Is It Possible to Clone the SIM Card of Your GSM Phone?
I have a Blackberry 8700 for work. It’s a great device with some fantastic features, but as a basic cell phone it’s awkward and bulky. When I’m not working, I’d prefer to carry around a basic flip phone but don’t want to pay for an extra phone line. Fortunately my cell provider uses GSM cell technology which means the phones on the network all use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card (a little device that contains everything necessary for the phone to access and use my providers cell network). Using this cell technology allowed me to go to my provider, purchase a flip phone, and, depending what I needed for the day, simply swap the SIM card between the new flip phone and the Blackberry device. Not the most elegant solution, and repeatedly swapping the SIM does run the risk of damaging it. Unfortunately I have no other option for my situation — or do I? Why can’t I just copy my SIM card and leave one card in each device and only use them one at a time?
What you need to copy a SIM card
I might be simplifying things but you need two basic things from your original SIM card in order to copy (or clone) it:
- IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identifier): The number normally written on the SIM card itself
- Authentication key (Ki): A hidden number which can only be discovered electronically
Getting the IMSI number is fairly simple: Do a little web research to learn more about what this number looks and where its located, and then examine your card for such a number. Extracting the Ki from the SIM card is much more difficult because you would need a device capable of reading the card and some sophisticated software to decrypt the Ki. Search the web for this device and software and you’ll find several sites selling SIM card duplicators. Matter of fact, most of these items are extremely affordable. Sound to good to be true? It is.
Why SIM card duplication or cloning is nearly impossible
There was a time when SIM card security was less than ideal. Cloning cards was a real concern for cell providers and when money is at stake you can bet they took the necessary steps to address their security weaknesses.
Cell providers currently use SIM cards that have an anti-tamper device built into their software. If Ki cracking software attempts to discover the Ki number through brute force sequential numeric attempts, the SIM locks to a state where it is unusable. In short, you’re phone is useless and you need to go back to your provider and attempt to get a replacement SIM.
V1 SIM cards which I believe were made prior to 2001 are possible to duplicate. Unfortunately, anything younger than that (V2 of 3G SIM cards) contain the anti-tamper software and are almost impossible to clone. And it’s the SIM card version that is the “fine print” on those very tempting SIM card duplicators.
The “fine print” of SIM duplicators
SIM card duplicators are often listed for sale with one of the following titles:
- Silver cards
- Green cards
- Platinum cards
- 16 in 1
- 12 in 1
- 10 in 1
- 8 to 1
- Super SIM
All of these items look as if they will do the job of cloning a SIM card, they basically claim that is exactly what they will do. If, however, you read the description closely, you’ll notice that they claim to only work with V1 SIM cards. Those are the pre-2001 SIM cards that do not contain the anti-tamper software and therefore easy to clone. Take one of those duplicators and attempt to clone a V2 or 3G SIM and you’ll likely render your card useless. Buyer beware!
The possibility to clone does exist but not worth the effort
I honestly believe that someone could successfully clone a V2 or 3G SIM card. The process itself is illegal as far as I know, and if you were to simultaneously use the original and copied card (intentionally or by accident), you’re cell provider would undoubtedly know and most likely revoke your access to their cell network immediately. For the average cell customer, the possibility of cloning a newer version SIM card is next to impossible and simply not worth the effort. If, however, you actually know how to successfully clone a 3G SIM card, then by all means let me know.
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Thanks for a great detailed explanation. I too have a PDA phone and wanted a second normal phone but have run into this problem about cloning the SIM.
Im glad i found your post, its saved me a few quid on ebay, as i nearly bought those blank SIMs and some other Ki decription device.
Let me know fi you have any sucess.
Hi Kevin, thanks for the comment. I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in this quest and that my post saved you some cash.
The only other option I’ve heard about is if you can get your cell provider to split your service and put the phone on one SIM and the data plan on another one. They said they could do it but I would have to pay for a second line. I explained it to them at least 3 times and they still didn’t quite understand exactly what I wanted. Anyway, I have talked to some people that seem fairly knowledgeable in this area and they said the cell provided could do exactly what I wanted them to do, it was just a question of whether they “wanted” to do it.
I’m still looking for a solution and will post it here at TechTraction should I find one.
