Restricting access to system-provider information stored in a mobile communications device

1. One or more nontransitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of protecting system-provider information stored within a mobile communications device having one or more communications ports and one or more radios, the method comprising:

receiving a request to access the system-provider information;

determining that the request was communicated over the air by way of a wireless telecommunications network that the mobile communications device is authorized to access, which network is accessible by way of the one or more radios; and

permitting access to the system-provider information after determining that the request was communicated over the air,

such that any request to modify the system-provider information by any of the one or more communications ports is denied, and only the request communicated over the air is allowed to be used to modify the system-provider information.

2. The media of claim 1 , wherein the system-provider information includes a list of frequencies on which the mobile communications device might search in order to communicate with the wireless telecommunications network.

3. The media of claim 1 , wherein the system-provider information includes a list of systems that the device is permitted to access.

4. The media of claim 3 , wherein the list of systems includes a list of wireless-telecommunications-systems providers (“providers”).

5. The media of claim 1 , wherein the system-provider information includes a preferred roaming list (“PRL”).

6. The media of claim 1 , wherein verifying that the request was communicated from the wireless telecommunications network includes inspecting a first code to determine whether the request was received by way of an over-the-air (OTA) module within the mobile communications device, the OTA module being a set of computer-executable instructions that facilitate receiving information over the air that is sent to the mobile communications device, the first code being associated with the OTA module.

7. The media of claim 6 , wherein the verifying further includes receiving a second code, which was previously associated with the mobile communications device prior to receiving the request.

8. The media of claim 7 , wherein the second code is received by way of a keypad of the mobile communications device.

9. The media of claim 8 , wherein the second code is protected by an operator of the wireless telecommunications network such that only the operator can properly provide the code to be entered by way of the keypad.

10. One or more nontransitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of protecting a preferred roaming list (PRL) stored within a mobile communications device having one or more communications ports and one or more radios, the method comprising:

receiving a request to modify the PRL;

determining a source of the request; and

denying the request unless the request is an over-the-air (OTA) request and the source is a wireless telecommunications network that the mobile communications device is authorized to communicate with, the network accessible by way of the one or more radios, wherein the request is granted when the wireless telecommunications network is the source of the OTA request.

11. The media of claim 10 , wherein the PRL is a list of network identifiers that are usable by the mobile communications device to establish communication with one or more wireless telecommunications networks.

12. A method of limiting access to certain software components stored within a mobile communications device having one or more communications ports and one or more radios, the method comprising:

permitting the communications ports to communicate data to and from the mobile communications device;

receiving a request to modify one of the software components;

determining whether the request stemmed from an over-the-air (OTA) communication from a wireless telecommunications network that the mobile communications device is authorized to communication with, the network accessible by way of the one or more radios; and

granting the request only if it stemmed from the OTA communication;

otherwise, denying the request.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the certain software components include computer-executable instructions embodied on one or more nontransitory computer-readable media of the mobile communications device that control one or more of the following functions:

determining what frequency to communicate data;

determining which network to connect to; and

determining which service provider to utilize.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the certain software components include a preferred roaming list (PRL).

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein granting the request only if it stemmed from the OTA communications includes granting the request if it arrived at the mobile communications device by way of a wireless-communications pathway.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein granting the request includes determining that the request was received by a component in the mobile communications device that receives information over the air.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein determining that the request was received by the component includes requesting an identifier associated with the component.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the determining further includes validating that the identifier of the component is an authorized component from which to receive the request to modify the one of the software components.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein granting the request only if it stemmed from the OTA communication is implemented after production, such that the mobile communications device is programmable via the one or more communications ports while being manufactured.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein denying the request occurs after manufacturing of the mobile communications device.