EFANI Report

Executive Summary

EFANI, established on September 27, 2019, is a cybersecurity-focused secure phone service founded and led by Haseeb Awan. A Yale University attendee, Y-Combinator Alumni, and Next Founders member, Awan's mission is to create a crypto bank. EFANI specializes in shielding high-risk individuals from mobile hacks, offering top-tier protection with a $5 million insurance coverage. Despite not controlling radio networks, EFANI operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), utilizing Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile for services. EFANI manages data infrastructure and customer support in-house and employs an intricate 7-11 layer verification system to prevent SIM swaps. While not encrypting SIM swaps, EFANI's stringent verification process bolsters its security. EFANI partners with entities like Elipse, GreyWolf Security, ZenLedger, and more, further enhancing its credibility in the cybersecurity landscape.

Companies & Services Overview

EFANI
Founder: Haseeb Awan
CEO: Haseeb Awan
Established: Sept 27 2019
Employees:
Annual Revenue:
- EFANI is a bespoke cybersecurity-focused secure phone service protecting high-risk individuals against mobile hacks. We provide the best-in-class protection and back with a $5 million dollar insurance coverage. The company operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) and uses Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile to provide services. EFANI maintains that data management infrastructure and customer service are all managed in-house.

Audience

Twitter --- [5k]
Facebook --- [310]
Instagram --- [778]
YouTube --- [490]
Mastadon --- [22]
LinkedIn --- [782]
Reddit --- [5]

Notables

Haseeb Awan attended Yale University.
Haseeb Awan is a Y-Combinator Alumni, Next Founders.
Haseeb Awan wants to create a crypto bank.
Mentions epiphany about buying a bank in podcast.
EFANI claims to be a FULL MVNO which will give it control over ALL operational activities despite NOT having control over the radio networks which they operate under.
EFANI mentions on their website that they utilize the ‘infrastructure’ of the #1 carrier in the USA, which would be Verizon or AT&T.[1]
EFANI uses 7-11 layers of verification to change your SIM.
There doesn’t appear to be any cryptography or encryptions protecting you from a SIM swap. EFANI doesn’t allow a SIM swap without answering your 7 to 11 verification questions, one of which requires a notary.
EFANI does seem secure in protecting SIM swaps through their rigorous verification process.
Any company could create a difficult process 7-11+ step process that requires a notary among other tedious verification processes to change the SIM.
EFANI is partnered with Elipse, GreyWolfSecurity, ZenLedger, CryptoDATA, fintel., BorderHawk, Attollo, RoundlyX.

Questions

Understanding that registration and creation of a Mobile Provider isn’t easy...
What ALL ‘infrastructure’ is EFANI using from current mobile providers?
EFANI has a lot of nice definitions of words on their website and they explain how things like ‘Data Encryption’ work in the mobile industry, but why no mention of how EFANI uses encryption to mitigate attacks for their customers or what protections they have proprietary or otherwise?
EFANI mentions that they include (2) mobile sim cards (one backup). There is no data to indicate there is any encryption layer on these SIM cards. They are registered through EFANI, and any major change must go through multiple staff members’ manual approval. Would that be considered an ‘encryption’ layer? Offline?

Conclusion

Haseeb Awan's role underscores the company's direction. EFANI is designed to provide security against mobile hacks for high-risk individuals, positioning itself as a privacy-centric solution. However, upon closer examination, certain aspects of EFANI's approach appear to deviate from their stated ethos. While their website covers concepts like 'Data Encryption,' it lacks details about their specific encryption methods, raising concerns about the comprehensiveness of their security measures. Additionally, the provision of dual mobile SIM cards and a multi-staff approval process introduces uncertainty regarding the efficacy of this security layer. Furthermore, EFANI's collaboration with established tech partners and reliance on existing infrastructure might seem inconsistent with the evolving 'America First' stance, potentially challenging their claim as a privacy-focused innovator.

Scope
Organization

Score
No concerns or issues.

Created
Sept. 27, 2023, 8:27 p.m.

Updated
May 10, 2024, 7:31 p.m.

Availability
Public

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