A smartphone nowadays is not a luxury, but a necessary attribute of personal and business life. If it is stolen or lost, it can make life very difficult for its owner. But even if you did not take care in advance and did not foresee such a situation, there are several ways that are likely to help you return the loss. Let's consider them for the three most popular mobile operating systems - Android, iOS, Windows Mobile.
Necessary
Android smartphone
Instructions
Step 1
If an attacker who stole your smartphone needs your data, then the first thing he will try is to completely turn off the device or disable all communication: mobile and WiFi. If he only needs your device, then the first thing he will do is a hard reset to return the device to factory settings. Therefore, you need to lock your smartphone as soon as possible after detecting a loss and try to track its location. This is done remotely using special tools.
Step 2
If you have an Android smartphone, then you need to follow the link https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager to the page for remote control of your devices. If the smartphone is currently online, then its location will be displayed on the map, with pretty decent accuracy. If the phone is offline, its location will be determined and shown on the map as soon as it appears online.
In the Google Play market, there is an Android Remote Control application of the same name (or Device Manager). With it, you can search and lock your device from another Android device.
Also, for tracking an Android device, the https://www.google.com/maps/timeline service will be useful, which collects and stores the movement history of your device.
Step 3
If you prudently allowed to determine the location of your Android device and set up blocking and deletion of data (the button Set up blocking and deletion of data), then here you will also be able to block the phone or erase data stored in its internal memory (data from the SD card is deleted will not). You can write a message that will appear on the screen of the device and leave a backup number to contact you.
Step 4
If you own an iPhone, then go to the search page https://icloud.com/find or launch the special "Find iPhone" application from another i-device. Select your lost device from the list of devices. If it is online, you will see its location on the map.
Next, you need to activate Lost Mode. This mode puts a code lock on the device. Also here you should set a message about the reward for the return and leave your contact information to contact you.
You can also delete all data from the iPhone here. However, after that it will be impossible to find it through the iPhone search page. But no one can use your smartphone until they activate it with your Apple ID.
Step 5
If you have lost your Windows device, go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices and log in. Select a stolen / lost smartphone from the list of your devices and click Find my phone. If its location is known, it will be displayed on the map. Then we press "Block" and indicate the phone number for feedback with you.
Step 6
Many smartphone manufacturers have their own individual means of finding lost or stolen smartphones. For example, Sony devices have a My Xperia Theft Protection service. Samsung has Reactivation Lock. In addition to searching for smartphones, Apple devices have an Activation Lock function. Usually, these capabilities are activated by the user, that is, by you, until the moment of loss, so we will not dwell on them in detail. Search the website of your device manufacturer, it is possible that one of the tools they offer will help you find a smartphone.
Step 7
After that, it is advisable to contact your cellular operator and leave a request to block the SIM card. Of course, after blocking, your device will not be able to access the network via GPRS mobile Internet, and its location will be determined only via WiFi. But attackers usually rule out this possibility.
Next, we write a report on the loss to the police and, possibly, to our cellular operator. This will require your passport, the original packaging of the device, and a cash / sales receipt.
If you know the unique IMEI number of your smartphone, you can leave information that it is listed as stolen in the https://sndeep.info/ru/lostolen database. Enter the amount of the return fee. Perhaps someone will find and return it to you.
These are perhaps the basic steps you can take to try to recoup the loss.
Step 8
For the safety of personal data, it is advisable to disconnect the smartphone from cloud services, instant messengers, mail accounts, etc. Usually, each service has a function to unbind connected devices. This function is available in Google, VKontakte, Dropbox, Twitter, Facebook, Viber, Odnoklassniki. Where this is not the case, change your passwords. For example, you will have to change passwords in Skype, Instagram, Mail.ru.
Step 9
And finally, a few words about programs that will help you find a smartphone, but which must be installed and configured BEFORE losing it. There are many such programs on Google Play. But, perhaps, the highest quality in this regard is Avast Anti-Theft. It will help you find a stolen smartphone even after an attacker has reset to factory settings. Alas, if the program was not installed before the loss, this method is inapplicable.
