Lock down your AT&T account to prevent SIM swapping attacks – here’s how
SIM swapping is a popular type of fraud in which someone transfers your mobile number to a SIM in their own device. By intercepting any messages or phone calls sent to you, they’re able to access your two-factor authentication codes and other sensitive information. Now, AT&T is offering customers a way to combat this kind of crime.
Available starting today, Wireless Account Lock is an option for AT&T subscribers with postpaid or prepaid wireless accounts. Simply by turning on a switch in the myAT&T app, you can enable Account Lock to prevent unauthorized changes to your account and phone lines.
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Wireless Account Lock prevents a variety of actions, including:
- Upgrading your device to a new one
- Changing a SIM card or eSIM
- Changing a phone number
- Transferring a phone number to a different device
- Changing your billing information
- Changing the authorized users for your account
Certain actions are still allowed with Wireless Account Lock turned on. These include:
- Making a payment
- Setting up payment arrangements
- Enrolling in AutoPay
- Making changes to your plans and add-ons
- Suspending your service
- Unlocking a device
- Managing NumberSync
- Changing your E911 address
- Changing your voicemail password
You can apply Wireless Account Lock to any device on your postpaid or prepaid mobile account with AT&T, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, hotspots, and laptops. You need to be the account owner or have primary or secondary access to the account to do this.
- To get started, download the myAT&T app for iOS or Android if you don’t already have it.
- Sign in to the app and select the number that you want to lock.
- Tap Continue, select Profile & Settings, and then tap Account Info & Preferences.
- Under Wireless Account Lock, turn on the switch to enable it. Here, you can also disable it when you want to make any otherwise blocked changes to your account.
- In response, AT&T will send a confirmation email to your email address and a text to your mobile device.
Also: 7 ways to lock down your phone’s security – before it’s too late
Wireless Account Lock isn’t just for consumers. AT&T offers the same feature for business accounts. Like the consumer version, the business variant will prevent device upgrades, SIM or eSIM changes, number transfers, and other actions.
To enable or disable Account Lock in this instance, sign in to your AT&T business account. Select Account lock settings and turn on Account lock. Here, you’re also able to include or exclude specific features when Account Lock is enabled.
AT&T now joins the other two major US mobile carriers in trying to help customers combat SIM swapping attacks.
T-Mobile offers a SIM Protection feature for both postpaid and prepaid accounts. Using the T-Mobile website or the T-Life app for iOS or Android, you’re able to flip the switch to enable this protection.
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Verizon’s SIM Protection and Number Lock features are also accessible to postpaid and prepaid subscribers. Instructions and controls for enabling both options are available on the My Verizon website and the My Verizon app.
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