Last updated April 12, 2019
Unsurprisingly, mobile phones are some of the highest risk items when it comes to theft. Many people today use smartphones, carrying with them everything from their private pictures and documents to personal details such as login information for websites and email accounts. Losing your mobile phone might seem bad enough, but someone else having access to everything that’s stored on it can be even worse.
1 – What’s Stored on Your Phone
Never forget that, no matter how careful you think you are, your mobile phone is at a higher risk of getting stolen than almost anything else. Because of this, be careful what you store on your mobile. Avoid putting private documents, pictures and other files on it or anything else that you wouldn’t want anyone else seeing. If you do store personal or financial information on your phone, make certain that it is password-protected in some way.
2 – Use a Password or PIN Number
You can protect your SIM card using a four-digit PIN number. This will prevent anyone from being able to use that SIM card for sending or receiving calls and messages should they manage to get their hands on your phone. However, a PIN number does not protect anything that is stored on the phone itself. Some smartphones can be password-protected just like a computer.
3 – Conceal Your Phone
Keep your phone concealed, particularly when on public transport or out in busy public areas. Never carry your phone in a case attached to your belt as this is asking for trouble. It is also a good idea to avoid using your phone openly in public areas, particularly in areas of town which have a reputation for being unsafe. Discretion is always the best way to avoid being robbed.
4 – Keep Your Phone Up to Date
Today’s smartphone operating systems work very much like those on conventional computers. Updates for popular operating systems such as Windows Phone 8, iOS, Android or Blackberry are released on a regular basis to address all sorts of issues ranging from software bugs to compatibility issues to performance improvements. A phone which is kept up to date is more secure and better all round.
5 – Keep a Backup
Keep a backup of any important data that you have stored on your mobile phone. Losing all your contacts can be an enormous pain in the event of losing your phone, so make sure that you have a copy of everything stored on your computer or other storage media back home. Most smartphones provide software which allows you to easily backup such data and keep it synchronized with your computer.