Precautions: What if your mobile phone is lost or stolen

April 18, 2023
DD Planet

In today’s world, more than a mobile, it is the data inside the phone and the SIM card in it which is more important and hence we need to take some precautions so that if we lose our mobile, we are in a better position to tackle the situation.

Here are the tips to help you on it:

1. Backup your mobile data regularly. You can use any cloud network, such as Samsung Cloud, or Google Drive, from the ‘Settings’, or store the data in your local computer using charging cable and software such as ‘Smart Switch’ for Samsung and so on.
2. You must store the information regarding the IMEI of your mobile. You may know the phone’s IMEI by dialling ‘*#06#’ from your phone or read it in ‘About phone’ under ‘Settings’. This shall help you lodge a police complaint and eventually track the phone.
3. Software installed in phones such as Google’s ‘Find My Device’ app and Apple’s ‘Find My’ or any other similar software can help you track your phone if the location in your phone is ON and the person using it connects to the internet from your phone. Some such software like the one from Apple can even block the Payment app and lock the phone with a passcode if the device is ‘Mark as Lost’. Therefore, you must check that you have one such software in your mobile.
4. You must enable facial and/or fingerprint recognition on your phone or at least a screen lock, so that in the event of losing your mobile, the new user cannot access your phone.
5. Keep all the sensitive documents in a folder that is password protected. If possible, use password or encryption in the important word, pdf and other files. Make them hidden if you have such software installed in your phone.
6. If your phone is quite expensive, you must purchase insurance for it so that your loss is minimized in the event of theft or its loss otherwise.
7. If you have lost your phone, you should immediately get your SIM blocked from the respective service provider.
8. If you have lost your phone, you should immediately change all the sensitive passwords such as financial ones that you access from the phone like banks, and your email accounts.
9. If the internet is ON after you have lost your phone, you can remotely lock your phone and erase data using your Google Account. For details, visit the following Google support page.

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