3 steps to take immediately if your phone is stolen or lost

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The loss or theft of a phone can be very upsetting. After all, you have a lot of important information on that device. But if you take the right steps the moment you realize it’s gone, you may be able to minimize the pain.

What to do if your smartphone is stolen or irretrievably lost

If you’ve determined that your phone isn’t just temporarily misplaced, it’s wise to take more advanced steps to protect your information and identity.

1. Report the loss to your cell phone carrier immediately

Your carrier can suspend or disconnect service to your missing phone, in order to avoid unauthorized cellular usage. You should call your carrier if possible, but if you do not have access to a phone, you may also be able to report it on their website by logging into your account.

Here’s a list of the contact information for the larger U.S. cellular carriers:

• AT&T: 1-800-331-0500 or www.att.com/suspend
• Sprint: 1-888-211-4727 or https://www.sprint.com/en/support/solutions/device/report-that-your-device-is-lost-or-stolen.html 
• T-Mobile: 1-877-746-0909 or https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1211 
• Verizon: 1-800-922-0204 or https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/suspend-service-faqs/#lost-stolen

2. Remotely lock and wipe your phone if possible 

Now, most smartphones have a built-in “kill switch” that allows you to remotely deactivate your device and prevent thieves from resetting it. In order for these services to work, you need to have them installed first. Here’s a list of some of the more popular web portals to help you:

• Apple Find My iPhone Activation Lock: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201365 
• Remotely Lock My Device - Find My Device - Android: https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-137943/ 
• Samsung Find My Mobile: https://findmymobile.samsung.com
• T-Mobile Lookout Mobile Security A[[: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-4257 
• Windows 10 only Find and Lock a Lost Windows Device: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/11579/microsoft-account-find-and-lock-lost-windows-device

3. Change your passwords

Smartphone companies often offer cloud services, allowing your phone to access your data in the cloud. To prevent the thief from doing so, you’ll want to change your cloud password as soon as possible. You should also change your passwords for any other accounts that you access on your phone, such as banking, social media, email, and other accounts.

How to help protect your smartphone and yourself

As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and in this particular case, it has never rung so true. These tips can help you protect your phone and your information if you ever lose your phone:

• Use auto-lock and a passcode. It’s possible to lock most devices using a passcode or other similar feature. But many people simply don’t do so, leaving their contacts, text messages, emails, and social networking accounts open to anyone who puts their hands on the phone. 
• Back up information. Making sure you back up your information regularly may be a lifesaver in case you never regain access to your phone. Whether you adopt a low-tech technique, like writing down phone numbers, or something more high-tech like uploading information to the cloud, you’ll be glad to have a backup if your phone is stolen or lost.
• Consider tracking software. As we mention above, most mobile phones offer basic tracking and remote protection software, but it must be installed and configured in order for it to work. If your phone doesn’t come with a “kill switch,” or you want something with more safety features, consider Norton Mobile Security, which gives you the ability to lock and wipe your mobile phone if stolen or lost — and so much more.
• Don’t save passwords to your browser. When you visit password-protected websites, take the time to type in the password. Otherwise, a thief could access sensitive information simply by unlocking your phone. It may seem tiresome to enter your password every time, but the extra effort could help you protect your identity.

To learn more about how to protect your smartphones, PCs, Macs, and other devices, be sure to download our How to Protect Your New Device eBook.

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