Smartphones and tablets are essential everyday tools. They hold your photos, contacts, financial information, and access to countless accounts. You may even have the same device for personal and professional use.
Given their importance, keeping your devices secure should be a priority. The thought of hackers accessing your devices or you losing this digital lifeline — whether left on the bus or snatched from your pocket — is certainly frightening.
But don’t panic; there are ways to protect yourself and your data in case your device gets lost or stolen.
Take quick action
While losing a device can be upsetting, the urgent concern lies in the potential for data breaches. Criminals can use your lost or stolen phone to access your bank accounts, social media profiles, or work documents. Taking quick action can significantly reduce these risks.
Step 1: Locate your device (if possible)
First, determine if your device is truly lost or stolen. Retrace your steps and look in places where you may have misplaced it. Most smartphones and tablets have built-in tracking features that allow you to locate them using another device or the internet.
- Android: If you haven't already, enable Find My Device in your Google account settings. You can then locate your phone on a map, lock it remotely, or even erase all data.
- iPhone: Find My iPhone can be accessed through iCloud.com or another Apple device. Using this feature, you can locate, lock, or erase your iPhone.
Step 2: Secure your data
If you can't locate your device or suspect theft, act swiftly to protect your data. Android and iOS offer remote wipe functionality, which will erase all data from your device. That might seem drastic, but it's crucial to prevent unauthorized access. Remember, a phone is replaceable, but sensitive information is not.
Step 3: Contact your carrier
Inform your mobile carrier about the incident. They can suspend your phone number to prevent unauthorized calls and data charges. This action also helps protect your account from potential SIM swapping scams.
Step 4: Change passwords and update accounts
Once your device is secure, focus on safeguarding your online accounts:
- Banking and financial accounts: Change your login credentials immediately. Most banks allow password resets through their websites or mobile apps. For good measure, enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Email and social media: Update your passwords for all of your online accounts. Turn on 2FA for these accounts as well, if it’s possible.
- Password managers: If you use a password manager on your lost device, consider changing the master password from another device you trust.
Step 5: File a police report (optional)
While not a necessity, filing a police report can be helpful. It provides a record of the incident for insurance purposes and may be required if the authorities recover your device.
Take proactive measures
Now that you know what to do in case of a lost or stolen device, consider these proactive steps to minimize future risks:
- Enable Find My Device or Find My iPhone: Don't wait until your device is missing to activate these tracking features.
- Set strong passwords and use 2FA: Complex, unique passwords and 2FA significantly increase the difficulty of unauthorized access.
- Back up your data regularly: Regular backups ensure you don't lose precious data and files. Using cloud storage or backing up to a computer are both viable options.
- Consider mobile security apps: There are several security apps that offer features such as anti-theft protection, remote data wipe capabilities, and even notification alerts if unauthorized SIM changes are detected.
By taking these steps and having a plan in place, you can navigate a mobile device incident with confidence and minimize potential damages.
Protect your business
As a business owner, you must also consider the risks associated with employees' lost or stolen devices. Implementing a mobile device incident response plan can help mitigate these risks and protect sensitive business information.
Consider partnering with NetQuest. Our IT experts can help create a comprehensive plan to assess and enhance your business's mobile device security, as well as provide incident response support in case of an emergency. Don't wait until it's too late — contact us today to protect your business data and devices.
