Danie van der Merwe

eSIM security vs. a physical SIM: An eSIM is safer

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:33:40 -0300

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

eSIM security vs. a physical SIM: An eSIM is safer

Apart from, the convenience of being able to easily enable an eSIM (without waiting for a physical SIM delivery), the ease of switching SIM profiles when travelling, and not having a physical card that gets damaged, these eSIMs also have some security advantages too.

eSIM (embedded subscriber identity module) technology employs various additional security measures that make it less prone to hacking than physical SIMs. Those measures include a secure element, which stores sensitive data and protects it from unauthorized access or tampering, adding an extra layer of protection against hacking attempts.

They cannot be cloned, as they cannot be physically accessed from outside the phone. Also, if your phone is stolen, it is not like a physical SIM where a thief can just remove the SIM card (the eSIM is always active inside the phone).

In other aspects they are quite similar to physical SIM cards, for example, with SIM swapping, as SIM swapping is done virtually on the network side and has little to do with the SIM in your phone.

But remember that no online device is ever fully immune to hacking. So whilst eSIMs are a step up from physical SIM cards, they may not be fully immune.

See Is an eSIM safe? eSIM security vs. a physical SIM card

Is an eSIM safe from hacking, cloning, and swapping attacks? Explore the security measures that protect eSIM technology.

#technology #eSIM #security

technology security eSIM

Adapter adds eSIM to any Android smartphone

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 05:50:50 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Adapter adds eSIM to any Android smartphone

Most Android phones, that contain eSIMs, are pretty expensive.

Fortunately, several companies have developed eSIM adapters that can be plugged into regular physical SIM card slots and add eSIM technology to your phone.

Among the newest providers is JMP, whose adapter was recently tested by Android Authority.

The adapter’s shape is identical to a regular physical SIM card, which lets you insert it into nearly any device with a SIM card tray or slot, including Android smartphones, tablets, and mobile Wi-Fi routers.

The only feature your smartphone must support to use the JMP eSIM adapter is the Open Mobile API (OMAPI), which is required for interfacing with the eSIM chip.

Almost every smartphone with Android 9 Pie or later comes with the feature, but there are a few exceptions — like the Nothing Phone 2a.

The downside is the cost of the adapter at $39.99 (about R716) and shipping to SA $35 (about R626) but I suppose that is cheaper than a higher end phone, and offers the versatility of an eSIM.

Interestingly, too, JMP has open-sourced its software as well.

The linked article also mentions two other alternatives to consider.

See https://mybroadband.co.za/news/cellular/561542-adapter-adds-esim-to-any-android-smartphone.html

#technology #eSIM #opensource

technology opensource eSIM

SIM swappers hijacking phone numbers in eSIM attacks: Protect your cellular service account

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 17:16:59 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Previously, SIM swappers relied on social engineering or worked with insiders at mobile carrier services to help them port a target's number. However, as companies implemented more protections to thwart these takeovers, cybercriminals turned their attention to emerging opportunities in new technologies.

Now, attackers breach a user's mobile account with stolen, brute-forced, or leaked credentials and initiate porting the victim's number to another device on their own.

They can do this by generating a QR code through the hijacked mobile account that can be used to activate a new eSIM. They then scan it with their device, essentially hijacking the number.

To defend against eSIM-swapping attacks, researchers recommend using complex and unique passwords for the cellular service provider account and enabling two-factor authentication if available.

But it also does show that banks should not be relying solely on SMS or authentication by SIM.

See SIM swappers hijacking phone numbers in eSIM attacks

SIM swappers have adapted their attacks to steal a target's phone number by porting it into a new eSIM card, a digital SIM stored in a rewritable chip present on many recent smartphone models.

#technology #esim #vulnerabilities

technology eSIM vulnerabilities

Google's upcoming eSIM tweaks put users in control, not carriers: Android could soon let you convert physical SIM cards and import eSIM profiles

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 08:16:55 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

According to Mishaal Rahman of Esper, you could soon be able to easily transfer an existing eSIM onto a new device or a fresh Android install. To make the feature even more accessible, Google looks like it may also be working on a system for converting the data on physical SIM cards into eSIMs.

Well this would certainly move eSIMs forward because in many cases with carriers, they treat eSIMs just like physical SIMs, wanting to manage all re-registrations themselves. eSIMs should have made the whole SIM experience seamless and interoperable already.

See Google's upcoming eSIM tweaks put users in control, not carriers

#technology #eSIM #SIM #carriers #smartphone

Physical SIM cards are slowly becoming obsolete

technology eSIM SIM carriers smartphones

In theory, eSIM makes it easier to jump between devices and phone plans, that’s far from the case right now

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 17:39:09 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

An interesting read at the linked article below. Whilst it is a given that eSIMs (and their successor) are going to happen, there are clearly some rough edges that need to be worked on. What was going to be greater freedom to switch SIMs, could end up being a bit of a lock-in with an existing eSIM ;-)

I've switched more than once between an iPhone and an Android phone, and even moved a SIM card from a mobile hotspot into a second SIM slot on an Android phone. And yes, some of these things may not be easily possible yet with eSIMs. As the author pointed out, they ended up with two phones and no cellular service at all.

