Sim Swap Attacks Surging
Purism
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Why Your Phone Number Should Not Be Your Identity
Most people think of their phone number as a simple way to stay connected. It is how friends reach you, how companies verify accounts, and how banks send login codes. But over time, your phone number has quietly become something much bigger. For many services, it has become your identity.
The Rise of SIM Swap Attacks
A growing form of fraud called a SIM swap attack is exposing how fragile phone number based security really is.
In a SIM swap attack, a criminal convinces a mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to a SIM card they control. Once that happens, they receive your calls and text messages. If your bank, email, or cryptocurrency exchange sends login codes to your phone, the attacker receives those also.
They can then reset your passwords and lock you out of your own accounts.
This is not rare and it is not theoretical.
- A Canadian woman lost 12 Bitcoin after a SIM swap attack and is now suing phone companies over the breach. At current values, her loss would be worth well over one million dollars.
- The official United States Securities and Exchange Commission social media account was compromised through a SIM swap, leading to false Bitcoin ETF approval news that briefly shook markets.
- Ethereum co founder Vitalik Buterin’s account on X was hijacked after attackers gained control of his phone number. The incident resulted in nearly 700,000 dollars in stolen crypto assets from people who trusted the fraudulent post.
If it can happen to regulators and technology leaders, it can happen to anyone.
The Real Issue: Your Security Is Outsourced
The core problem is simple. When your accounts rely on SMS codes, your security depends on your mobile carrier. That means a store employee, a customer service representative, or a weak internal policy becomes part of your security chain.
You may use strong passwords. You may enable two factor authentication. But if that second factor is your phone number, it can still be taken from you.
Your bank account, your email, your social media, and your cryptocurrency wallet can all be tied to one vulnerable point of failure.
Your phone number should not be your identity.
A Better Approach: Own Your Security
At Purism, we believe security should start with ownership and control. You should not have to trust telecom providers, social media companies, or cloud services to protect your digital life.
Instead, you can establish what security experts call a root of trust in hardware you physically control.
This means your authentication keys and encryption credentials live on your device, not on someone else’s server and not tied to a phone number that can be reassigned.
How Purism Helps
Purism builds privacy focused hardware and software designed to put you back in control.
Librem Key: The Librem Key is a hardware security token made in the United States by Purism that provides strong authentication and encryption. Instead of receiving login codes through text messages, you can use a physical device that must be present to access your accounts. This dramatically reduces the risk of remote takeover.
PureOS: PureOS is Purism’s open source operating system. Because it is open and transparent, it avoids hidden backdoors and allows secure storage of your cryptographic keys. Transparency increases trust and reduces hidden vulnerabilities.
Librem 5 and Liberty Phone: Unlike conventional smartphones that rely heavily on centralized services, the Librem 5 and Liberty Phone are built with privacy at the hardware level. With hardware kill switches and a security focused design, they give you greater control over how your device communicates.
Librem 14 Secure Laptop: For those managing cryptocurrency, financial accounts, or sensitive business information, the Librem 14 provides a secure computing environment designed with privacy and user control in mind.
AweSIM: For users in the United States, AweSIM adds an extra layer of privacy by separating your financial accounts from the carriers; it is like VPN for cellular; enhancing network level protections and reducing unnecessary data exposure.
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
You do not need to be a cybersecurity expert to improve your protection.
Avoid SMS based authentication whenever possible. Choose authenticator apps or hardware security keys instead.
Use layered security. Combine strong passwords, hardware authentication, and secure devices.
Control your private keys. If you hold cryptocurrency, consider self custody rather than relying entirely on exchanges.
Pay attention to your mobile account. Unexpected service disruptions or SIM change notifications should be treated seriously.
The Bottom Line
SIM swap attacks expose a dangerous assumption: that your phone number equals your identity. It does not.
Your identity is far more valuable than a string of digits assigned by a telecom company. When attackers are constantly refining their methods, the strongest defense is ownership.
At Purism, we believe you should control your devices, your keys, and your digital future. Real security does not depend on convenience. It depends on building trust into the hardware you own.
Your phone number connects you to the world. It should not control your life.
Purism Products and Availability Chart
| Model | Status | Lead Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Librem Key (Made in USA) | In Stock ($59+) | 10 business days | |
 | Liberty Phone (Made in USA Electronics) | In Stock ($1,999+) 4GB/128GB | 10 business days | |
| Librem 5 | In Stock ($799+) 3GB/32GB | 10 business days | |
 | Librem 11 | In Stock ($999+) 8GB/1TB | 6+ weeks | |
 | Librem 14 | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
 | Librem Mini | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
 | Librem Server | In Stock ($2,999+) | 45 business days | |
 | Librem PQC Encryptor | Available Now, contact sales@puri.sm | 90 business days | |
 | Librem PQC Comms Server | Available Now, contact sales@puri.sm | 90 business days |
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