The hacker accessed your devices through your home network.
The hacker accessed your devices through your home network.
My device was a Xaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. My service provider was Mint Mobile. In late 2021, I got several texts from Mint Mobile offering temporary passwords that I hadn’t asked for. I found it strange, so I changed my password on my desktop account. On September 6th at 11 PM, I received three texts from Metro via T-Mobile, starting with a welcome note and showing balances of $381.44 and $571.44. Then my phone went offline. I tried resetting it, reinserting the SIM, but when I logged into my Mint account, it vanished. In a panic, I used my girlfriend’s phone and called Mint Mobile—customer service was out until 7 AM. I spoke to Metro, who said they couldn’t help because my name wasn’t linked to the account. Not understanding what the intruder intended, I quickly reset my email accounts and removed my number from them, hoping they couldn’t access linked services like online banking. Even though I acted faster than the hacker, I lost my phone number from several platforms. Microsoft’s email support was non-existent, leaving me vulnerable. The hacker accessed my email using my number and changed my password, expelling me from my account.
During the morning, I switched primary emails for all important accounts, removed my number from every service, and froze my credit. I tried changing my phone number across multiple accounts, but Microsoft’s Hotmail still kept it on file. They offered a recovery code, but I was left with few options. At 7 AM, I called Mint Mobile to report the breach and learned I needed to contact Metro. After a third call, a representative helped me. They managed to disable the hacker’s control over my number and set up a temporary account without a SIM or device, allowing time to port my number back.
Once I regained control, I reached out to Mint Mobile to reactivate my SIM card, but they insisted on mailing a new one. With little time, I visited a local Metro store, bought the cheapest phone they had, and paid for a month’s service to regain my number and email access. Unfortunately, it took a full 24 hours before Microsoft Hotmail could process another password reset.
On November 6th, I managed to recover my email address, but found no new activity—no emails or password attempts, not even in the trash. It seemed the hacker had targeted something I didn’t own. A few days later, on February 21st, I received a cryptic message from "Freewallet," a crypto site I’d used in 2017. The device was my old Note8, still connected to Wi-Fi at home. I hadn’t owned any cryptocurrency then, but now it felt like a red flag. Had I been targeted because of my past activity?
I’ve had a positive experience with my previous Xaomi phone, the Pocophone F1, and followed tech guides on Pixel Killer and Lineage OS. I was initially confident in Xaomi’s value. Now, I’m more cautious about device security and network safety.
I reached out to the tech community hoping for better protection and awareness. I realized that having a phone number tied to any service can be risky. Security breaches often come with exploits—sometimes even from trusted sources. My phone, despite being standard, might have been a weak point due to bloatware or vulnerabilities.
I checked my apps and found no suspicious ones on the Note8. Everything seemed normal except for the recent recovery attempts. I’m still trying to understand how the hacker managed to access my number and account. It’s possible that a system update or default app contained an exploit, or maybe someone else had used my data before me.
I’ve tried several security apps, but they didn’t detect anything. My concern now is whether this phone will ever be safe again. I’m considering switching carriers or upgrading my router for better protection. The situation has left me questioning the safety of modern devices and networks.
I also want to highlight that my home network was compromised while connected to Wi-Fi. Only three temporary passwords from Mint Mobile showed up, and I didn’t notice any unusual activity afterward. It’s possible someone accessed my account using stolen credentials or a vulnerability in my setup.
This experience has made me more aware of the risks involved with digital identities and the importance of securing personal information. I hope others learn from this to protect themselves better.
So is the statement accurate? It suggests that hackers may have transferred your SIM card or phone number from Mint to Metro, potentially exposing your messages. The concern centers on possible message interception and unauthorized key access, though it seems Xiaomi isn't at fault. Regarding your home network, it appears secure since SMS messages aren't sent over the internet, making it difficult for hackers to compromise devices easily. I recommend manually transferring files and being cautious with apps. Let me know if you need more clarification!