Cybersecurity researchers from Dublin-based firm AdaptiveMobile Security have recently uncovered a new and previously undetected vulnerability and associated exploits, called Simjacker. What Simjacker does is track phones by simply sending an SMS. Based on the report, these specially crafted texts “instructs the SIM Card within the phone to ‘take over’ the mobile phone to retrieve and perform sensitive commands”. Once compromised, important information like geographical locations can be obtained and it may also force the phone to make calls or send text messages.
Simjacker is reportedly being exploited by groups as surveillance to spy and track targeted individuals. It is estimated that about a billion mobile devices worldwide will be vulnerable to this attack.
