Losing the data – or the phone itself – can prove difficult to deal with, depending on how highly you rate the phone and what importance you place on the data stored therein. Having a backup plan in case of emergency is certainly recommended. But to have a plan of action, you need to know what the threats are. Fortunately there are competent, free solutions available on all four popular smartphone platforms.

Anti-Malware

Let’s be realistic – modern smartphones offer more threats to your personal safety than a computer.

Skilled hackers can use malware to scrape personal data off your phone, leaving you in debt when they take credit out in your name a few minutes later. With an always-on Internet connection in your pocket you might get an email from your bank informing you of the huge overdraft you didn’t apply for, but by then it will be too late.

Although such cases are currently rare, you obviously need to be aware of the possibilities and protect against these types of threat. The best answer here is to avoid visiting unsafe websites and installing untrustworthy apps from unofficial sources onto your phone, but if you absolutely must do this, make sure you protect yourself with some anti-malware software.

Lookout Security & Antivirus for Android phones is a suitable response, while iPhone and Windows Phone owners should ensure their devices are not unlocked or jailbroken. Concerns about transferring data to your phone from your computer can easily be addressed by installing anti-malware software for Windows or Mac OS X.

Encrypting Data

Both remote threats and those closer to home (such as having your phone stolen) can be partially addressed by encrypting data. Personal data stored on your phone can then only be accessed by the person with the encryption key – you. Should your device be hacked remotely or stolen it will prove next to impossible for the perpetrators to be able to read the data you have stored on your smartphone.

Android owners can use SecureMemo to keep data, passwords, and other data secure while SecurePhoto, meanwhile, provides security for photos stored on your phone.

If you use iPhone 3GS or later, you will have the advantage of native encryption while the My Eyes Only – Secure Password Manager app is a popular choice for storing notes, passwords and credit card data.

BlackBerry also offers native encryption and you might choose to secure your data using an app such as iLocker Lite to lock specific software, preventing unauthorized access.

Windows Phone users meanwhile don’t have the advantage of native encryption but unlike Android handsets don’t have an (easily) removable MicroSD card. Hidden Pass is the most popular app for encrypting personal data on this platform.

Tracing A Stolen Phone

As we’ve already discussed, smartphones are increasingly popular targets for thieves who might be looking for personal data, a quick way to make a phone call or hardware that they can sell to support their chosen lifestyle.

Whether you have been able to protect the data on your phone or not, you should be prepared to trace the device in the event of loss or theft. This is something that can be achieved using native software or third party apps.

Android users can take advantage of the Plan B app which will email your phone’s location to your Gmail address when you use another device to text the word “locate”.

Apple iPhone’s Find My Phone tool will locate the device on a map and allow you to remotely play a ringtone, display a message, remotely lock and even wipe it. Windows Phone users have a similar option also called Find My Phone which offers the same functionality but is native to the platform.

BlackBerry doesn’t have a such a system, although lost devices can be wiped by your BES administrator.

Backing Up To The Cloud

If you have concerns over the safety of data on your phone you can store it online or at the very least save a backup to the cloud. This can then be accessed via a web browser from another device or computer, allowing you to at the very least keep your data if your phone is stolen.

Naturally Apple iPhones have access to the iCloud service which effortlessly backs up apps and data, while Windows Phone owners have SkyDrive. Meanwhile Android offers data synchronization with Google for standard data such as calendar, contacts and emails.

Dropbox apps are available free for all platforms, meanwhile, including BlackBerry.

Conclusion

With suitable responses in place to deal with any of these possibilities, you should find that in most cases you can overcome data loss and phone loss. There is even a chance that your device can be retrieved or returned to working order.

In the meantime, don’t leave anything to chance. Keep your phone safe at all times, use the apps suggested above to pre-empt any threats or misuse of your handset and remember to take insurance on the device. Your mobile phone network will be able to refer you to their favoured broker, although you should check if you have any suitable cover already via other insurance policies.

While customers can be assured that credit card exposure is limited, there is still a substantial risk to customers as the cyber criminals have accessed email addresses, shipping addresses, phone numbers, billing addresses and hashed passwords.

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh says all customer passwords have been voided and reset as a precaution and that they encourage users to change passwords for other websites if the password used is the same as their Zappos password.

“I suppose the one saving grace is that the database that stores our customers’ critical credit card and other payment data was not affected or accessed.”

Staff from all Zappos departments will be available for customer service enquiries by email to ensure the quickest possible response. They have temporarily disabled phone communications as their system would not be able to handle the expected call volume.

