If you\u2019ve found yourself in the position where your smartphone or tablet is missing, you need to act fast. Time is of the essence, particularly if you have reason to believe your device was stolen. Whether someone absconded with it or you simply forgot it at lunch, here are the critical steps you need to take now\u2014whether you\u2019re an Apple user or on Android.<\/p>\n
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While the thought of not getting your device back is unpleasant, it is safer to assume that you will need to replace it and the steps you are taking from this point on is to ensure your identity, privacy, and data remain secure. If you do get your phone back, great, but these steps are simply intended to protect you.<\/p>\n
Think about it for a moment: your phone has access to so many of your most important online accounts, doesn\u2019t it? This likely includes your email, which the thief could easily use to reset the passwords on you, logging in and locking you out of everything from your social media to your bank account to your web hosting.<\/p>\n
So, it is better to cut your losses, assume the phone is gone, and do what you can to avoid this outcome.<\/p>\n
By using Apple\u2019s Find My iPhone<\/strong> setting, or Google\u2019s Find My Device<\/strong> application, you give yourself the means to accomplish a lot\u2014including tracking the device, so long as it is still on with GPS\/Wireless data active.<\/p>\n Apple users will need to log into their iCloud account<\/a>, while Android users will need to navigate to Google\u2019s Find My Device<\/a> page. Either will give you the device\u2019s exact location, which itself can help give you important contextual information. If it\u2019s at the restaurant where the company had lunch, it looks like you left it on the table. If it\u2019s in some strange house or in motion, it\u2019s probably time to wipe its data and lock it down.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have these tools set up, you may be able to ask your wireless carrier or the phone\u2019s manufacturer for assistance. Here\u2019s the information you\u2019ll need to get in touch with the bigger players:<\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve either confirmed your phone\u2019s location or confirmed the worst has happened, it\u2019s time to let someone know. If it’s your device (and not one supplied by your place of work) reach out to your mobile carrier and let them know what has happened. They can block your phone from accessing the network and help make it harder for your information to be stolen.<\/p>\n For your convenience, here is some carriers\u2019 contact information:<\/p>\n If your phone was given to you by your workplace, you definitely need to report it to them as well so they can take the steps to protect their company data. This goes for any device used for your work in any way. A lost device is a clear liability, with both your data and company data at real risk. Businesses need to have the capability to revoke access to company data and email remotely, or at least remove the device\u2019s work profile.<\/p>\n You will want to change your credentials on these three accounts ASAP:<\/p>\n Log into these three accounts (if you have them) and update your passwords.<\/p>\n Every password needs to be unique and complex. You shouldn\u2019t EVER use the same password twice. Ever, ever. We cannot stress this enough.<\/strong><\/p>\n Next up, you will want to swap out your passwords in this order:<\/p>\n This is going to take you some time. Possibly a lot, depending on how many passwords you need to update. Be sure to be diligent and take your time. <\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve changed all your important passwords, you will absolutely want to report it. It may not help to get your stolen phone back, but getting it on a police record is a good practice. More often than not, people aren\u2019t going to steal your phone; you just probably left it somewhere. If you notice that your phone is gone, and you know where you left it (like on the table at the restaurant you were just eating at), borrow someone else\u2019s phone and have them hold it for you. <\/p>\n If your phone was stolen, however, and appears to be on the move when you start tracking it, let it go<\/strong>.<\/p>\n By now most people know that you can track a phone. If they want it bad enough, you\u2019re better off driving to the Apple Store or Verizon than you are trying to chase it down. Don\u2019t take the risk.<\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, report it to the police. It still is a crime, even if nothing comes of it. <\/p>\n If you come across a phone in a public place, the best thing you can do is to try and find the manager or an administrator and give them the lost phone. Since most people will instinctively retrace their steps, you might just be a hero by taking a few minutes and give it to someone that will be at that location longer than you will. <\/p>\n We sincerely hope you never have to go through the experience of losing your phone, but if you have, we hope this guide helps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019ve found yourself in the position where your smartphone or tablet is missing, you need to act fast. Time is of the essence, particularly if you have reason to believe your device was stolen. Whether someone absconded with it or you simply forgot it at lunch, here are the critical steps you need to take now\u2014whether you\u2019re an Apple user or on Android.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4790,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,63],"tags":[132,134,133,86],"class_list":["post-4783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-tip-of-the-week","tag-android","tag-mobile-devices","tag-smartphone","tag-tip-of-the-week"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
Step 3: Report It<\/h2>\n
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Step 4 – Change Your Passwords<\/h2>\n
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If You Suspect Your Phone Has Been Stolen, Report It to Authorities<\/h2>\n
If You Find a Lost Phone<\/h2>\n