Abstract: A system and method for securing a desktop cellular phone, having a SIM card inserted therein, includes turning on the phone and sending first data from a SIM card processor to the phone processor. The phone processor computes second data, using a first algorithm and the first data, and sends the second data to the SIM card processor. Meanwhile, the SIM card processor computes third data using a second algorithm and the first data. The SIM card processor compares the second data to the third data, and determines whether a relationship between the second data and the third data satisfies a first predefined requirement. If it does not, operation of the phone is, at least in part, prevented. Similar steps may additionally, or alternatively, be performed by the phone processor to verify that an authorized SIM card is inserted in the phone.

Abstract: A desktop cellular phone includes a SIM card with security features. To increase the difficulty of SIM PIN cracking, a SIM PIN is generated, then is encrypted by an encryption algorithm and stored in the SIM card's nonvolatile, or flash, memory. The phone's provider or carrier may use its own software program, or another suitable program, in the phone to decrypt the SIM PIN and to gain access to the features and information stored in the SIM card. As a result of the SIM PIN being encrypted, even if an unscrupulous user is able to identify the SIM PIN position in the SIM card's flash memory, it is very difficult for the unscrupulous user to obtain the PIN itself.

Abstract: A system and method for securing a desktop cellular phone, having a SIM card inserted therein, includes turning on the phone and sending first data from a SIM card processor to the phone processor. The phone processor computes second data, using a first algorithm and the first data, and sends the second data to the SIM card processor. Meanwhile, the SIM card processor computes third data using a second algorithm and the first data. The SIM card processor compares the second data to the third data, and determines whether a relationship between the second data and the third data satisfies a first predefined requirement. If it does not, operation of the phone is, at least in part, prevented. Similar steps may additionally, or alternatively, be performed by the phone processor to verify that an authorized SIM card is inserted in the phone.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing security features in a desktop cellular phone. One or more operating conditions, which may be based on physical location of the phone, on features of a SIM card in the phone, or on any other suitable factors, are defined for the phone. A current status of the phone relative to the one or more operating conditions is then determined, and if the current status of the phone does not satisfy the one or more operating conditions, the phone is prevented, at least in part, from operating.