Your smartphone can be the weakest link in your security and privacy when not protected properly. Smartphones store massive data, information, most of the accounts you use daily and to make it worse they access the internet. Using a VPN, antivirus software and other security mechanisms ensure your smartphone is secure.
Besides protecting your smartphones against internet threats, you also need to protect it against other offline threats such as theft or in case you misplace it and can’t find it. In this scenario, prevention is better than a cure – protecting your smartphone and its information if you ever misplace it or it gets stolen. Below are some tips to protect your smartphone before the inevitable happens;
Always lock your smartphone.
Smartphones have various ways you can use to prevent unauthorized access to them and your data. They include pins, passwords, passcodes, and biometrics – fingerprint and FaceID. But most people simply choose not to use these locking mechanisms, and this makes their sensitive data such as contacts, SMS, emails and other accounts vulnerable in case they misplace their phone.
Don’t save passwords to your browser
Saving passwords in your browser provides convenient and easy ways to access your accounts with a single tap. This is a bad idea and here is why. Even if you lock your smartphone, you probably don’t lock the browser. It’s even worse if you don’t have any locking mechanism and you save your passwords in the browser. If your device gets into malicious hands, most of your accounts will be compromised.
Always perform regular backups
Backups ensure you have a continuity plan – in case you can’t have access to your data at a certain moment, you can always restore it from the backup and continue with what you’re doing seamlessly. Also, in case you lose your device, you won’t have to worry about your data because the backup will have your back. This is helpful when you regularly perform backups. Usually, smartphone manufacturers have dedicated cloud storage for your smartphone backup. You can always do it manually and store it somewhere safe.
Configure the tracking feature
Smartphones usually come with a tracking feature that also offers remote protection and can lock your device. But it will be useless if it’s not configured. If you have never configured it, stop what you’re doing right now and go to settings and search ‘Find my Device/ Find my mobile.’ If your phone doesn’t have this feature, head over to the AppStore/Play Store and download it. Depending on your smartphone, this feature can also be used to unlock your smartphone in case you forget your password.
What to do if your smartphone is lost/stolen
Track it
If you had configured the tracking feature and your smartphone gets stolen or misplaced, the first thing to do is track it. Tracking can be done on another phone or on the website. The tracking feature will give the last location of your device, and if the internet is on, you will get real-time information on where your device is. This information is vital as you can also give it to the authorities to help you recover it.
Remotely lock or wipe your device
If the tracking information isn’t vital in retrieving your smartphone, you can use other options such as a lock or wipe. If you just misplaced your smartphone in the house, you can use the ring feature; your phone will ring at the loudest volume. Remote locking will deny anyone access to your smartphone while wiping will erase everything in your smartphone.
Report loss to carrier/authorities
While tracking it or perfuming other remote actions, it’s also a good idea to report the loss to your smartphone carrier and even more important to the police. Reporting will be helpful as it increases the recovery chances and also it puts you in clear waters if your smartphone is used to commit crimes. Also, if your device is insured, you can file a claim with your insurance company.
