Updated 2 years ago
Unless you use Sprint, which has two-factor authorization when changing phones’ SIM cards, if you mysteriously lose service and your phone number doesn’t work, call your provider IMMEDIATELY.
Main Article:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/tech/sim-hack-million-dollars/index.html
Just like that, through no fault of his own, his savings wiped.
It can happen to anyone. You can set up all manner of encryption and safeguards on your phone, too, but the hacker bypasses all that by gaining control of your SIM card through a social engineering, i.e. a telephone call.
This is only going to blow up until more stories pop up and providers set up two-factor authorization like Sprint does.
Treat your provider account as the most important. It really is the key to your kingdom. Enable ALL extra security measures, two-factor authorization (if available) on a separate phone number, passwords, passphrases etc on the provider account.
Don’t share personal information online. Don’t post, or at least carefully limit, information on social media that a thief could use to gain access to your accounts or convince someone he is you. This includes legal names, birth dates and information that could be an answer to a security question, such as a pet’s name, your best friend or high school mascot.
Keep your personal email in box clean. Delete phone bills, bank statements and other emails that may include personal information. Don’t store passwords, passcodes or pins in unencrypted or unsecure email accounts. This will help reduce the risk of your sensitive information falling into the wrong hands.