It has not been revealed exactly when the security breach occurred, though staff were notified yesterday.

Image Credit: ShutterStock
Source: CNET

The next day we saw the phone travelling back to her workplace in the early morning, and when she arrived she found the phone had been anonymously returned with no reward asked for.

This story has a happy ending of course, but Apple’s free Find My iPhone service is also able to deal with the less happy outcomes in a way that minimizes your risk for greater losses. Let’s look into the app and see how you can ‘MakeUseOf’ it when your phone is lost or stolen.

So What is Find My iPhone?

Find My iPhone has been a part of Apple’s Mobile.Me service for a while now, and is now upgraded and included in the standard, free iCloud account. You can read all about iCloud here. The most recent update means that Mac computers can also be tracked. Here’s my wife’s iPhone, in the process of being stolen (this isn’t their home address, this was on the way).

I must have it! How do I enable It?

1. Make sure you’ve signed up and enabled iCloud on your device. From Settings > iCloud you can sign up for, or if you’ve already got an account connected, scroll down and ensure Find My iPhone is enabled (by default it isn’t enabled).

2. Location service must also be enabled – from Settings > Location Services > On

3. Scroll down on the same screen to Find my iPhone at the bottom of the list and click through to enable it specifically there.

To set it up on your Mac, you need to have the latest OSX, iTunes and iCloud specific updates installed. There should then be a new iCloud control panel icon in your preferences screen.

What Can I do When My Phone Is Stolen:

Open up the Find my iPhone app from either any other iOS device (you need to download it from the app store first), or log on to icloud.com from a computer.

You should see a list of devices registered to your account, and location discovery will begin. Click on the device once it’s been located correctly.

You should now see it on a map, but clicking on the device, then the small blue “i” will open up the menu of actions you can take. There are 3 choices:

• Play Sound or Send Message: This allows you to send a quick “this message is lost/stolen” type message as well as sound an alarm which works even if the phone is in silent mode. Note, this is also a great way to find your phone at home!
• Remote Lock: This places the device into a locked mode exactly as if you had setup a regular lock screen before it was stolen. You choose the 4 digit code now, so make sure you don’t forget it.
• Remote Wipe: This is final and more drastic option – it will initiate a low level format of all your data, leaving it like a fresh iPhone straight from the factory. Be very careful when using this, as you will no longer be able to track, lock, or message this device if you use this option.

Your first move should be to lock the device and prevent any calls from being made. This isn’t going to stop anyone from reformatting the phone, but it will stop most thieves from getting at your data for now or making random expensive calls.

Second, follow the device via the GPS signal. If you’re the daring type, you could try chasing it down. It is probably best not to try anything crazy until you know it’s been stolen though, at which point calling the police with a residential address is definitely an option.

Next, send a message offering a reward and contact details.

At this point, you’re going to have to gamble. If it was indeed stolen, and the thief knows what they’re doing then your personal data is definitely at risk. Use remote wipe as a last option only if you’re confident you won’t get the device back.

Lastly, be sure to phone your mobile provider and lock out the SIM. This will prevent them making calls/texts and prevent any further expenses, but it’s not going to get your phone back.

It goes without saying that you should also call the police and get an incident or report number – you’ll need this to claim on insurance. Most contents insurance usually comes with the option to cover devices while they’re out of the house, so if you’re lucky then you can get a new phone.

A Solution for Android Users

Not wishing to exclude those inclined to the other mobile OS – Prey is a free service able to track up to 3 devices, and even has the ability to take photos of the thief using the laptop webcam or front camera. Sadly, Find My iPhone doesn’t let you do this, and I’m unable to find a similar app that does. The Prey page states they’re currently working on an iPhone version, but it’s been saying that for years. Looks like Android users have a one-up on us here!

I do recommend you enable some kind of service now as a precaution as you’ll never be able to do it when you’ll really need it. Find My iPhone is free, and if it saves you the $400 on a new phone, it’s more than worth it. Do you have any experience using Find My iPhone to get your phone back, or even a computer? Let us know in the comments, I’d love to hear how it worked out for you.

While it’s important to address potential damage immediately, for example by changing passwords stored on the computer or securing your backups, there are also steps you can take to potentially get your stolen laptop back. The effort you put into trying to retrieve your laptop in case of theft, depends on how valuable the laptop and the data stored on it are to you.

Contact the Police

Let’s be clear, the police won’t go out hunting for your laptop. However, when you file a report, depending on where you live the hardware information will be entered into a national database. And with that there is a slim chance that your laptop will be retrieved, since this database is typically checked by pawn shops and other dealers of used hardware.