See Using eSIM to switch between phones isn’t exactly easy right now

#technology #eSIM #SIM #mobile

Switching from iOS to Android with eSIM gets a little hairy.

technology eSIM SIM mobile

SIM vs. eSIM vs. iSIM: What are the differences? The past, present, and future of SIMs

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 18:19:40 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

If you want to use your smartphone, you'll need a SIM card of some sort. The Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) assigns you a phone number and connects your phone to a mobile network or carrier. Without a SIM, you can't call, text, or use any of the best data plans.

In recent years, the physical SIM card has been overshadowed by the eSIM, culminating in Apple's decision to remove physical SIM card slots from the iPhone 14 lineup. And while less well known, iSIM has the potential to eclipse both of these.

It certainly also gets a bit more complicated for cellular service providers. Certainly the present and future should provide subscribers with more options, if only providers were moving a bit quicker as we are not yet seeing all those options (choices are still thin on the ground).

See SIM vs. eSIM vs. iSIM: What are the differences?

#technology #SIM #eSIM #iSIM #mobile

Yes. your phone probably supports eSIM, but most US carriers would have preferred to arm-wrestle you than support them until recently. 📱💪🏻

technology SIM eSIM iSIM mobile

Why You Should Use an existing embedded eSIM Card the Next Time You Travel

Tue, 24 May 2022 17:07:59 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

When travelling to a new country, many of us buy a SIM card as soon as we land—but it often turns into a frustrating experience. You have to find the kiosk, provide the right documents, pay, and then wait for activation. What if you could skip the whole charade and get an instant local connection, and reasonable rates, instead? Enter, travel eSIMs.

The “e” in eSIM stands for embedded. Many recent flagship smartphones ship with an electronic SIM card embedded inside. Every iPhone from the iPhone XR and every Pixel from Pixel 2 supports this, as do many Samsung phones.

And, because this is an embedded SIM, there’s no need for a physical SIM card to access a carrier network. It can all be arranged using built-in software (as long as the carrier supports eSIM). This means you can get on a new network, and use it as a data connection, while still receiving calls on your primary number.

See Why You Should Use an eSIM Card the Next Time You Travel

#technology #travel #eSIM

Newer smartphones have an electronic SIM card embedded inside—here's how to use it.

technology esim travel

This eSIM is ready for your Android phone, even if your phone isn't ready for eSIMs, but it is expensive

Sat, 07 May 2022 09:08:26 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Like all SIM cards, the eSIM.me has what is functionally a tiny computer of its own inside it, but the implementation here differs from your typical card. It has all the necessary hardware and software to run its own eSIM, meeting all the same specifications and delivering all the same functionality through software, capable of storing multiple different network profiles. So partly, some of the cost is this hardware device produced in low volumes.

It is interesting that although the iPhone won't be able to change profiles, it could use one of these eSIMS if they are already set up. Also, the costing is expensive for additional profiles, but it appears if you have a rooted Android phone, there's an open-source eSIM management app that you'd be able to use without touching eSIM.me's app.

Of course, a normal carrier SIM card is very cheap, so one would really need to have a suitable use case for this eSIM card. That said if you regularly struggle to change SIM cards (eg. lost SIM ejector tool) maybe it could be worthwhile, if you have a suitable phone, and a carrier supporting eSIMs.

See This eSIM is ready for your phone, even if your phone isn't ready for eSIMs

#technology #eSIM #eSIMme #mobile

But the "e" this time stands for "expensive" — the full version costs $70

technology eSIM mobile android

How to easily get eSIM access for data while travelling e.g. with Mobimatter or eSIM2Fly

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 06:10:12 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

I suspected it was going to be as easy as this. It is really the app to choose a suitable package, subscribe, get e-mail, and activate. I'm just not sure how you actually scan a QR code for an e-mail received on your phone (assuming you're setting this up using a public WiFi hotspot if you're already in a country (that's what coffee shops are for). It apparently includes a eSIM download profile with instructions.

Most are data only, but there are some with voice numbers. Without a voice calling number you can still accept calls on your primary voice number (at a cost often) or use the data to call via WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, Viber, etc.

You can store multiple eSIMs on your phone too, and just choose which is active when. This also removes that risk of damaging physical SIM cards (or losing them).

See I can’t believe how actually convenient it is to get a new eSIM while traveling

#technology #eSIM #roaming #travelling #mobiledata

Whenever I plan a trip to a new country, the first thing I research are prepaid SIMs. Messaging family, urgent work matters, on-the-spot research, all of

technology esim travelling