Wireless carriers offer security features to prevent SIM swapping attacks

Enabling carrier security locks prevents unauthorized individuals from taking control of a phone number and intercepting security codes used to access personal financial and email accounts.

• •SIM swapping occurs when a hacker tricks a wireless carrier into transferring a phone number to a SIM card or eSIM they control.
• •Text-based two-factor authentication codes can be intercepted by hackers if they successfully take control of a phone number.
• •AT&T offers a free Wireless Account Lock feature that blocks SIM swaps and carrier transfers for all lines on an account through a single switch in the AT&T app.
• •AT&T sends an email to the primary account holder and a text to each active number whenever the account lock is changed.
• •T-Mobile provides SIM Protection to prevent moving a number to another SIM card, managed under account settings in the T-Mobile app.
• •T-Mobile offers Port Out Protection to prevent transferring a number to another carrier, which must be applied separately to each individual line.
• •Verizon offers SIM Protection to block unauthorized device changes and Number Lock to prevent carrier transfers via the My Verizon app.
• •Smaller wireless carriers may offer similar protections, searchable by looking up the carrier name alongside 'port out protection.'
• •Users must temporarily disable these security locks if they switch phones or wireless carriers.
• •Using an authenticator app instead of text messages for two-factor authentication helps secure accounts even if a phone number is compromised.