Smartphone security: Critical steps to take if your device is stolen

In the event of a stolen smartphone, the first 15 minutes are critical for securing personal data, banking, and social media accounts. Both iPhone and Android users have tools to mitigate damage.

For iPhone users, Apple recommends immediately activating ‘Lost Mode’ via the Find My app or iCloud.com/find. This locks the device with a passcode and suspends Apple Pay cards and tickets. Android users can utilize Google’s ‘Find My Device’ to locate, lock, or remotely wipe the device.

Experts advise that if a device is located at an unknown or moving address, users should not attempt to retrieve it themselves but should instead provide the location data to the police. Once the device is locked, users should immediately address SIM/eSIM security and banking access.