Devices and methods are disclosed by which a smart card or UICC that is removably insertable into a wireless terminal will only allow operation in either a specific terminal or a specific set of terminals. A mechanism to restrict the set of terminals that a UICC will operate with based upon logic embedded in a memory within the UICC. The UICC receives specific information from the wireless terminal when the terminal is turned on. If the information received satisfies a plurality of rules or conditions stored within the UICC, the UICC functions normally and the terminal may be registered with the network. If the UICC is inserted in an unsupported terminal, the UICC will refuse to function normally. This provides a deterrent against UICC theft.