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Security Operations · Intermediate

SIM Swapping

Fraudulently transferring a victim's phone number to an attacker-controlled SIM to intercept calls and SMS codes.

Definition

Attackers social-engineer or bribe mobile carrier staff to port the victim's number. They then receive SMS one-time codes and password reset messages, taking over email, banking and cryptocurrency accounts. Carrier port-out PINs and avoiding SMS-based MFA mitigate it.

Example

After a SIM swap, the attacker resets the victim's exchange account password via SMS code.

Exam tip

SIM swapping is why NIST SP 800-63B restricts SMS as an authenticator.

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