What is sim card cloning?

SIM card cloning means creating another SIM card with the same information as the original. Earlier, we discussed what a SIM is. In this tutorial, we will describe what is cloning a sim card and how you can avoid fraud.

A sim is an electronic chip inside a mobile phone with memory and operator information through which a mobile subscriber gets services (SMS, Call, and Data) from the mobile network operator. Cloning means creating a duplicate copy of something.

Cloning means creating a duplicate new sim card with the same information as the older one. This means the sim should be able to attach to the mobile network and perform voice, SMS, and data.

After cloning, a sim card can be used for Voice, SMS, etc. This is dangerous because a cloned sim is the same as the original sim. Person after sim cloning can get SMS etc. Most banks use OTP for authentication, so the guy can access bank accounts too.

What information is copied in SIM cloning?

Sim chip has applications and data inside. All information is not necessary to clone the sim to make it work. Some key information is needed to operate the cloned sim card. Sim cloning copies the sim data from one chip to another. Here we will discuss what parameters are copied from the older sim to the new sim to make the sim card work.

We should know how a sim card works to understand what parameters need to copy. The first thing is that the SIM identity (IMSI) needs to be copied to the new SIM. Every sim card is configured against the IMSI in the mobile operators’ home networks. The main network components in a subscriber’s home network are the HLR and AUC. HLR controls the subscription for roaming and data while AuC does the authentication. For HLR, a sim needs IMSI, and for AuC, IMSI and an Authentication key are required. So another parameter is the Authentication key. SMSC number is also essential for mobile-originated SMS, but that can be available from a mobile operator. It is a piece of public information.

How is SIM card cloning Done?

Hardware is called a SIM card reader, which connects to a computer over USB or any other cable. The system has installed software or a driver for the sim card reader. The sim needs to be cloned, inserted in the sim card reader, and the software copies the data from the sim to the storage. The new sim card is inserted, and stored data is copied to the new SIM. To verify cloning, the new sim is inserted into the mobile device, and if the sim is successfully attached to the network, it means cloning is successful.

How to avoid Sim Card Cloning?

There is only one way that does not allow someone to keep your sim card or get access to it. While giving your handset to anyone, make sure that you remove your sim card. If, for any reason, you feel that another person needs a sim card from you, then make sure he does not access a sim card from any software. So always keep your eyes open to avoid sim card cloning.