Phone cloning is quite popular in the entertainment industry. By doing this, filmmakers can spy on someone’s activities. In reality, things are a bit different, as phone cloning is not exactly easy to do. But this does not make cloning the phone impossible, or even unlikely in some cases, especially since older phones are more susceptible to cloning than new ones. Here’s what you need to know about how cloning works, what it can mean to you, and how to check if a device has been cloned.
WHAT IS PHONE CLONING?
Put simply, phone cloning involves copying the identity of a mobile device to be able to use it on another. Although there are three main methods of cloning, AMPS, CDMA and GSM cloning, only the latter is more popular.
GSM cloning is based on identifying and copying the IMEI or international identity number of mobile devices. This is a unique identifier that can be obtained through hacking. Also in the GSM cloning schemes, you will find the cloning of the hardware SIM card. In most cases, this would require physical access to the SIM card to extract its K code.
While phone cloning is illegal in most countries, phone cloning still remains a thriving industry. However, due to the complexity of some of the detection methods, such as radio fingerprints, very few users run the risk of cloning their phones. Most modern smartphones are more susceptible to direct hacking than cloning.
HOW TO VERIFY IF YOUR PHONE HAS BEEN CLONED
If your phone has been cloned using a very simple IMEI cloning method, you may be able to find the duplicate using the phone’s location software like Find My iPhone (Apple) or Find My Phone (Android).
- Log in to your account.
- Use the map to find the location of the phone.
- Check another or duplicate marker.
If you see that more than one device is being pinged and you know you only have one phone, it is possible that the secondary device is the cloned version of your phone.
Another method that could work involves checking all the expenses on the account. If you find discrepancies like calls to numbers you don’t know, your phone may have been cloned. Also, you don’t have to wait until the end of the month to do it.
Once you have verified that your phone has been cloned, you can request a pre-invoice and start checking the charges. However, keep in mind that not all criminals clone phones to use them to call or consume mobile data. Some simply clone the devices and wait for sensitive information to be sent or received via SMS, the information they can use to make money.
HOW TO VERIFY IF YOU USE A CLONED PHONE
It might be easier to tell if you are using a cloned phone than to know if your phone has been cloned. Why would anyone sell you a cloned phone? Well, there could be dozens of reasons, but the main one will always be profit.
To check if you are using a cloned phone, you can start by paying special attention to text messages and incoming calls. Too many calls and incoming messages from unknown numbers and unknown senders may indicate that you are not the sole owner of your phone and number.
You can also check the IMEI and serial numbers online on the manufacturer’s website. If they match, you should be the sole owner of that phone. If there are discrepancies, then it is likely that you are using a cloned phone or at least a fake phone.
Another thing you could do is check the quality of construction. Check it with an unboxed phone of the same model. Search for anything out of the ordinary regarding weight, accessories, existing software, operating system version, and performance.
If your phone does not work as it should or is lighter than it should be, then you may be dealing with a cloned phone. Buying phones from unverified providers or off Craigslist are just two of the ways you could end up with a cloned phone in your hands.
CLONING- LESS PROBLEMS BUT STILL PROBLEMS
There is not much phone cloning these days as both managers and hardware manufacturers have developed more advanced methods to combat this nefarious act. With this in mind, once your phone has been properly cloned, you could potentially be subject to blackmail, identity theft, etc.
You may also need to address the fact that it may be impossible to determine whether your phone has been cloned or not. There are many sophisticated cloning devices that may leave no traces. Let us know how you feel about cloning your phone, how often you think it happens and what your thoughts on prevention methods are.
