A type of cyber attack called SIM swapping involves the hijacking and exploitation of a user’s private data through their phone’s SIM card.
Key Takeaways:
- SIM swapping is a hacking technique where the hacker remotely accesses the victim’s SIM card to get into their accounts through two-step verification – a security method that calls or texts the user before permitting them to log in.
- Hackers can overtake a SIM card by simply obtaining information about the target through malicious software, phishing, or even just by talking to that person and learning enough about them.
- Scammers use SIM swapping for a multitude of reasons. From entering your social media accounts to draining your bank account, they can weaponize your data however they see fit.
Why it Matters:
- The key to protecting yourself against SIM swapping is to exercise caution when giving information away, whether it’s on the internet or in conversation.
- Keeping all social media accounts as private and secure as possible is important, but restricting personal information from most people in your real life is just as crucial.
- Training your employees to recognize fraud in emails or other suspicious interactions is the first step to protecting your firm’s sensitive information.
- Since SIM swapping occurs with personal mobile devices, securing all company information with multi-factor authentication and protected accounts is necessary as well.
- BW Cyber offers training for all employees to equip them with best practices when dealing with sensitive information in addition to full consultancy services for your firm.
Resources:
- Source: https://www.idropnews.com/news/sim-swapping-explained-whats-sim-swapping-and-why-is-it-so-dangerous/176490/
- BW’s Enterprise / Customer Training & Phishing: https://www.bwcyberservices.com/services/training-phishing/
- BW’s Managed Detection & Response: https://www.bwcyberservices.com/services/managed-detection-response/
