AT&T has launched a new security feature called "Wireless Lock" that protects customers from SIM swapping attacks by preventing changes to their account information and the porting of phone numbers while the feature is enabled.
This new feature has been available for some customers for almost a year and has now been rolled out to all AT&T customers.
SIM swap attacks are when cybercriminals port, or move, a targeted phone number to a device under their control. This allows them to intercept the target's calls, texts, and multi-factor authentication codes to breach further accounts, such as email, banking, and cryptocurrency wallets.
In some cases, threat actors conduct SIM swap attacks by tricking or bribing telecom employees into transferring numbers from customers' SIM cards to a new device.
With the new AT&T feature, customers can log in to the company's mobile app or website to "lock" their number, preventing anyone, including AT&T employees, from porting the number to a new SIM card or transferring it to another provider unless the setting is first disabled.
The feature also protects other types of information, such as changing billing information, authorized users, and changing phone numbers. Business accounts receive additional features, including the ability to exempt certain lines from the lock or restrict specific account changes when enabled.
Wireless Lock features by account type
Source: AT&T
While it is good to see that AT&T has finally released this feature, it comes late, as other carriers, such as Verizon, have had it for almost 5 years.
SIM swap attacks have been linked to numerous security incidents over the past five years.
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