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AT&T today said that customers can activate Wireless Account Lock, a new feature that will prevent unauthorized changes to a wireless account. With Account Lock turned on, account changes like billing updates and wireless number transfers are disabled.

att-wireless-account-lock.jpg

Account Lock will protect AT&T users from SIM swapping, a technique that scammers employ to gain control of a smartphone user's phone number, and by extension, two-factor verification codes sent to that number. With SIM swapping, an attacker calls the carrier's support staff, pretends to be the smartphone user, and asks for a number transfer.

Postpaid AT&T customers can activate Wireless Account Lock from the myAT&T app. Locked features will not be accessible until the Wireless Account Lock is disabled in the app, requiring physical control for access. Here's what Account Lock prevents:
  • Upgrading a device
  • Changing a SIM card or eSIM
  • Initiating a phone number transfer
  • Adding a new line
  • Changing billing information
  • Changing authorized users
  • Changing phone numbers
There are also account locking features for enterprise customers and prepaid AT&T users.

AT&T says that it will never call or text subscribers to ask them to turn off the Wireless Account Lock feature.

Article Link: AT&T Launches Account Lock to Combat SIM Swapping Scams
 
1) Great idea

2) Why the hell did it take so long for a carrier to figure this out?

Other carriers have figured this kind of thing out. Verizon for example offers services like Number Lock and SIM protection to do this kind of thing — https://www.verizon.com/about/privacy/account-security/how-does-verizon-protect-my-account

It’s not that carriers haven’t figured this out, it’s that most customers aren’t regularly going into their wireless accounts looking for security features nor are carriers doing a good job of advertising this stuff
 
I just ported one of my numbers out of AT&T 2 days ago.

I can confirm that even after I requested and received my port out pin and entered all the relevant info into the port in for my new service, AT&T denied the port until I confirmed that I requested it.

I received a message on the phone with the number I was trying to port out and I needed to confirm it.

I appreciate this added level of security.

Its my understanding from people in the industry that sim stealing is becoming more and more frequent. This is especially problematic when more and more people do their banking and investment management from their phones and use their number as a security check.
 
Has anyone been able to find this in the app? I don’t see the option anywhere

Turn Wireless Account Lock on or off​

You can only turn Wireless Account Lock on or off using the myAT&T app. The app needs to be installed on a device that is active on your Wireless account. Download the myAT&T app now

  1. Open the myAT&T app. Sign in, if asked.
  2. Select Services (second tab at the bottom).
  3. Choose Mobile Security, then scroll to and select Wireless Account Lock.
  4. Scroll to and select Continue.
  5. Choose the account that you want to lock or unlock.
  6. Swipe to lock or unlock the account.
Good to know: Any time a user turns Wireless Account Lock on or off, we’ll send an email to the primary account holder and a text message to each active wireless number on the account.


 
It’s not that carriers haven’t figured this out, it’s that most customers aren’t regularly going into their wireless accounts looking for security features nor are carriers doing a good job of advertising this stuff
So the onus is on the customer to constantly check their account for new features? I say the onus is on the company to make their customers aware of new features. This is the first time I have heard about a feature like this. I switched to pre-paid several years ago to save money. I hope Mint Mobile gets this feature soon.
 
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So the onus is on the customer to constantly check their account for new features? I say the onus is on the company to make their customers aware of new features. This is the first time I have heard about a feature like this. I switched to pre-paid several years ago to save money. I hope Mint Mobile gets this feature soon.
It says it was announced today. Seems likely they will notify customers about the new feature.
 
In case anyone knows, would this make it any more difficult when you buy a new iPhone?
You may have to disable it temporarily to transfer your eSIM from old to new. I know I had to disable it on my account in order to add a new line for Apple Watch cellular, so AFAIK it needs to be turned off in order to make ANY change regarding service to your account.
 
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