In the space of one hour, the entire webmaster board was overloaded with several threads titled " got hacked". On checking one of the threads, I hurriedly fired up my browser, checked the Naijaloaded site and poof, I had a defaced webpage before me.

Next thing I did was to send Naijaloaded's owner a mail informing him of the hack which he then replied to this morning saying "They Swapped my SIM, Used the Forgot Password Features and Yahoo Sent the Guy my Code, he then Changed my Yahoo Password and Requested for a Password Changing Note from my Domain Registrar, Then he finally Changed my DNS".

At first, I didn't understand the swapping part. So I fired up my browser again and started crawling through webpages with the dork "Airtel Nigeria instant swap". After much crawling, I learnt that to swap your airtel sim (i.e. to hijack another person's airtel sim), all you need is

1. An airtel swap sim which goes for just N300 and offered for sale here
2. Four (4) most dial'd no
3. The serial number on the new airtel swap sim

. .and in 20mins max, d new Sim will be ready.

That easy yeah?!

After the "hacker" swapped Naijaloaded's owner SIM, he went on to use Yahoo's Forgot Password Features which yahoo then sent the hacker a code (to the swapped sim), he then Changed his Yahoo Password after which the hacker requested for a Password Changing Note from Domain Registrar and ended up changing 's DNS.

A brilliant social engineering attack it was!

This clearly exposes vital security flaws in several customer service systems.

All a malicious person need know to hijack your SIM is your 4 most dial'd nos (your dad, mom, girlfriend, line manager, direct subordinate, etc).

You know what this means? You can directly intercept that scheduled business call by hijacking that Big Oga's sim.

The guy that perpetrated this act not only digitally hacked the owner but they socially hacked him too as he could receive calls on his behalf.

It's quite upsetting that the ecosystem that we’ve placed so much of our trust in(In this case Airtel) has let some of us down so thoroughly.

Even the online Internet banking can be easily compromised. .call the customer care line, tell them you forgot your internet banking password, they will then ask 2/3 questions (1.) Your Date of Birth (2.)Your Account number (3.) Your Phone number and poof. .you have them reeling out all the infos you need (another story for another day)


Social Engineering, albeit a new one in the Nigerian space, is here to stay. .Folks Are You Ready?

Incredible slyrox. It's a brainy idea, Wow. I bet u restored naijaloaded. @ ur signature.

When i hear of network providers being hacked,am nt usually happy if its nt MTN. I despise dose stingy fowls.

Mankind don enter molue wey no get door come fali break at the same time. The guy go dn break him fasting when him hear d news

every SIM suppose to have a security number attached to it like that of MTN.....at least before u can do a replacement, you must produce the security number......other network should wise up

不是小东西 - no be small thing.

huh huh....surprised!!!

Bravo!, now you have empowered more evil minded people
Congrats

tareigns: When i hear of network providers being hacked,am nt usually happy if its nt MTN. I despise dose stingy fowls.

Mtn has security numbers and pin....yeah s.uck on that

i think say na free browsing.mtcheew

Is there anything you can do? I see the hacker wants to re-sell the domain

Social Engineering does not require any knowledge of computer programming, all you need is the right information from the right people. Makes me remember the guy that hacked amazon and paypal and stolen credit cards details.

This story looks like an Abracadabra and it is difficult to believe. Even if it is that easy getting a sim swapped on Airtel, when the supposed cracker wanted to contact Yahoo, did he just get a Password just like that from Yahoo? Impossible! Getting your password changed on Yahoo isn't that easy. Okay? And the Domain Name Registrer too gave out another Password on sighting just a note for a change of password? I haven't read something as hilarious and ridiculous as this claim in a long while even if you go to court with this crap, you will outrightly lose the case on the first day.
First of all, confirm the sim swap procedure and how the hacker did it from Airtel and then contact Yahoo and get to know how the verification for password changed such that yours was given out so cheaply on just a request then contact your DNR too to get the full details of how your password was changed in a little time before you come up with claims. I understand the fact that, your website was hacked but trying to make Airtel the scapegoat for the process without sufficient evidence is really hilarious. Take heart!

Kudos to MTN for introducing MTN security number.

Online.. Internet.. everything Is NOT secured... JESUS is the ONLY Sure and SECURED Link..!!!

Naijaloaded Site Is Now Going..

Congrats Mankind...!!!

Wow, I got pissed off at Etisalat's office when they refused to allow me help my Dad swap his sim to a micro sim without a signed letter even though I had both in my possession. I see why. Airtel need to do better.

SIM SWAP should being done at the service center alone. Physical presence matters so as to compare the face of the person requesting for SIM SWAP to the face registered on their system

allahu akbar برربشباسجنفسدجنفسجابدشدجنفسجنسجسبشدنسفنجسبدفنسجانفنجسبدسجدجند . allah is great

thanks for the info that is hacking 101 more of such lessons

that was bad oh......but the site is back now

Yaaaga!!!!!!!!


Makinde Azeez don recover him Site back!!!

naturalwaves: .

haaaaaaaaaa.....oya lipopo....make una dey dupopo....baby baby baby oya oya.go dere

Long way to go, these folks should learn to put every contingency into consideration. Bleep it..