Malicious SIM Cards Can Shut Down Phones and Steal Files
Malicious SIM cards can shut down phones and steal files, revealing serious security risks. Researchers highlight vulnerabilities in cellular devices.
Researchers have discovered that a malicious SIM card can instruct certain phones and cellular devices to leak data, downgrade to 2G, shut down, or even execute code. This capability arises from the proactive functions of SIM cards that allow them to issue commands to the host device. The research tested 26 devices and found vulnerabilities that could lead to serious security risks, including code execution and denial of service attacks.