Caitríona Redmond: What to do if you lose your mobile phone

Your mobile phone may hold all your personal information, would it be a disaster if it was lost to the ether?

A cracked phone screen is an inconvenience but can be repaired — a hacked, lost or stolen phone could mean much more hassle.

I used to carry my handbag like armour, packed full of everything that I would need. Thanks to the advent of the mobile phone, I now carry a wallet, personal portable computer, a photo album, video archive, address book, and much more.

However, this convenience comes with risks.

Gone are the days where I would pile my mobile phone, my purse, and all my personal bits and bobs into my handbag before leaving the house. 

I rejoice in the freedom of walking out the door carrying just my phone, safe in the knowledge that everything I need is in my hand. But what happens if this essential device is lost or stolen?

Many of us have become reliant on that small oblong brick — so reliant in fact that we may not be able to carry on our day-to-day lives without one. 

The thought of losing my phone puts me into a cold sweat. For most, the loss of photographs and videos would be the most difficult to bear. 

Here are some steps you can take to protect your personal information and what to do if you lose your phone.

Beloved family albums used to be stored on a bookcase in the living room. Those family albums are now stored on our phones instead. Our precious memories may have been digitised for eternity, but they are just as vulnerable as the albums on the bookshelf.

It’s crucial to perform regular backups to prevent their loss. Start protecting your digital albums by backing them up or downloading the data direct to a standalone computer. Cost-wise, downloading your information directly to your computer is free.

However, you will need to continue to back up the phone at regular intervals, and make sure you keep your computer up to date.

Learn from my mistakes: I have a wonderful hard drive full of family memories that is not compatible with more modern computers, rendering it nearly useless. Alternatively, consider using cloud services for automatic backups.

The more modern the phone, the larger the photograph and video size, and consequently the cost of backup. Most mobile phone operating systems offer varying levels of protection and backup, with charges applying once you go over a storage limit. 

Depending on the online service you choose, be it Google Photos or iCloud, costs will start at €1.99 per month paid via the App Store. A small price, you will agree, for protecting your memories from loss or theft. Ensure you choose a reliable and secure service for your backups.

Protect all the data on your phone by using strong passwords

• Strong passwords use a combination of letters numbers and special characters; they’re particularly difficult to break;
• Whatever you do, don’t use sequential numbers or letters. You’d be surprised at the number of people whose phone password is simply ‘0000’ or ‘123456’. Use unique passwords for every single login and app;
• Alternatively use biometric security settings on your phone. This simply means enabling face ID or a thumbprint to open your phone or certain apps;
• Regularly change your passwords to enhance security.
• Make sure the mobile phone’s operating system and apps are kept regularly updated. You can set these to automatically apply overnight in your settings. These updates are designed to circumvent cyber hacks or breaches and keep your mobile phone more secure. Enabling automatic updates ensures you don’t miss any critical security patches.

What should you do if you lose your mobile phone?

Straight away activate the Find My Device services by logging in online. If it’s an iPhone, you will need to use ‘Find My iPhone’; or for an Android phone use ‘Find My Device’. This service will help you locate your phone on a map, remotely access it, or erase its data. 

If you believe that your mobile phone has been stolen, then report it straight away both to your operator and the gardaí. If you have a work phone, you’ll also need to notify your employer. Acting quickly can help prevent unauthorised access to your personal information.

It may be tedious, but you will also have to change all your passwords. Think about every single app that you use and log into, from emails to Instagram, and beyond; everything needs changing.

Once you get a replacement mobile phone, be wary and monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity. Regular monitoring can help you catch any unauthorised access early.

Protect your phone from physical theft by always being mindful of your surroundings. Thieves often target distracted individuals in crowded spaces. 

Avoid leaving your phone in easy-access spots like a jeans back pocket and instead carry it inside of a zipped pocket or bag. 

Enable lock screen security with a passcode or facial recognition and keep a record of all your phone details including SIM card number and the phone registration number. Finally, be wary of public plug-in charging stations which can be used to steal data.

Hopefully these tips will help and you will never lose your phone!

Redmond Recommends

If your phone battery is prone to running out by midday then a portable rechargable power bank is an excellent solution. Choose the largest bank that you can afford. 

A 10,000mAh bank should replenish your phone’s battery to full twice before needing recharging itself and cost less than €25.

A sturdy phone cover is a must, even with the most modern phones, if you want to protect from broken screens. I also recommend not testing how waterproof or resistant your phone is, no matter what the manufacturer says! 

When taking your phone into water use an airtight sealed pouch.