Method and mobile terminal for data protection

A data protection method and a mobile terminal for performing the same are provided to compare authentication information to authenticate a user, thereby preventing user data stored in the mobile terminal from being illegally used due to a theft or loss of the mobile terminal. A data protection method comprises the following: acquiring first authentication information from a UICC(Universal Integrated Circuit Card) attached to a mobile terminal(S102); comparing the first authentication information with at least one second authentication information prestored in the memory of the mobile terminal to determine whether the attached UICC is pre-used in the mobile terminal; performing authentication for a user when the attached UICC is not pre-used in the mobile terminal; and restricting access to user data prestored in the memory when the authentication for the user fails and storing the first authentication information in the memory and permitting the access to the user data when the authentication for the user succeeds(S108,S109).