New anti-theft features on smartphones aim to curb identity theft and fraud

With advanced protection tools and recommended safety practices, users can better defend their personal data against theft and fraud if their devices go missing, according to security experts.

Losing a smartphone can quickly become more than an inconvenience. In an age when phones hold bank apps, social accounts, messages, photos and verification codes, a stolen or misplaced device can expose far more than the handset itself. The Guardian, citing the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, has previously warned that the real threat is often identity theft and financial fraud rather than the cost of replacing the device. Security guidance from Microsoft, the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Reports all points to the same conclusion: the best defence is to prepare before anything goes missing, then act fast if it does.

The first line of protection is to make the device hard to unlock. A strong passcode, supported by fingerprint or face recognition, is far safer than an easy-to-guess number sequence. It also makes sense to keep the auto-lock timer short, limit what can be seen from the lock screen and disable quick access to settings or voice assistants when the phone is locked. On both iPhone and Android, location services should be switched on in advance so the owner can use built-in tracking tools such as Find My or Find My Device if the handset disappears.

Modern phones also offer anti-theft features that can slow down a thief trying to change key settings or payment information. Apple’s Stolen Device Protection and Android’s Theft Protection are designed to add extra verification before sensitive actions are allowed. Experts also advise protecting the SIM with a PIN, since criminals may move the card to another device in an attempt to intercept one-time passcodes sent by text. For the same reason, users should secure banking and wallet apps with their own biometric checks rather than relying only on the phone’s main lock.

If the device is not recovered quickly, the response should move from locating to damage control. Microsoft, the FTC and other consumer-security sources advise contacting the mobile carrier to suspend service, changing the passwords for important accounts, reporting the loss or theft to the police and, where necessary, triggering a remote wipe. Recording the IMEI number in advance can help with that process. Regular cloud backups to services such as iCloud, Google Drive or Google Photos can also reduce the pain of loss, ensuring that even if the phone is gone, the data does not go with it.

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Source: Fuse Wire Services