Gerry's Tech Tip of the Month
GERRY HEBERT
WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOUR PHONE IS STOLEN
Because so much of our personal information is on or accessed via our smartphone it can be an absolute disaster if you lose the phone. Here are several steps you can take now that will enable you to quickly recover from losing it, if such an event should occur:
- Turn on Remote Tracking – on most Android phones it’s called Find My Device; on iPhones it’s called Find My iPhone. Look in your phone’s Settings app and search for the relevant feature.
- Protect the Lock Screen – Keep the screen timeout setting as short as possible. Also, use a PIN, a pattern, a fingerprint, or your face to unlock it. On Android phones look under Security & Location; on iPhones it’s under Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).
- Back Up Your Data - On Android, go to Settings then tap System, Advanced, and Backup. On iOS, go to Settings then tap your name, then your device, then iCloud Backup (if you've enabled iCloud on your device, which you should).
For other measures to take, check out Everything You Should Do Before You Lose Your Phone | WIRED on Wired.com.