Gemalto reassures users that their sim cards are safe

Gemalto, the world’s largest producer of SIM cards, has said that despite the reports that their sim cards were hacked by the NSA and GCHQ spying agencies, the cards are safe.

Gemalto says its SIM cards, as well as banking cards, passports and other products are secure, a conclusion it reached after conducting a round of initial investigations.

The Intercept published a detailed report last week that America’s NSA and UK’s GCHQ hacked the systems at Gemalto to steal the encryption keys. By getting the encryption keys, the agencies were able to directly tap phone calls, and monitor messages, among other things, on millions of mobile phones.

Gemalto says in a blog post: "Initial conclusions already indicate that Gemalto SIM products (as well as banking cards, passports and other products and platforms) are secure and the Company doesn’t expect to endure a significant financial prejudice."

The impact of any hack on Gemalto is significant because of its vast presence and usage across the world. The company has a partnership with more than 450 mobile operators operating in 80 nations. It produces more than 2 billion SIM cards per year. The SIM card in your smartphone, feature phone, or tablet is likely produced by Gemalto.