The SIM PIN itself provides almost no additional security, and can easily be bypassed through SIM cloning. SIM cloning is a feature provided in almost all commercial mobile forensic software, although the term cloning is somewhat misleading. SIM cloning, in the case of mobile forensics, is the process of copying the network data from a locked SIM onto a forensically sterile SIM that does not have the PIN activated. The phone will identify the cloned SIM based on this network data (typically the ICCID and IMSI) and think that it is the same SIM that was inserted previously, but this time there will be no SIM PIN. This cloned SIM will also be unable to access the cellular network, which makes it an effective solution similar to Airplane Mode. Therefore, SIM cloning will allow an examiner to access the device, but the user data on the original SIM is still inaccessible as it remains protected by the PIN.

We are unaware of any free software that performs forensic SIM cloning. It is supported by almost all commercial mobile forensic kits, however. These kits will typically include a SIM card reader, software to perform the clone, as well as multiple blank SIM cards for the cloning process.