Why using an eSIM is more secure than using a physical SIM card
Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly common to see an eSIM card to be able to access the internet on your mobile phone or make calls. Although it is not yet common in the Arab world, for example, in the United States, where there are phone models that do not have a physical card slot. In this article, we will talk to you about the security advantages of using an eSIM card over a traditional SIM card.
The first thing to keep in mind is that the goal in both cases is the same: to be able to take advantage of the available network and connect to the Internet or make calls. The main difference is that an eSIM is nothing more than software, or a configuration on the device, while a physical SIM card is just a card that you can insert into the phone.
- Security benefits of using eSIM
The natural thing is that eSIMs are gaining more and more ground. They are also more economical for telecom companies. Think of the thousands of physical SIM cards that can be manufactured every year. In addition, the contracting process with eSIMs is faster and you can have multiple numbers on the same mobile phone. And yes, there are security benefits too.
- Reduced risk of theft
The first thing, which is quite logical, is that there is less risk of theft. In fact, with an eSIM, it is virtually impossible to be stolen, since it is a configuration you have on the phone. On the other hand, a traditional SIM card can be stolen and tried to be used on another mobile phone without your permission.
In the case of an eSIM, they will have to unlock the mobile phone and the process is more complicated. If you lose your phone or it is stolen, removing the SIM card is very simple and you will not need anything extra to do it.
- You can block them more easily.
Another obvious advantage is that you will be able to block your eSIM much easier and faster. If you lose your cell phone or it is stolen, one concern is that they might receive calls, call as if it were you, etc. You can always contact your carrier and ask them to cancel the card, but it can be a bit of a slow process in some cases.
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With an eSIM, you’ll usually be able to do this easily online. Many carriers allow you to do this blocking through an app or website. It can be faster and more flexible, which will help you reduce the risk.
- Better protection against SIM Swapping
SIM swapping is one of the most common ways to attack physical SIM cards. Basically, attackers trick your carrier into sending them another SIM card of yours. They can say you lost it, for example. They impersonate the legitimate user.
This technology is less effective when we talk about eSIM. It is built into the device itself, so transferring it is not that simple. There are authentication and verification protocols. So, while there are fraud options, they are pretty minimal.
- Less likely to be lost when traveling abroad
In this case, we are mainly talking about the mistakes we can make. When we travel to a foreign country, outside the free roaming area, it is normal to buy a local card to have internet and make calls. What happens? In many cases, this requires removing your usual card and putting in the one you have contracted with that country. Many phones support only one physical SIM card at a time. There is a risk that you will lose it, that you will not remember where you kept it, etc.
With an eSIM, this problem goes away. You don't have to remove your physical card, but just keep the eSIM in your phone's settings, even if you turn it off.
In short, using an eSIM has some security advantages over a physical SIM card. We can say that it is an increasingly available alternative, and most likely, it will be the only alternative we will use in a few years.
- Read also: The eSIM and iSIM chips that will come in future phones... What are they and what is the difference between them?