Privacy Glossary
Definition: SIM Swap
A security threat where a hacker convinces a telecom carrier to route your phone number to their own SIM card.
A SIM Swap occurs when a cybercriminal tricks a mobile carrier into porting your phone number to a SIM card they control. Once successful, they receive all your incoming SMS messages and OTP codes, allowing them to bypass two-factor authentication on bank accounts and social profiles. Using temporary virtual numbers for registrations shields your primary SIM from targeted swap attacks.
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