What the Tech: Keeping your phone safe

CHARLOTTE, NC – We’ve all heard the stories, or perhaps even experienced it ourselves: the panic when your smartphone is lost or, worse, stolen. It’s not just the financial blow of a lost device; it’s the
terrifying thought of a thief gaining access to your most private information: credit cards, contacts, photos, even your current location.

The bad guys are sophisticated in their methods, but thankfully, there are some lesser-known, almost hidden, security settings on our smartphones that can make their job a lot harder. And
frankly, some of these settings should be changed right away. The moment your phone falls into the wrong hands, a clock starts ticking. Thieves will immediately try to breach your passwords, banking apps, emails, and photo galleries.

However, with a few changes to your phone’s settings, you can put significant roadblocks in their path. For iPhone users, a powerful new feature called “Stolen Device Protection” offers an excellent line of defense. This intelligent feature activates when your phone is in an unfamiliar location. Imagine a scenario where a thief snatches your phone and quickly makes their escape. If they then try to change your Apple ID or disable “Find My,” your iPhone will require a Face ID scan.

Even if they somehow know your passcode, they’ll be forced to wait a full hour before any settings can be altered. That can give you enough time to notify police and possibly even
recover the device. To enable this, navigate to your Face ID and Passcode settings. Android users aren’t left out when it comes to theft protection. By turning on “Theft Protection” on your Android device, the screen will automatically lock if the phone detects a sudden movement consistent with someone running away with it.

Additionally, the “Remote Lock” feature is a lifesaver if you suspect your phone is lost or stolen.  You can remotely lock your screen by simply entering your phone number at android.com/lock from another phone or computer.

Another vital step, particularly for iPhone users, is to disable the Control Center when your phone is locked. Without this adjustment, a thief can easily swipe down to your iPhone’s Control
Panel and turn off essential functions like Wi-Fi and cellular connections. This effectively prevents you from tracking your device. Make sure to turn it off for Apple Wallet as well,
preventing unauthorized access to your payment methods.

Furthermore, consider locking your most sensitive applications, especially if there’s a chance a thief might get hold of your phone while it’s unlocked. On an iPhone, go to Face ID and choose
“other apps.” Here, ensure all your critical applications, like email, banking, or any other app containing sensitive data, are set to require Face ID for access.

Ultimately, the most crucial measure we can all take is to protect our phones and, especially, our passcodes. While no setting can absolutely prevent someone from stealing your phone or keeping it if you lose it, these security features significantly increase the difficulty for thieves to exploit your personal information.