{"id":169466,"date":"2023-05-15T10:02:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T17:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=169466"},"modified":"2024-11-21T05:57:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T13:57:12","slug":"where-did-i-leave-my-phone-protecting-your-phone-from-loss-and-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/mobile-security\/where-did-i-leave-my-phone-protecting-your-phone-from-loss-and-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"“Where Did I Leave My Phone?” Protecting Your Phone from Loss and Theft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe you know that sinking feeling all too well. \u201cWhere did I leave my phone?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The minutes pass as you search around the house, then you head into the garage to look between the driver\u2019s seat and console of your car. No luck. So it\u2019s back into the house where you turn over every couch cushion. Still nothing. Maybe panic is too strong a word, but you\u2019re starting to get a little worried.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then comes the relief. You found it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But what if your smartphone really was lost? Or worse yet, stolen?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not a pretty thought. But you can put protections in place that can help you recover your phone\u2014or remotely erase it if it indeed gets lost for good. A few up-front steps is all it takes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before your phone gets lost or stolen, protect yourself with the basics. <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Preparation is everything. If your phone gets lost or stolen, you\u2019ll want to act quickly. You\u2019ll also want the reassurance that you have measures in place that can help you find it, recover it, or even erase it as needed. These steps can get you set up so you exactly that.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lock your phone.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Locking your phone is one of the most basic smartphone security measures you can take. Trouble is, few of us do it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our recent global research<\/span><\/a> showed that only <\/span>56% of adults said that they protect their smartphone with a password, passcode, or other form of lock. In effect, an unlocked phone is an open book to anyone who finds or steals a phone. It gives them unfettered access to<\/span> everything on it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And that likely includes:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n