What good is a sim pin or PUK code?

[AGP]

I don’t know why it’s even worth locking a sim and requiring a PUK code when anyone can simply input the phone number to the O2 website to retrieve it.

Surely the whole point of locking a sim is to prevent “baddies” from using it. Giving the PUK code so freely negates any point of having a sim pin at all.

Wouldn’t it be best to be required to verify ownership of one’s account in order to retrieve the PUK? I’m sure this used to be the case a great many moons ago.

[Cleoriff]

@AGP 

All of the above would become impossible when you report your phone lost or stolen.

Guide: Lost or Stolen O2 Device? - How to Report it 

Once you have done that the network would block the IMEI and account. The phone would then become as useless as a brick.

[MI5]

Assuming the baddies know the phone number of the SIM they've just found or stolen......

[Cleoriff]

Indeed. Though they could always come on here and have a look at @pgn's guide

[MI5]

Hmmm.....