Security protection to prevent unauthorized use of mobile network extenders

A mobile network extender comprising:

• a module including one or more processors, a network interface to connect with a host router of a private network, and a cellular modem with an antenna;
• the cellular modem with the antenna operative to provide a wireless link with a base station of a cellular mobile network to provide wide area network access for the private network via the host router;
• one or more Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) interfaces, each SIM interface being configured to receive a SIM for use with the cellular modem;
• the one or more processors being configured to:
• perform a verification procedure which includes receiving a security pass from the host router via the network interface, calculating a cross-reference security pass, and verifying the security pass with the cross-reference security pass;
• and
• based on a positive verification of the security pass with the cross-reference security pass, set the mobile network extender in a locked state in which the mobile network extender is logically locked to the host router, and permit the host router to acquire the mobile network extender to provide the wide area network access for the private network via the wireless link,
• wherein, in the locked state, permitting or denying subsequent router acquisition upon router reconnection with the mobile network extender is based on a result of again performing the verification procedure.

A computer program product for a mobile network extender, comprising a module including one or more processors, a network interface to connect with a host router of a private network, and a cellular modem to provide a wireless link with a base station of a cellular mobile network to provide wide area network access for the private network via the host router, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions being executable by the one or more processors of the mobile network extender for:
• performing a verification procedure which includes receiving a security pass from the host router via the network interface, calculating a cross-reference security pass, and verifying the security pass with the cross-reference security pass;
• and
• based on a positive verification of the security pass with the cross-reference security pass, setting the mobile network extender in a locked state in which the mobile network extender is logically locked to the host router, and permitting the host router to acquire the mobile network extender to provide the wide area network access for the private network via the wireless link,
• wherein, in the locked state, permitting or denying subsequent router acquisition upon router reconnection with the mobile network extender is based on a result of again performing the verification procedure.