Sim Cloning

MarkB4 on 28/04/2012 - 16:40
Last edited 28/04/2012 - 18:36

Does anyone know anything about it and what the limits/uses are? Did a search and not much here on WP.

http://popular.ebay.com.au/mobiles-phones/sim-card/sim-card-… One says – Generation 5 Sim Card Can not Be Decode??? Another that it can clone 3G. Nothing on Next G.

My immediate idea for use was for impending campervan travelling, a Nokia N95 for GPS (battery hungry) and a cheapie I got for calls http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/67749 with good battery standby/use life.

I was thinking of using a clone in one phone for backup and to keep things simple.

Any ideas/info anyone?

Edited for clarity - I think. :)

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • zombie hunter on 28/04/2012 - 17:59

    I brought one pretty much the same as one you described. It was able to read edit and backup my numbers on 3G Vodafone sim card if that is any help. it back up into a file in CSV format with commas. It menu like file manager the sim on the left and on the right the backup file and you can transfer in either direction

  • MarkB4 on 28/04/2012 - 18:29

    Yes, most can copy the files but I want to clone the sim itself. And I'd like to be able to do it for a Next G sim to take advantage of the best Telstra has to offer - assuming it's an upgraded sim from the 3G or other.

  • shmootz on 29/04/2012 - 10:28

    Hi Mark,

    Fairly sure it's illegal. If you were to get it working, you would have to use it in such a way that only 1 device is powered on at a time. This is because providers (I.e Telstra) can see which device IMEI (your device's unique identifier) is being used by the sim. If they see multiple devices in use at the same time for the same SIM card, they will just ban your account.

    Hope that helps!

    • MarkB4 on 29/04/2012 - 18:30
      +1

      Thanks S. I've been looking into it and it seems you may be right but I haven't found any actual law or case info to establish it. Anyway, remembering to shut one down to use another will surely fail some time so I'll probably just swap when needed.

  • Postulative on 29/04/2012 - 11:11
    +2

    I'd be extremely concerned at the idea that a phone's SIM could be cloned. There are all sorts of fun things a devious and criminal mind would be able to do with the clone.

    • MarkB4 on 29/04/2012 - 18:45

      Sims can be cloned all right but I can't see any use for one other than to have it sitting in another phone for when needed. It could also be used to pretend to be somewhere you're not, but you don't need a clone for that. And if you want to be somewhere nobody knows just use a cheap sim/svc.

      I suppose someone could use a clone of your sim for free calls but they'd need access to your sim so you'd know pretty quick who that is.

      I have wondered why it is illegal, if it is, and all I can see is it may provide a questionable alibi and enables more than one person at a time to use the account, in different places if necessary - but as S says, can probably easily be detected. Maybe Jason Bourne really can listen in on the same acc at the same time?

      In these days of state surveillance coverage it should be easy to establish you were or weren't someone using a clone so I'm not convinced by the security aspect. But having two sims for one account, one a DIY clone, 'robs' someone of their potential revenue. Some providers do or did provide a second or more sims with the same account for a fee.

      Have to say I don't really know all the ins and outs of it.

      • altomic on 07/05/2012 - 08:22

        what if you called the copied sim/phone and you talked to yourself……..

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