What To Do If Your Phone Gets Stolen

Mobile devices are commonly used to communicate and search for information. As a result, they do often contain person data like emails, text messages, voicemail messages, calendars, locations, pictures and films. If by any chance your phone gets stolen, anyone may potentially get access to all of the previously mentioned data which may put you, your colleges or employers to a serious risk.

In order to keep your data and device safe you should consider using the following advice before your phone gets stolen:

Remote tracking & deleting : Most of the phones have operating systems which allows you to remotely locate and/or delete data on a lost device. You will probably need to install and configure a special application like “Find My iPhone” in Apple devices, “BlackBerry Enterprise Server” connection in BlackBerry phones. In Android phone you will find a few applications designed for it.

Encrypting: If you have an access to your mobile device, you may also try some more advanced solutions that do not require a PIN or password to get to your data. Encrypting protects your personal data from more “professional” attacks. Some of the devices have the encryption already in them, some however require either switching on or installing. In the Android devices you need to active it by entering Menu > Settings > Personal > Security > Encryption > Encrypt my device.

Backing Up the device: The Backup allows you to quickly restore all the information located on lost/stolen phone. Backups should be performed regularly, it will help you when your phone gets stolen.  

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The First Thing To Do When Your Phone Gets Stolen Is To Block It

In Android smartphones one of the most popular websites for blocking a phone when it gets stolen is Android Device Manager. In order to use it, you need to log in to your Google account (the one connected to your phone). If you are unable to access it on your computer, you can always use the mobile application (for example on your friend’s device).

This tool allows you to locate your device, block it or remotely delete all data. The last two options may not be available from the beginning – you will probably need to activate them in the settings or remotely from the Internet website. On your device choose section “Device administrators > Settings > Security”.

You can also turn off the mute if by any chance it was switched on on your device. This feature might particularly come in handy when you cannot find your phone but it is still within your reach.

In order to locate your stolen phone, it needs to be connected to the Internet (mobile or WIFI). The process of location will be more accurate if your phone has GPS functions turned on. If you notice that your device is being moved that might mean that someone has already “taken care” of it. After having clicked “Phone Lock”, you should see the following form.

The remote phone block requires a password that you will use to unblock your device. You can also make a message visible on your lost phone informing the finder how to contact you. This message will be seen on the blocked screen of your phone. If you give your contact number, it will not be shown – the finder will only have an option to call you without seeing the actual phone number.

The remote hard resetting on your device is an irreversible operation. If you do not regularly archive your data, you may loose the access to them. By performing the factory reset, your stolen phone will be brought back the default setting and all of the data will be deleted

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