Smartphones these days are more than just communication devices. They are the digital assistants who help us manage our data, appointments, work, etc. If your smartphone is stolen, it is important that you take steps to protect your data because if a thief can get hold of your data, he can extort money from you or even share it to harm your personal and professional life. In this guide, you will learn how to protect your smartphone and your data in case of theft!
What do you do if you lose your smartphone?
If you just lost your smartphone and aren’t sure if it was stolen or not, there are several things you can do right away.
The first thing you can do is call your number and hope it vibrates or rings. If the phone rings, it is likely not in the wrong hands, as thieves usually turn off the phone first. So if it rings, look around and you will most likely find it.
The second thing that you can do is locate your phone using Google Find My Device If you are using Android or iCloud.com/find If you are using your iPhone. You can use these services to locate a device and even connect to it remotely to find it.
If none of the above methods work and you still cannot find your phone, then your phone is gone. Now you need to take steps to ensure that your data does not fall into the wrong hands and that your phone is not used for illegal purposes.
Remotely erase your data
Once you are sure that your phone has been stolen, the first thing you need to do is to remotely wipe the data so that the thief cannot access your private data.
If you are an Android user, go to Google.com/android/find and tap Erase device data, which will delete all your content and data from the device. Also, if you think you can find your phone and don’t want to erase your data, you can select Secure the device, which will lock the device, and will allow you to display a message or phone number on the lock screen, which anyone can use to contact you if they find the phone. However, if you can’t find the phone within 24-48 hours, we recommend that you clear the data as soon as possible.
If you are an iPhone user, you can enable Find My iPhone mode which will enable Activation Lock on your device. Once your device is Activation Locked, that person will need your Apple ID and password to access your phone. If you want to remotely wipe your data, you can also do so at iCloud.com/find.
Block your device’s IMEI
Once you delete your stolen smartphone data, the next step is to make sure that your phone is not used for illegal purposes and the best way to do that is to block the IMEI. Once the IMEI is blocked, the stolen phone cannot be connected to the carrier, which renders the device unusable for making calls and messages. For IMEI blocking, you will need to provide your device IMEI along with proof of ownership to get things done.
Contact your network operator
Once your device’s IMEI number has been blocked, the next step is to contact your carrier and report the stolen SIM card. You can ask them to block the stolen SIM card and they will issue you a new SIM card with the same number. They will also need proof of ownership to proceed with the blocking request.
Inform the police
Once your device is stolen, it is important that you report it to the police. This will allow the police to track your stolen phone, and if they recover it, they will return it to you. For the report, you will need to provide the IMEI, proof of ownership, and other documents required to file a complaint.
Change your passwords
If your passwords are saved in Google Chrome or any other browser then it is important that you change the passwords of all important accounts such as Banking App, Facebook, Twitter, etc. However, if your passwords are stored in a Password managerYou don’t have to worry about anything, and your passwords will be safe. But still, you can change the master password as a precaution.
Contact your bank
If you have ever used your credit or debit cards to make purchases with your smartphone, it is likely that they have been used for illegal purchases or transactions. So if your device gets stolen, contact your bank and ask for any recent activity on your bank account. If there is activity, launch the app to cancel this transaction and also cancel your existing debit/credit card.
Contact your insurance company
If your phone is insured, the insurance company will likely reimburse you and get you a new smartphone. So, if you have insurance, contact your insurance company and provide them with all the details to see if they will compensate you for the stolen phone.
We also recommend that you contact your attorney before contacting the insurance company for a consultation. That way, you’ll be in a better position to present your case, and it’s likely that they’ll agree to buy you a new phone.
Conclusion
That’s it. In this guide, you have learned how to protect your smartphone and your data in case of theft. We also explained how you can get a new phone for free if your smartphone is locked. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments. Also see this guide for How to secure your Android device before attending a demonstration.
