South Korean cellular supplier SK Telecom has introduced free SIM card replacements to its 25 million cellular clients following a current USIM information breach, however solely 6 million playing cards can be found via Might.
SK Telecom is the nation’s largest cellular community operator, serving roughly half of the home cell phone market.
On April 19, the corporate detected a malware operating on its community that allowed menace actors to steal clients’ Common Subscriber Id Module (USIM) information, sometimes together with Worldwide Cellular Subscriber Id (IMSI), Cellular Station ISDN Quantity (MSISDN), authentication keys, community utilization information, and SMS or contacts if saved on the SIM.
No buyer names, different identification particulars, or monetary info had been uncovered on account of this incident.
The principle threat from this breach is the potential for menace actors to carry out unauthorized quantity ports to cloned SIM playing cards, often called “SIM swapping.”
In an replace revealed earlier right now, SK Telecom assured clients that such requests could be robotically detected and blocked by its Fraud Detection System (FDS) and SIM Safety Service, which have been enhanced to deal with the elevated threat.
Supply: SK Telecom
As of right now, SK Telecom can be providing free-of-charge SIM card replacements to 25 million cellular subscribers, together with roughly 2 million utilizing price range carriers, who’re apprehensive concerning the potential for SIM swapping assaults impacting them.
Nevertheless, the cellular service warns that on account of a scarcity of stock, they will solely change as much as 6 million SIM playing cards via Might 2025.
“At present, SK Telecom holds 1 million SIM playing cards and plans to safe 5 million extra by the tip of Might 2025,” reads the replace.
“On account of potential congestion, clients are inspired to make use of the web reservation system (care.tworld.co.kr) to e-book their SIM substitute prematurely.”
Solely clients who subscribed as of April 18, 2025, at midnight (Japan time), are eligible for SIM substitute.
In the meantime, the agency has revealed an FAQ concerning the cybersecurity incident, which states that investigations into the precise causes and scope are nonetheless ongoing however haven’t but confirmed “secondary harm or darkish net leaks.”
The FAQ additionally clarifies that roaming providers have been disabled for subscribers who’ve activated SIM Safety, however they plan to improve the function to make it usable whereas overseas for optimum safety.
Lastly, all impacted clients will probably be receiving a personalised message with safety directions quickly.
