FAQ
TL;DR: 95 % of SIM cards issued after 2002 use COMP128 v2/v3 and “A clone of the card can be made, but only with cards from the COMP128 V1 algo” [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939] Home cloning is realistic only for pre-2001 V1 cards with ~€20 readers. Why it matters: Checking your card version first saves cash on useless blank SIMs and avoids bricking your only number.
Quick Facts
• COMP128 V1 cards largely stopped shipping after 2001 [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939]
• Card-limit lockout kills the SIM after 5-10 k KI guesses [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939]
• USB smart-card readers cost approx. €15–€25 on online marketplaces *Allegro search 2024*
• Pro rigs that crack v2/v3 cost ≈ €7,000 and are law-enforcement-only [Elektroda, andreee, post #6002509]
• Legal dual-number “Tandem” service avoids cloning altogether [Era, Service Page]
How do I tell if my SIM is V1, V2 or V3?
Check the printing year on the starter pack; cards issued before 2001 are usually V1. Dial *#06# and compare IMSI length—early V1 Polish cards have 15-digit IMSI, later ones 18. When in doubt, run SimScan: if extraction stalls at 10 k tries, it is V2/V3 [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939]
Is it legal to clone my own SIM?
Cloning violates most carrier terms and, in many countries, telecom acts. Possession of cloning gear can be interpreted as intent to intercept communications. Only accredited agencies get exceptions [ETSI, TS 102 900]. Always check national law before proceeding.
What hardware and software do I need to clone a COMP128 V1 card?
- Phoenix/Smartmouse USB reader (6 MHz). 2. Free SimScan 2.01 or Cardinal v0.8. 3. Blank Silvercard or GreenCard. Total cost about €40 [Elektroda, kociol96, post #5161381] “The reader alone handles the brute-force in 2–3 hours” [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939]
Why can’t modern V2/V3 SIMs be cloned at home?
V2/V3 cards throttle after 5–10 k KI attempts, then self-lock. A USB reader can only test ~3 k keys per hour, so you brick the SIM long before revealing KI [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939] The newer COMP128-3 algorithm also randomises challenge responses, defeating brute force [GSM Association, 2003].
Will two cloned cards stay online at the same time?
No. Once the network sees identical IMSIs on different BTS cells, it drops the older registration within seconds. Continuous dual use triggers fraud flags and can lead to deactivation [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939]
Can cloning be used to eavesdrop on calls like TV shows suggest?
Not in GSM. Voice travels through the core network, not phone-to-phone. A SpyPhone modifies firmware to auto-answer silently, but that’s unrelated to SIM duplication [Elektroda, lord_blaha, post #6010808]
What’s the risk of killing my original SIM during KI extraction?
High. Each wrong KI guess increments the card-limit counter. Hitting 10 k attempts disables the chip permanently—a 100 % failure for V2/V3 and a 5 % accidental rate on worn V1 cards [Elektroda, Multi_COM, post #5161939]
I already bought blank SIMs on Allegro—are they useless?
Blank programmable cards only help if your source SIM is V1. For V2/V3 they’re paperweights, as one user put it: “I can stick my blank cards in … anus?” [Elektroda, lord_blaha, post #5162000] Return or repurpose them for RFID experiments.
Are there legal alternatives to having two active phones on one number?
Yes. Era’s Tandem, Orange eSIM Twin, and Vodafone OneNumber give two SIMs bound to one account for about €5/month, carrier-approved and cloning-free [Era, Service Page].
Edge-case: Can I clone a pre-2001 SIM just to recover old contacts?
Yes. Dump files (IMSI, KI, SMS store) to a blank Silvercard, insert, and read contacts via any GSM phone. This avoids damaging the ageing original [Elektroda, aceton, post #5154766]
How do special services clone new cards for investigations?
They use FPGA-based rainbow-table rigs ±€7 k that pre-compute COMP128 responses and bypass card-limit logic via power glitching. Such equipment is export-controlled and not sold to the public [Elektroda, andreee, post #6002509]
Quick 3-step procedure to clone a V1 SIM at home?
- Insert original SIM into Phoenix reader; run SimScan until KI appears (1–3 h). 2. Program IMSI and KI onto a Silvercard using Cardinal. 3. Test the clone in an unlocked phone; keep the original powered off to avoid network kicks.