More importantly, the police should be able to help you with the steps listed below, for example by telling you where to search for your laptop, which people to contact, and how to go about in general.

Inform Local Dealers, Repair and Pawn Shops

Contact any local shops that deal with used hardware, including repair and pawn shops. Give them a good description of identifiable physical features of your laptop, for example scratches, worn paint, cracks, or custom addons, such as engravings, stickers, or paint jobs. If possible, also give them your laptop’s serial number.

Contact Your Insurance

If you cannot retrieve your laptop, you may at least be able to minimize the financial damage. Check your insurance policies whether any of them covers stolen computer hardware. This includes your household belongings, homeowners, automobile, or company insurance, depending on where the laptop was stolen from. Get in touch with the respective insurance agent to file a claim. This is where you will probably need the police report.

Spread the Word

Post the news that your laptop was lost or stolen on your online social networks and add a photo of the device if you have one. Think of other local online markets where the thief could try to sell the laptop, for example Craigslist, kjiji, eBay classifieds, Blocket (Sweden) etc. and post notices there. You can also post a WANTED poster around where you live or advertise in the local newspaper. Offer a reward that equals the value the laptop and the data has for you or if that’s too much, offer what you can afford.

Keep an Eye On Potential Sales Markets

With the above actions you have done all you can to alert people around you. Now you have to put in your share of searching for the laptop. Screen online markets commonly used in your area, for example Craigslist or eBay. Check the classifieds of local papers and local bulletin boards. If you see your laptop turn up anywhere, put the police on the case or at least ask what they recommend you to do.

Have you ever had a laptop stolen and were you able to retrieve it? What helped you in tracking it down or finding the thief? Please share your experience with us!

Image Credits: Serg Zastavkin, Palto, alexskopje, lavitrei

The great risk that comes with all portable devices is theft. Not only do you risk losing an expensive piece of hardware, a stolen laptop also contains private and potentially confidential data, for example photos, personal data, work emails, and passwords. In this article I have summarized ways how you can protect your laptop from getting stolen or how to prepare it for a case of theft.

Use Locks for Laptop Theft Protection

The first line of defense to prevent unsolicited access to your data is a lock. You are probably reminded of the Kensington Security Slot and Lock and that is indeed something I recommend you to use. However, there are several other ways to lock your laptop, for example using a USB flash drive and software. These locks can trigger an alarm when someone tries to break them, for example by removing the flash drive or by entering a wrong password.

We have covered several such tools in depth. I recommend consulting the following articles:

• LAlarm Laptop Makes Your Laptop Scream When Stolen
• Protect And Track Your Laptop In Case Of Theft with LaptopLock
• How To Set Up An Anti-Theft Alarm On Your Mac Laptop

The setup procedure for Predator, another tool you can use to lock your PC, is described in The Office Worker’s Guide to a USB Thumb Drive.

Password Protect All User Accounts

The second line of defense are passwords. Whether you’re running Windows, Linux, or OS X, create a password for your user account. Also make sure there are no hidden accounts that remain unprotected, for example the Administrator account on Windows. The following article explains which passwords you need and it will refer you to further material on how to create safe passwords: 3 Default Passwords You Must Change & Why

I realize it is very convenient to store passwords on your laptop and enable the auto login for desktop clients and online accounts. However, I recommend not to store passwords for any accounts that hold sensitive or confidential information, such as bank or email accounts. I also recommend you to use a password-protected password manager to help you mange safe passwords. We have covered the following on MakeUseOf:

• 4 Open Source Password Managers To Keep Your Passwords Safe
• Password Manager Battle Royale: Who Will End Up On Top?
• KeePassX – Secure Password Management For Linux & OS X
• Securely Synchronize Your Browser Passwords With LastPass

Encrypt Sensitive Data

User account passwords are easy to crack. In fact, it’s not even necessary to crack them. Someone who has physical access to your laptop can just remove the hard drive and read it externally from another computer. Any data stored on your hard drive is easily accessible, regardless of how strong your user password is. Hence, your best bet is to encrypt data stored on your laptop.

For Windows users I recommend TrueCrypt, a free, open source, and easy to use disk encryption software. Also have a look at the following tools:

• Sync, Backup & Encrypt Your Files With Toucan [Windows & Linux with Wine]
• How To Secure & Encrypt Your Information If Your Laptop Gets Stolen [Mac]

Backup Your Data

Yes, I keep telling you this and it’s a mantra worthwhile. Whether or not your laptop gets stolen or your hard drive breaks, it will give you peace of mind. And if the worst happens, it will save you a lot of trouble.