I spoke to Orange UK last night regarding a second sim, its known to them as “Single Number” but they told me its only offered to business customers, which im not one of. This has a one off connection charge of £30, then a monthly sub of £3. This would allow us the freedom to run 2 phones.
Which network are you with?
I might try asking about splitting the service, but they might just say the same thing again.
I’m using AT&T (formerly Cingular) here in the U.S.. Was much better when it was just Cingular, but still not too bad and based on my previous experiences — much better than Sprint.
Good luck with trying to get them to split the service. Please let me know how it goes.
Thanks for the comment
Maybe it can get a little complicated if used in a different way.
Is It Possible to Clone the SIM Card of Your GSM Phone? is a quite interesting post but quite difficult to understand for me.
Hi - just wanted to say good design and blog - cu
Max, simply put, you can copy a GSM phone SIM Card but you might damage it in the process and only V1 SIM cards are capable of being completely copied. Newer version SIM cards have some type of anti-tamper protection on them which prevents an individual from making a complete copy of the card. Hope that answers your question.
Hi,
I was a member of a team who developped and installed multicard service for O2 Germany.
You can use up to 5 sim cards all having the same public number. The devices which are supposed to be used for terminating calls, sms ,mms can be chosen by the user (configurable from the mobile set). With last version of the service (using Camel phase 3) the terminating device for different type of traffic can be chosen dynamicaly (with complex logic behind) by the service - also location dependant. Meaning that for example when you are at home and at work your PDA takes the sms and your phone manages the terminating calls, on the way from work home all type of traffic is received on your car cell phone. All devices can be active at the same time (all can be used to make originating calls - for defined destinations and /or users even simultaneously). There is USSD driven user interface for the device management. If interested in details contact me on mrlaskowski@yahoo.fr
Wow. That’s amazing. Thanks for posting the comment. I’m sure most readers will find it extremely useful. In the meantime, do you know if there is a simple way to simply make a copy of a 3G SIM card?
need sim cloning
how to make a 3g sim-card clone?? - if anyone knows
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Hi Bret,
I am in the UK and have an Orange Phone sim which is at least 10 years old, would this make it a V1 card and able to be copied.
I want to put 1 sim in my car phone & 1 in my handheld it will save me swapping sim/phone each time I get in the car.
Kind regards.
Bazz
For information:-
Orange will only give me single number i.e. 2 sim cards 1 number if I change to a more expensive new monthly tarriff which I do not want to do.
Hi Bazz, have you studied the SIM chip itself? Do you see any serial number or identifying numbers? You might find something on the chip itself. Otherwise, a 10 year old chip is most likely a V1 chip and one of those duplicates will probably work for you.
Hope that helps.
Hi Bret,
Thanks for that, I will let you know how I get on.
Kind regards.
Bazz
Thanks Bret for this eye opening post. I also love my PDA but find it a bit bulky to carry about. I don’t have a regular cell phone but have been thinking about buying one. I wasn’t sure if it was possible to clone a sim card or not but it seems that you can from what you say. Thanks I shall need to do the further research.
Sorry Linda, but I believe you misunderstood my post. Only the oldest of all SIM chips v 1.0 can be cloned. Anything more recent than those chips CANNOT be cloned.
Thanks for the comment. Hope that clears things up.
Okay a lot of explanation and info here. But let us say I want to use 3 sim cards in one phone. Got a blackberry 8100 from work. Nice little phone and has all the options I need. Now I went out and got myself a supersim only cost me 5 USD with S/H so if it doesnt work I wont be heartbroke. I hate to cary 3 phones. work/privte and out of country line which I got coz I travel abroad. Anyway I tried it withthe software and it just kept searching and calculating without result. needless to say it doesnt work. fortunately the current solution is getting a phone with 3 simslots and most of these babies work together, so you dont need to switch between sims or forward calls to another phonenumber.
Ohh since I have the device would be nice if I could actually clone my own sims…does work with the addressbook and sms messages…it is a shame couldnt get the (ki)
i am very intrested of cloning 3G card and create a 12 in 1 SIM in thatcase i can use my Smartphone with my Mobile broadband and my regular mobileSIM
Sorry Markus, cloning a 3G chip is impossible with easily accessible software and utilities.
Thanks for the comment.