Risks, Realities & Protection of Phone Theft - Part 3: How should one be prepared to remotely lock/wipe a device in case it’s stolen?

This week, LSDS continues our four-part series on phone theft with a look at preparing before a device is stolen and making sure you can remotely lock or wipe it if necessary.

Remote Lock:

Your recovery plan shouldn't route through your phone (or only your phone). It's best to use a second trusted device, recovery keys, recovery contacts, Google backup codes, hardware security keys, etc.

Apple and Google also offer enhanced theft protection on their devices. iOS has offered Stolen Device Protection since iOS 17, which is now standard in the new iOS. Google has Factory Reset Protection, Remote Lock, Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Identity Check, which requires biometric verification for sensitive actions outside trusted places (which can be very annoying), but most of these are off by default and need to be turned on and configured.

Recommended Actions:

Set up and configure all the safety features (like just discussed). Try not to use your passcode in public. Record your device's IMEI in case it is stolen. Practice the procedure of remote locking/wiping your device. Confirm you have easy access to all your financial institutions' fraud departments to quickly report stolen cards (not on your phone).

Stay Tuned for Part 4

What to Do Immediately After a Theft