Set your lock screen: The single most important thing every smartphone user should do to protect their information, make their phone less valuable to thieves and avoid identity theft is set a lock screen on the device. Not using a lock screen is like leaving your house with the front door and windows wide open.
How do you protect your data if your phone is stolen?
Before your smart phone is gone
- Step 1: Use a strong screen lock. This is your first and strongest line of defense. …
- Step 2: Use a ‘find my phone’ app. …
- Step 3: Attach a note. …
- Step 4: Back up your photos and videos. …
- Step 5: Record your phone’s unique ID number.
What is the first thing you should do when your device is lost or stolen?
What to do if your phone is lost or stolen
- Step 1: Call your phone or use your carrier’s mobile app to send an alert. …
- Step 2: Text your cell phone. …
- Step 3: Use your phone’s built-in find my phone feature. …
- Step 4: Remotely erase the data from your phone. …
- Step 5: Lock your phone & change passwords.
How do I protect my mobile data?
8 Mobile Security Tips to Keep Your Device Safe
- 1) Keep Your Phone Locked.
- 2) Set Secure Passwords.
- 3) Keep Your Device’s OS Up-To-Date.
- 4) Connect to Secure Wifi.
- 5) Beware of Downloads.
- 6) Don’t Jailbreak or Root Your Phone.
- 7) Encrypt Your Data.
- 8) Install Anti-Virus Software.
What to do when your phone is stolen and turned off?
Remotely find, lock, or erase
- Go to android.com/find and sign in to your Google Account. If you have more than one phone, click the lost phone at the top of the screen. …
- The lost phone gets a notification.
- On the map, you’ll get info about where the phone is. …
- Pick what you want to do.
What do thieves do with stolen phones?
Some thieves will use the information they find on phones (such as photos, texts or emails), then use it to hold the original owner to ransom. The best thing to do is to remotely wipe your phone as soon as you find out it’s stolen – this can be achieved with apps such as Find My Device (free – Android and iOS).
Can someone unlock my stolen phone?
Modern Android phones are encrypted by default, too. … Of course, this encryption only helps if you’re using a secure PIN or passphrase to protect your device. If you’re not using a PIN or you’re using something easy to guess—like 1234—a thief can easily get access to your device.
How do you find your phone when its switched off?
Use Google Timeline to find your phone even if it’s turned off or the battery is dead
- Your device is connected with your Google account.
- Your device has or had access to the internet (before it was turned off).
Why is it important to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them?
But just like Wi-Fi connections, Bluetooth can put your personal data at risk if you are not careful. … Turn Bluetooth off when not in use. Keeping it active enables hackers to discover what other devices you connected to before, spoof one of those devices, and gain access to your device.
How secure is mobile data?
Connecting to a cellular network is absolutely more safe than using WiFi. Most WiFi hotspots aren’t secure because the data sent over the internet isn’t encrypted. (When you use a secured WiFi, you can encrypt your data, but it’s still less reliable and less automatic than using a cellular signal.)
How use mobile phone safely?
Seven Steps to use Mobile Phones Safely
- Avoid long conversation. …
- Use headsets or speakerphone option. …
- Keep mobile devices away from your body. …
- Turn off Cellular data and Wi-Fi. …
- Avoid calls at places with low signal reception. …
- Fewer calls More Text. …
- Use landline telephones. …
- Keep cell phone away from children.