Many years ago it was difficult to imagine that a significant part of your life would be spent browsing the web and texts on one device. Not to mention, this device is a mobile phone. These days, thanks in large part to the boom in social media and related apps, it’s even harder to imagine your life without them.
Today, mobile devices resemble personal computers, which can store large amounts of personal data. For the most part, this data connects directly to the Internet, even if it is stored on the SIM card.
This means that not only is the security of your SIM card vital against network attacks, but also the protection that needs to be maintained on the device itself.
Names, addresses, photos and phone numbers are just a fraction of what is stored on the SIM card. Once a hacker has infiltrated your device, he can gain access to all of this and more data, often without your knowledge.
How to protect your phone’s SIM card from intruders
There are at least three main ways to prevent hackers from accessing your phone’s SIM card. The most obvious one is to physically protect your phone from strangers.
Protect your phone
The easiest way to jailbreak your mobile device is to get hold of it. Leaving your phone unattended is a serious risk that is also very easy to avoid.
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Never let strangers use your phone. You might as well just provide them with all your information on the spot. If you accidentally lose your phone, contact your service provider immediately and temporarily block your account. The longer you put off the delay, the more likely it is that whoever currently owns the phone will have access to it.
A strong password is also essential when it comes to keeping your device secure. The password should be difficult to divulge and change frequently. Never relax when it comes to your personal safety.
While we are trying to protect your SIM card from hackers, replacing your SIM card with a different one from time to time can help keep the information stored on them safe. SIM change is a serious and growing threat. Updating your SIM card regularly can lower your chances of falling prey to hackers.
Practice Internet Safety
Do not follow the links attached to suspicious emails. Phishing scams are making a serious comeback and is one of the most effective tools that hackers will use to steal your information. Just as you would avoid them on a personal computer, you will need to follow the same precautions on your mobile device.
As mentioned earlier, social media has experienced explosive growth over the past few years. Many people like you use social media on a daily basis to stay in touch with friends and family, for professional reasons, or just to show their life to the world. Trust me when I tell you that the wrong eyes are always looking.
A hacker will scour your entire social media history for tidbits of information that they can use to steal your identity. They will try to figure out what kind of person you are and use this information to hack your SIM card. They then try to trick your carrier into asking for a new SIM by pretending to be you. The hacker will then receive your new SIM card and use it to receive all calls and text messages intended for you.
The information they receive will also help them hack your bank account. Now that they have access to your email, you can reset your password in just a few clicks. Now all your money belongs to them. Be smart and don’t give a hacker the information they need to break into your life. Keep your privacy private.
Public Wi-Fi
It should be easy, but people still intend to use public Wi-Fi. It’s hard to give up free internet access at local cafes, shopping malls and other mobile hotspots Understand that hackers know this too and often target these places, as internet security is usually terrible.
An unsecured signal can seriously affect the security of your mobile device, making you more vulnerable to hackers. Then, if you happen to forget that you were using a public service in the first place, leaving it connected, you will be vulnerable.
If you absolutely must use a public Wi-Fi network, remember to turn off Bluetooth wireless connectivity when not in use and use a VPN
Additional Precautions
Another thing you can do to keep your SIM card safe from hackers is add a PIN to your carrier account and redirect any two-factor authentication (2FA) to Google Voice. The PIN should have been dealt with when buying the device, but some people may be either too busy or not even aware that this is an option.
If you have not yet been able to obtain a PIN, you can still set it up by phone with your carrier or online on the official website of the carrier. A PIN will add an extra layer of security to your account, making it less likely that the operator will be tricked into thinking that you are the hacker.
Moving all 2-step verification to your Google Voice account is a surefire way to challenge a hacker. They will assume that all of your information is at their fingertips, only to quickly realize that all those naughty details are being redirected elsewhere.
All the most popular accounts like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. will have 2FA. Setting up a Google Voice phone number doesn’t take long at all, and it can save you a lot of stress down the road. Do yourself a favor and get it.
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