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Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

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21–30 of 187 posts

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#21
post #9

I thought T-Mobile significantly cracked down on SIM-swapping internally so this couldn't happen again? I know there's still no patch for human stupidity, but I really am concerned that T-Mobile still apparently seems to be the carrier of choice for easy SIM-swap attacks.

SIM swapping is one thing, but the actual service (X in this case) allowing access to the account via access to the phone number, even without SMS 2FA enabled, is the real problem.

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#22

Ironically SMS 2fa is less safer than just using a password

I'm ready for this future.

Heck, I don't even like that email can be used to recover basically every account.

Someone gets your computer unlocked? They have access to email and everything.

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#23
post #16

Twitter has had support for proper TOTP based 2FA ever since Jack Dorsey got SIM Swapped in 2019[1]. This was also the time when they added support for hardware tokens like Yubikeys. Of course, one needs to enable it. [1]: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/technology/sim-swap-jack-...

Just having a phone number added to Twitter means your account is at risk of being taken over with a sim-swap. This was not 2FA related AFAICT. Twitter also requires you to add a phone number, even on old accounts you can get locked out unless you add one.

Doesn't Twitter force you to add a phone number now?

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#24
post #16

Twitter has had support for proper TOTP based 2FA ever since Jack Dorsey got SIM Swapped in 2019[1]. This was also the time when they added support for hardware tokens like Yubikeys. Of course, one needs to enable it. [1]: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/technology/sim-swap-jack-...

Just having a phone number added to Twitter means your account is at risk of being taken over with a sim-swap. This was not 2FA related AFAICT. Twitter also requires you to add a phone number, even on old accounts you can get locked out unless you add one.

I've got an account from 2009 and have never had to enter my phone number (if I ever get asked, that'll be the time when I stop using it).

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#25

Twitter has had support for proper TOTP based 2FA ever since Jack Dorsey got SIM Swapped in 2019[1]. This was also the time when they added support for hardware tokens like Yubikeys. Of course, one needs to enable it. [1]: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/technology/sim-swap-jack-...

I'm a bit paranoid about 2FA ever since my charging port got damaged and I literally couldn't charge my phone to get to authentication. Scary stuff, had to give sooo much personal information over the course of months to recover a single account. Not sure a solution, maybe have a wifi only phone that I only turn on for Auth?

Have a paper backup of the codes?

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#26

Twitter has had support for proper TOTP based 2FA ever since Jack Dorsey got SIM Swapped in 2019[1]. This was also the time when they added support for hardware tokens like Yubikeys. Of course, one needs to enable it. [1]: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/technology/sim-swap-jack-...

I'm a bit paranoid about 2FA ever since my charging port got damaged and I literally couldn't charge my phone to get to authentication. Scary stuff, had to give sooo much personal information over the course of months to recover a single account. Not sure a solution, maybe have a wifi only phone that I only turn on for Auth?

Every competent TOTP implementation has backup codes. Use one of your backup codes when your phone breaks.

You did write them down like the site told you to, right?

Even if a site doesn't offer backup codes, you can extract the TOTP secret from the QR code, or most authenticator apps, quite easily, and then write it down.

It's more secure to only save the backup codes though since they have a limited number of uses, while the TOTP secret has unlimited uses.

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#27
post #9

I thought T-Mobile significantly cracked down on SIM-swapping internally so this couldn't happen again? I know there's still no patch for human stupidity, but I really am concerned that T-Mobile still apparently seems to be the carrier of choice for easy SIM-swap attacks.

SIM swapping is one thing, but the actual service (X in this case) allowing access to the account via access to the phone number, even without SMS 2FA enabled, is the real problem.

Idk I mean there’s a real trade off to making the app more secure. The causes of insecurity are largely user behavior, and the insecure things are things users want to do for practical reasons.

For example, I have a foolproof way of preventing sim swap attacks: require 256bits of entropy and never allow a password reset, like in crypto. Lose your password? Account is gone forever.

This is more secure but less user friendly. Except for large accounts, I don’t know that anyone even particularly cares if their Twitter gets hacked. You could pretty easily make the argument that preventing sim swap attacks is an optimization for high profile users at the expense of everyone else.

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#28

Twitter has had support for proper TOTP based 2FA ever since Jack Dorsey got SIM Swapped in 2019[1]. This was also the time when they added support for hardware tokens like Yubikeys. Of course, one needs to enable it. [1]: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/technology/sim-swap-jack-...

I'm a bit paranoid about 2FA ever since my charging port got damaged and I literally couldn't charge my phone to get to authentication. Scary stuff, had to give sooo much personal information over the course of months to recover a single account. Not sure a solution, maybe have a wifi only phone that I only turn on for Auth?

QRcode TOTP, and print the QRcode out and store it in a safe/offline.

That way you can easily re add the 2fa token to a replacement device.

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#29
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a bit paranoid about 2FA ever since my charging port got damaged and I literally couldn't charge my phone to get to authentication. Scary stuff, had to give sooo much personal information over the course of months to recover a single account. Not sure a solution, maybe have a wifi only phone that I only turn on for Auth?

Every competent TOTP implementation has backup codes. Use one of your backup codes when your phone breaks. You did write them down like the site told you to, right? Even if a site doesn't offer backup codes, you can extract the TOTP secret from the QR code, or most authenticator apps, quite easily, and then write it down. It's more secure to only save the backup codes though since they have a limited number of uses,…

I know you said competent, so this doesn't apply to the service I used yesterday, but it blew my mind. I lost access to TOTP for a service, but no big deal, I'm a good person who kept the backup codes. The codes are all 4 digits and the service wants a 6 digit code!

Luckily it is some lame work account that someone else can unlock to get me back in. I couldn't believe that the backup codes provided are now obsolete!

Re: Vitalik Buterin reveals X account hack was caused by SIM-swap attack

#30
post #24
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just having a phone number added to Twitter means your account is at risk of being taken over with a sim-swap. This was not 2FA related AFAICT. Twitter also requires you to add a phone number, even on old accounts you can get locked out unless you add one.

I've got an account from 2009 and have never had to enter my phone number (if I ever get asked, that'll be the time when I stop using it).

Nowadays if you create a new account it’ll get briefly banned while they do additional checks to ensure you’re human, which is fixed by giving a phone number. Id almost appreciate just asking for one on signup then the charade
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