Much like sim jacking, phishing is done when these cybercriminals having gained control of your sim card subsequently send out messages containing malware to your contacts who based on the trust they have in you, do not hesitate to open such SMS containing spyware. Once you click on such links the hackers gain access to your contacts list, messages and other private information. Hackers engage in sim jacking by sending links containing malware via SMS to your phone. Sim jacking and phishing – even where hackers do not gain physical access to your sim card or perpetrate a sim swap scam, they could still hack your sim card through sim jacking and phishing. This method is particularly problematic because these hackers can intercept attempts to change your passwords and also, make fraudulent bank transactions appear to have been genuinely authorized by you. Once the sim swap is completed, the hackers can now access all the private information stored on your phone. Cybercriminals first target you to steal your identity by obtaining your private information from a number of places including social media, after which they then reach out to your network provider impersonating you to convince these providers to transfer your sim card number to a new sim card. Its popularity is rooted in the fact that most hacking is done remotely. Sim swapping – this is a more common sim hacking method. This hacking method will typically require the hackers to have physical access to the sim card for it to be cloned successfully. All the information contained in your sim card will then be duplicated on a separate sim card now available to the hacker at will. Sim cloning – in a sim clone attack, hackers make an unauthorized copy of your sim using a smart card copying software, with the aim of accessing private information such as passwords, contacts list and social media accounts. Here are three ways your sim can be hacked and three ways to avoid this. Sim hacking is done by cybercriminals who illegally access data stored on sim cards in order to steal private information for financial fraud or other mischiefs.

We cannot say how many more went unreported.

In 2019, approximately 3000 Nigerians reported having their sim cards hacked monthly.

Prevent sim card hack