hardware tools that can mimic the behavior of a legitimate SIM card to spoof a victim’s phone number or identity. These tools can allow attackers to make phone calls or send text messages that appear to be coming from the victim’s phone number, even though the victim has not made the call or sent the message.
SIM spoofing can be used for various nefarious purposes, including stealing personal information, committing fraud, and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive accounts that use two-factor authentication (2FA) via SMS. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the potential risks and protect personal information and accounts, such as using more secure forms of 2FA, being cautious of suspicious calls or messages, and enforcing strong passwords and security measures.