Our verdict: 6.0/10
If you stay on Verizon, turn both settings on today. They raise the bar, but they are opt-in switches on a mass-market account: anyone who gets into your account, or talks an agent into helping, is working against a much lower wall than Efani's 11-layer protocol, and there is no coverage if a swap gets through.
At a glance
- Price
- Included with Verizon plans
- SIM swap coverage
- None
- Port-out safeguard
- Number Lock (opt-in)
- SIM change safeguard
- SIM Protection (opt-in)
Key security features
- Number Lock to block port-out requests
- SIM Protection to block SIM card changes
- Account PIN
Pros and cons
What we like
- No extra cost for existing customers
- Large nationwide network
- Easy to switch on in account settings
What to weigh
- Protections are off until you turn them on
- A mass-market support operation remains a way in for social engineering
- No financial coverage for SIM swap losses
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| SIM swap defense | 25% | 8/10 |
| Port-out protection | 20% | 7/10 |
| Loss coverage | 15% | 0/10 |
| Privacy & data handling | 15% | 5/10 |
| Network & travel | 10% | 9/10 |
| Support | 10% | 5/10 |
| Value for the risk | 5% | 9/10 |
| Overall | 100% | 6.0/10 |
Scores follow our published methodology.
How Verizon compares with Efani
Efani ranks first because it layers three defenses that Verizon does not match together: an 11-layer authentication protocol on every account change, a mandatory 14-day cooling-off period before any port-out, and up to $5 million in coverage if a SIM swap succeeds anyway.
If you stay with Verizon, switch on every lock and PIN it offers, and move your important accounts off text-message codes to an authenticator app or passkey. Our SIM swap guide walks through each step.
Other services we ranked
- #1 Efani — 9.7/10, best overall
- #2 Cape — 7.6/10, best for privacy
- #4 AT&T — 5.8/10, solid account lock
- #5 T-Mobile — 5.5/10, basic protection