Mobile phones have evolved from texting and calling (and Snake) to full-blown smart machines that we use to take photos and videos, pay bills, shop online, socialize, send emails and play games.  The smartphone has become an extension of ourselves and life without it is hard to imagine.

What if our smartphone lands in the wrong hands? The information we store on it alone could give a pretty good idea of who we are, what we do, where we live and what possessions we have. A stranger would have access to our most intimate conversations, photos, and videos – total nightmare!

If you lost your phone or have it stolen, don’t panic and follow these 3 steps:

1. Take preemptive measures

You might want to set up the security options to make sure that your data will be safe in the event that your phone does get stolen.

Create an emergency contact

Even with a locked screen, IOS and Android give some basic access to information in case someone finds the device and wants to return it.

On a locked iPhone you can access Siri, however, the questions you can ask are limited. Just enough to get the owner’s name and who they call the most. This feature can be deactivated in Settings > Siri > switch off Access When Locked. Another option on iPhone is to create an emergency contact in the Health app. This contact can be accessed through the emergency dialer. Access the Health app > Medical ID > Create Medical ID > add emergency contact.

On a locked Android, Google Now or the Google Assistant will not give any answers. However, you also have the option to provide an emergency contact. Access Settings > Users > Emergency Information.

On a general note, ensure that you have a strong pin code, not “1234” or your birth year. You can now set up a pin code of more than 4 numbers. Alternatively, you might want to also set up face ID fingerprint ID, or eye scan, depending on your phone. If youʼre on Android and are using patterns, create a more complex pattern than a triangle or a square.

Configure Find My Phone and Android Device Manager

Android devices are being tracked by Google by default, but you might want to double-check that your device is listed on your Android Device Manager(1).

If yourʼe using iPhone, you will have to set up Find My Phone in your iPhone settings(2). Once you lose your phone, you can log into your account online and locate the devices, and you can also perform a remote wipe of the device to prevent access to your data.

Set up cloud backups

In the case of irrecoverable phone loss, you can still retrieve your data and photos if you have cloud backup set up on your devices. Cloud backup is always a recommended investment, especially if you donʼt regularly back up your data on your computer.

2. Use your phone’s IMEI number to track your device

Report the loss to your telecom provider

Both Du and Etisalat have the ability to block your smartphone due to a TRA directive. As a result, within 24 hours of losing your phone, your phone can no longer be used within the borders of the UAE, rendering it useless to a thief.

However, to do this, you will need the IMEI number of your device, which can be found on the original packaging it came in or in the smartphoneʼs settings. Open Settings > General > About. Write down the code or email it to yourself. Unfortunately, that still wonʼt prevent your smartphone from being sold overseas.

Contact the Police

You will also have to report the incident to the Police, who can track your smartphone with the help of your telecom provider, using the IMEI number you passed on initially.

Even if your SIM card is disregarded, after a valid SIM card is inserted into a mobile phone, it is automatically registered on the network and its tracking systems, including the SIM card number and the handset serial number. As a result, even if your smartphone gets unblocked and sold within the UAE, its unique identifier, the IMEI number, can help the police triangulate its position.

3. Deactivate all running apps and services

One last thing you need to do is log into all of your services and accounts and deactivate them from your smartphone. Make sure to “sign out from all other devices” in the services that provide this option. You must also change all your passwords, and set up two-factor authentication if you have not done so already.

We hope you never lose your smartphone, but if you do, chances are you will find it!

(1) Android Device Manager: https://www.google.com/android/find
(2) How to set up Find my Phone on iOS: https://support.apple.com/en-us/ HT205362

 

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