Puk Number - Gaping Security Hole

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Ice2Cool

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So my father is overseas and he locked his phone by entering the pin incorrectly 3 times and asked me to sort it out for him. So I called 082111 and selected the PUK option. The automated system just asks you for the cellphone number that u want the PUK number for, and sms's it to you. THATS IT!!

Seems a bit stupid if u ask me? Whats the point of a pin then?
 
Ice2Cool said:
So my father is overseas and he locked his phone by entering the pin incorrectly 3 times and asked me to sort it out for him. So I called 082111 and selected the PUK option. The automated system just asks you for the cellphone number that u want the PUK number for, and sms's it to you. THATS IT!!
Click to expand...
To whom was the SMS sent?
 
It reads it out to u on the phone but also sends an SMS to the callers phone.
 
Haha someone else noticed.

Only contracts don't work cause you have to speak to a rep.

Otherwise calling 111 will just give you the puk. Easy to just get it
 
If you steal a phone you are unlikely to ask the owner if you can please have cell number so that he can get the PUK from Vodacoms IVR. This of course excludes phones where the owner saves his own number under "My Own Number" :-)
 
Ockie said:
If you steal a phone you are unlikely to ask the owner if you can please have cell number so that he can get the PUK from Vodacoms IVR. This of course excludes phones where the owner saves his own number under "My Own Number" :-)
Click to expand...

Or you just make a call from his number to your phone and you have his number
 
Ockie said:
If you steal a phone you are unlikely to ask the owner if you can please have cell number so that he can get the PUK from Vodacoms IVR. This of course excludes phones where the owner saves his own number under "My Own Number" :-)
Click to expand...

herpderp.png
 
koeksGHT said:
Haha someone else noticed.

Only contracts don't work cause you have to speak to a rep.

Otherwise calling 111 will just give you the puk. Easy to just get it
Click to expand...
I forgot my pin the other day and didn't have to speak to a rep to get my PUK either. It was just SMS'd to the phone I called 111 from :(
 
I've noticed this before as well...

Its why my phones have added layers of security on them that Vodacom can't just tell to someone who has stolen the phone.
 
grim said:
Or you just make a call from his number to your phone and you have his number
Click to expand...

Oh dear. Did not think of that. I would make a really sucky thief :-)

Suppose Vodacom could do away with it....as long as you guys are then willing to go buy new sims everytime you lock up your sim (and this happens often...I get at least 2 pin/puk requests per week)

Then again...if the phone is switched on already for you to make a call to your own cell then you would not need the puk anyway.
 
Ockie said:
Oh dear. Did not think of that. I would make a really sucky thief :-)

Suppose Vodacom could do away with it....as long as you guys are then willing to go buy new sims everytime you lock up your sim (and this happens often...I get at least 2 pin/puk requests per week)
Click to expand...

Or just improve the security. Random questions etc.
 
Ockie said:
Oh dear. Did not think of that. I would make a really sucky thief :-)

Suppose Vodacom could do away with it....as long as you guys are then willing to go buy new sims everytime you lock up your sim (and this happens often...I get at least 2 pin/puk requests per week)
Click to expand...

Well if it's true then the current system is completely insecure.
 
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