To learn more about backing up your Windows 7 data, I recommend reading the PDF guide Stuff Happens: The Backup & Restore Guide.

Install Applications to Track Down Your Laptop

Despite all protection in form of locks, passwords, encryption, and backed up data, your laptop can get stolen. Even if all you are losing is a piece of hardware, wouldn’t it be great if you could track it down and get it back? To make this possible, you need to prepare your laptop beforehand by installing tools to access the device once the thief uses it to go online.

The following articles will walk you through the process for the respective applications:

• Track Down and Recover Your Stolen Laptop with Prey
• Use LocatePC to Secure and Find Stolen PC for Free

And here are two more tools listed in our Directory:

• LockitTight: Helps to Locate Your Stolen Laptop
• FireFound: Locate Your Stolen Computer (Firefox only)

Customize Your Laptop Data and Record Information

Another way of protecting your laptop from accidental removal or theft, is to customize it. Add stickers to the backside of the screen, engrave your laptop, or get a custom paint job. This will make it unique enough to avoid an accidental mix-up and it might also make it difficult to sell and thus less likely to be stolen.

In addition, take photos of your laptop, record any identifiable features, including damage, and note down the serial number. In case your laptop does get stolen, this information can be very valuable in retrieving it.

In a follow-up article due to be published tomorrow, I will share what you can do in case your laptop does get stolen.

Have you ever had a laptop stolen and did you use any of the tracking apps recommended above? Was the police of any help?

Image Credits: bodhihillillustration, Sven Hoppe, Vladru, mmaxer, Matthias Pahl, igorlale

After all, we’re dependent on these devices. What if it was stolen? You don’t want your private information in the wrong hands, especially since these new phones are capable of making purchases online.

In this article, I am going to cover a few of the tools you can use to locate your lost or stolen cell phone. So the next time you lose your phone, hopefully it won’t take all day to find it.

[Note]: Finding your cell phone is much easier if you have the ringer turned on or at least have it on vibrate. Finding a phone on silent can be done (if you have GPS), but it is by far the trickiest of all recoveries.

WhereisMyCellPhone

For a lot of you, this may be the only tool you need. If you don’t have a house phone (less and less people do every day), you can go to WhereisMyCellPhone and dial your number for free. We’ve covered this app in our directory before. Simply type in your number, click Find It!, and let it ring until your phone is found. There is no registration required to use this app.   This app is US-only.

BlueRetriever

If you think you’ve left your phone in a public place, you can try this directory app. BlueRetriever is pretty cool in that it allows you to create a wallpaper for your phone that has a site URL and an ID number on it.

When someone finds your phone, they can go to the website, type in the ID number, and they will be able to find out who the phone belongs to. You can even offer them a reward, which you set yourself, of up to $100 in gift cards (Amazon, Starbucks, Target) or donations with Kiva.

Site registration is free and BlueRetriever supports the following devices:

• iPhone Original/3G/3GS.
• iPod Touch.
• Blackberry: Curve, Storm, Bold, Pearl.
• Palm Pre.
• Google G1.

[Note]: If your phone is not on the list, feel free to try the service anyway. You may however need to crop the image to fit on your phone’s screen.

Lookout

This app supports Android, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile phones. Lookout provides security in the form of virus and malware protection, data backup of your contacts and photos, and device location.

The site says that if you can’t find your phone you can make it “scream” (not quite sure what that means) or wipe it out.

F-Secure Anti-Theft

If you’re really worried about your data being stolen, you can look into F-Secure Anti-Theft (directory). Supported by Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, and Android, this application provides the ability to track your lost phone, remotely lock it, and even remotely wipe out all the data.

If your phone is stolen, you can text message a key to your phone to find its geo-location. Send the phone different keys to perform the activities mentioned above.

We’ve covered similar software in WaveSecure and BuddyWay.

iTag [Android]

If you own an Android phone, you need an app like iTag. Once installed this app will allow you to view your cell phone’s location, make it ring from the website even if it is set to silent or vibrate, lock the keys, back up your contacts, delete the information on the phone, and more. There’s not much this app can’t do in the way of finding your cell phone.

Conclusion

Did you find your lost cell phone? I hope you did.

Other articles you can check out relating to this matter include How To Trace & Deactivate A Stolen Cell Phone, How To Trace a Mobile Phone Location with Google Latitude, and 6 Possible Signs Your Cell Phone May Be Tapped.

Image Credit: boostmobile