A scammer who knows your account password can call customer care and ask to have the SIM card linked to your phone number changed to a new SIM card and device, effectively taking over your phone number. That's the password that you're asked to give to a T-Mobile employee before any changes can be made to your account. Regardless whether you're a T-Mobile user, the exposure of account PINs is a major danger. Here are some steps you can take right now to protect your financial information. Information like Social Security numbers, driver's licenses and account PINs were exposed. Mobile phone users are therefore advised by most providers to keep their PUK written down in a safe place separate from the device.Just when you think the massive T-Mobile hack can't get any worse, on Friday the carrier announced that over 50 million people, including current and former customers as well as prepaid customers, were affected by the breach. If the wrong PUK is entered ten times in a row, the SIM card will become permanently blocked and unrecoverable, requiring a replacement. After the PUK code is entered, the PIN must be reset. It can be unlocked by entering the PUK code provided by the mobile service provider, which may be available on the SIM card's packaging, the contract, or provided by customer service after identity verification.

If the wrong PIN is entered more than three times, the SIM card will become locked. Without this, functions such as phone calls (except for emergency calls), text messages and mobile data will not be available. After switching on the phone, if the PIN security function is active, the user is required to enter a 4-8 digit PIN to unlock the SIM card and connect to the mobile network. Most mobile phones offer the feature of PIN protection.

JSTOR ( July 2010) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī personal unblocking key ( PUK), sometimes called personal unblocking code ( PUC), is used in SIM cards to reset a personal identification number (PIN) that has been lost or forgotten.

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