Point of PUK?

Lycanthrope

Lycanthrope

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So, dazed (as I occasionally am) I incorrectly put my PIN number in three times, requiring the PUK number.

I look on my account page on the Vodacom website only to find that the mentioned PUK number is 100% incorrect.

So, I ask my mother for her phone, dial 114 and this is where I just had to laugh...

It's all automated.

1. Dial 114
2. Press 4 if you would like a number blocked/unblocked or your PUK number.
3. Press 2 if you would like your PUK number.
4. Please key in the 10-digit cellphone number
5. The PUK number is 8-digits long, please have a pen and paper ready: your PUK number is XXXXXXXX

Is it really THAT easy to get past someone's PIN-code???

What's the POINT?!
 
you.have.GOT.to.be.kidding!

What is the point then of the PIN-code?

* sighs *
 
kilobitsperyear said:
you.have.GOT.to.be.kidding!

What is the point then of the PIN-code?

* sighs *
Click to expand...

Exactly! Here I am expecting a barrage of questions: "What's your ID number, where do you reside, what's your postal address, can you confirm the bank account number, etc, etc," and I get greeted with that?! Instant, yes, fantastic, kudos to you for that. But please, oh please, tell me where the security is? What's the point of RICA? Anybody?
 
If you are a thief and stole someones phone...I doubt you are going to tap the person on the shoulder and ask what the cell number is. If the system allowed you to access the PUK number by entering the SIM number, then yes...I agree...whats the point. If you do know what the cell number is...then you are either the owner of the SIM, a friend/family/lover/pomp/squeeze of the person and you are obviously up to no good! SHAME ON YOU!
 
Eish.... I would expect at least a custom challenge code or some sort of question.
 
ocleroux said:
If you are a thief and stole someones phone...I doubt you are going to tap the person on the shoulder and ask what the cell number is. If the system allowed you to access the PUK number by entering the SIM number, then yes...I agree...whats the point. If you do know what the cell number is...then you are either the owner of the SIM, a friend/family/lover/pomp/squeeze of the person and you are obviously up to no good! SHAME ON YOU!
Click to expand...

Isn't the cell number printed on the sim?
 
It does not make a difference.

Say for example your phone is stolen... the person just miss-calls his phone from yours... gets the number... switches off your phone, removes the SIM, inserts his own SIM, the phone asks for PIN, 3 strikes he's PUK'd, he then just does the 114 thing with your number he just miss-called, and voila, he's in.

Your PIN stopped nothing.
 
Is this for the simcard PIN at start only, or also the phone PIN to unlock the phone from standby? Hopefully not the latter.
 
kilobitsperyear said:
It does not make a difference.

Say for example your phone is stolen... the person just miss-calls his phone from yours... gets the number... switches off your phone, removes the SIM, inserts his own SIM, the phone asks for PIN, 3 strikes he's PUK'd, he then just does the 114 thing with your number he just miss-called, and voila, he's in.

Your PIN stopped nothing.
Click to expand...

Why would he need your PUK number if he wants to use his own sim?

The important thing to ALWAYS remember is. If you phone is missing or stolen....phone customer service IMMEDIATELY or go to your closest Vodacom Store to have your line locked and get a new sim!
 
cpu. said:
Is this for the simcard PIN at start only, or also the phone PIN to unlock the phone from standby? Hopefully not the latter.
Click to expand...

I was assuming the phone PIN...to stop any fsucker using my phone with their SIM.
 
ocleroux said:
Why would he need your PUK number if he wants to use his own sim?

The important thing to ALWAYS remember is. If you phone is missing or stolen....phone customer service IMMEDIATELY or go to your closest Vodacom Store to have your line locked and get a new sim!
Click to expand...

Um... if he cannot use my phone with his SIM because he does not have my phone PIN PUK.. well all the more difficult then to use my stolen phone... even outside the country without professional intervention he would still need the PUK to use the handset with any SIM.

EDIT: I thought this was why we were urged to PIN our phones at startup ? Unless I am missing the point of this thread... long day, too much coffee.
 
kilobitsperyear said:
Um... if he cannot use my phone with his SIM because he does not have my phone PIN PUK.. well all the more difficult then to use my stolen phone... even outside the country without professional intervention he would still need the PUK to use the handset with any SIM.

EDIT: I thought this was why we were urged to PIN our phones at startup ? Unless I am missing the point of this thread... long day, too much coffee.
Click to expand...

From the network side we have two security features built into your sim

1. PIN
2. PUK

Enter the pin 3 times incorrectly and your sim gets PUK'ed. Enter the PUK number 10 times incorrectly and your sim locks up FOREVER!. You then need to get a new sim.

Your phone has built in security features which you can activate should you so choose. We do not have control over this as it is stored in the phone...NOT the sim. PUK has got nothing to do with the phone's security code.
 
ocleroux said:
Your phone has built in security features which you can activate should you so choose. We do not have control over this as it is stored in the phone...NOT the sim. PUK has got nothing to do with the phone's security code.
Click to expand...
Good to know, thanks.
 
ocleroux said:
From the network side we have two security features built into your sim

1. PIN
2. PUK

Enter the pin 3 times incorrectly and your sim gets PUK'ed. Enter the PUK number 10 times incorrectly and your sim locks up FOREVER!. You then need to get a new sim.

Your phone has built in security features which you can activate should you so choose. We do not have control over this as it is stored in the phone...NOT the sim. PUK has got nothing to do with the phone's security code.
Click to expand...

Yeeks... me doff then. Sorry. Time for something other than coffee methinks !

EDIT : So, if I forget my phone security code, I am phook'd ?
 
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