The rate of phone hacking and subsequently stealing of money from a bank account have been on the rise in the last couple of weeks in Nigeria. When a phone is lost or stolen, hackers use the sim card to have access to the owner's bank account which of course leads to a sole aim. This line must be the particular number linked to the bank account for it to be successfully hacked.
The question now is how can such SIM card be protected/locked to avoid access in the event of the phone being stolen or lost? Don't forget to also know that phone lock is different from SIM lock and below are the steps to lock a SIM Card for both iPhone and Android enabled phones.
The first information to have handy before you start the process is the current/default SIM PIN which for most network providers is either 0000, 1234, or 1111. MTN uses 0000 but if after inputting this code and it doesn't work, it means you have previously changed the SIM PIN. Repeating that same wrong code (for 1 or 2 more times) will lead to the SIM card being blocked. According to MTN customer care, you have to block the SIM to have the chance of getting a new SIM PIN by entering the PUK number from the SIM pack or call customer care to get your PUK number. After putting the PUK number, you will be prompted to put a new SIM PIN.
Steps to lock a SIM card (Android Users)
- Tap "Settings" on the screen
- Tap "Security"
- Tap 'Set up SIM card lock"
- Enable the option for SIM PIN by moving the slider
- Enter the current/default "SIM PIN"
- Tap "Settings" on the screen
- Tap "Phone"
- Tap "SIM PIN"
- Enable the option for SIM PIN by moving the slider
- Enter the current/default "SIM PIN"
- Tap "Done"
- Tap "Settings", "Security", "Set up SIM card lock", "Change SIM PIN"
- Enter "Old SIM PIN"
- Enter a "NEW PIN"
- Re enter the "NEW PIN" and ok
Steps to change a SIM card PIN (iPhone Users)
- Tap "Settings", "Phone", "SIM PIN", "Change PIN"
- Enter current/default PIN and tap "Done"
- Enter a "NEW PIN" and tap "Done"
- Re enter the "NEW PIN" and tap on "Done"
