How to Protect a Mobile Phone from Being Stolen

01. Keep details. Make a record of all your phone information andkeep this in a safe place. Include the following elements in theinformation:

Your phone number The make and model Color and appearance details The pin or security lock code The IMEI number (on GSM phones) The serial number

02. Use the security lock code, or PIN feature, to lock yourphone. This will make it less valuable to a thief and deny themaccess to personal numbers stored on your SIM card.

03. On the subject of setting a PIN or pass code – you may not needreminding, but don’t make it easily guessable. So no birthdays,‘1234’ or ‘6969’.

04. Add a security mark. Use an ultra violet pen to print your postcode and house number onto both your mobile handset andbattery. This makes it easily identifiable as your property if lostor stolen. It would also be good if you write your alternatecontact number or email id on your phone.

05. Register your phone with your network operator. If your phone isstolen, report the loss to them immediately. Using your IMEInumber, they may be able to block your hand set and accountdetails.

06. Use encryption to protect sensitive data. Particularly relevant toSmartphone users, most platforms have access to a number ofapplications can that be used to encrypt sensitive data or

specific folders on a device, requiring a secure password before these files can be viewed or modified.

07. Make sure important data is backed up. This can includecontacts, text messages, appointments, emails and other datastored on a phone that would be awkward to replace if it waslost or stolen.

08. Keep in mind that once the phone is disabled, it may not be ableto be used again, even if you get it back.

09. Install security software, such as Cerberus for Android or Find myiPhone for iOS, which will allow you to track and locate yourmissing phone and protect your personal data.

10. Avoid leaving your phone in a vehicle, even when the car islocked – if you have to do it, stash it in the glove box orsomewhere it can’t be seen. Never leave it sitting on the seat infull view of passers-by.

11. Be extra cautious at high-risk events such as nightclubs,concerts and festivals, where close contact with people isunavoidable.

12. A large amount of stolen phones are snatched from the owner’shands or pockets – so it pays to be vigilant when out in public.

13. Have your phone number disabled. In addition to reporting yourphone lost or stolen, you should also disable your phone number(not account) so that no further charges can be applied.

14. If your phone is stolen, report it to the police immediately.

What to do if your phone is lost or stolen

If you know for sure that someone has made off with your deviceintentionally, inform the police immediately and file a report. Thesooner they are made aware, the greater the odds are you’ll get itback (although, realistically, you should accept that it’s probably gonefor good). And filing a report straight after the incident occurredmakes it much less likely you’ll be held accountable for any fraudulentcalls made. Insurance companies will also normally request a policereport before you can claim for a stolen phone.

Next step – report the loss or theft to your network operator. So far,there's only so much US carriers are willing to do to assist if yourphone is stolen, although some may be able to remote wipe yourdevice, either for free or for a fee. Make sure you record details of theperson/people you speak to when informing your cell company of thetheft, as well as the date and time and what was done for you, so youcan confirm you gave your carrier notice in the event that fraudulentcalls are made.

Aside from informing your provider and filing a police report, there areseveral other things you should do to protect the information stored onyour missing device. If you’ve installed an app to locate your missingphone, use it!

If you use your phone to access email, online banking, socialnetworking, or anything else that you don’t want strangers being ableto access, go online and change all of your passwords immediately.Even if you’ve set a passcode to unlock your phone, it still pays to bevigilant. If you use apps such as Facebook that don’t require you tologin each time you access it, consider logging out whenever you’vefinished using it. It may be annoying to re-enter your login detailsevery time you want to use it, but it’s better than leaving it open andvulnerable.

15. 16. What to do if a phone is lost or stolen?17. Call the phone! This may sound obvious but often if a phone has

been misplaced it may have been left with an authority in thatlocation or the noise of the phone ringing may alert someone toits whereabouts. This is always a good first step to help makesure that a phone can’t be easily found, and in addition, if the callgoes straight to answerphone (provided it has sufficient battery)this is a good indication that it is being used or has been turnedoff by a third party.

18. 19. File a report: Assuming you’re not in a position to remotely lock,

locate or wipe a phone (though some modern security suites dooffer these features), the first thing to do when a phone is lost orpresumed stolen is to call your service provider. They will be able

to disable the phone remotely to prevent anyone from making calls from the device, and in most cases accessing any of the key features. In addition, phones enabled with GPS can be located remotely, potentially aiding in the device’s retrieval.

20. 21. Report to the police: If you suspect a phone has been stolen, file

a report with the police to retrieve a crime reference number –this could be essential in ensuring that you can get the full priceof the handset reimbursed by an insurance company.

22. 23. Consider what’s stored on the phone: If you presume a phone

stolen, a good reactionary measure is to change passwords forany particularly sensitive accounts that you may have accessedfrom the device, especially if you consider that passwords andlogin details may be stored there. Consider the most vitalresources, such as online banks, merchants and other web pagesthat may store personal or financial details and change yourpassword as soon as possible to ensure that they will not beaccessible to a third party.

24. 25. Be prepared: Lastly, it’s important to realise that the sooner you

react to a lost or stolen phone (much like as you would with acredit card), the lower the chance of it being used for unwantedgain. Keep a copy of important numbers – such as the customerservice centre for your provider and even local police – aboutyour person so that you are in a position to contact them as soonas possible. In most cases it’s better to be safe than sorry, and ifa phone does turn up it can then be re-enabled once your identityhas been confirmed by your provider.