Cybersecurity: how to avoid losing information if your cell phone is lost or stolen

Today the cell phones they have become indispensable tools for our work activities and daily life. A lot of sensitive information is stored on these small devices such as applications that have to do with our finances or personal photos and videos. For this reason, its loss or theft has a great impact on people’s lives.

The loss of information and access to different platforms is a serious problem, but a problem that can be mitigated with previous measures and with actions after the fact. Here are some ‘tips’ to keep our information safe in case one of the mentioned situations occurs.

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Preventive measures

• Block the cell phone. A first measure to take is to use a blocking system on the cell phone. We can achieve this through a PIN, a password or a biometric alternative such as the fingerprint sensor or facial recognition. In this way, if the equipment falls into the hands of third parties, they will not be able to enter it. Another useful tip is to apply blocking systems to apps, at least to those with more sensitive information such as the gallery or banking and investment apps.

• Strong password. If the chosen method is the password, it must be strong and secure enough, which means that it must not follow patterns such as 12345, birthdays or home addresses.

• Second authentication factor. This is a code that is obtained from an application or an SMS message that prompts the user to enter the application. That is, after entering the password, the user must enter the code so that the system can verify that he is really who he says he is. One of the most popular tools is Google Authenticator.

• Set SIM PIN. Each time the SIM card is inserted into a mobile phone, the PIN code must be entered. The usual thing is that each operator has a general PIN that is very easy to obtain for all its cards, however, it is possible to change the code from the phone’s own settings option. In this way, the next time the cell phone is turned on, it will request the PIN. This is adequate so that we are not victims of SIM card spoofing or SIM swapping.

• Last but not least, we must be aware of the applications that we have installed on the smartphone so that, in the event of theft, we can make the necessary password changes. Also, we should never save passwords in the notes app, WhatsApp or any other messaging app, that’s where criminals look first.

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Measures in case of loss or theft

• Lock the SIM. To prevent criminals from first communicating with the operator from the affected cell phone and obtaining information from it, it is appropriate to call the operator and ask to block the SIM card and request a new chip with our number.

• Change passwords for applications and services such as social networks, virtual wallets, email. When changing passwords, in some applications all sessions are closed, but in other cases they remain open. Therefore, it is necessary to check through the computer if the account is still active.

• Review banking applications and virtual wallets. It is important to take special care in these applications to avoid possible scams.

• Talking about WhatsAppat the time of activating the account on another device, it will be automatically deactivated on the previous cell phone.

• Some devices allow you to restore it remotely so that criminals cannot obtain the information.

• Warn family and friends to prevent criminals from calling or messaging pretending to be the owner of the device and requesting money or asking questions to obtain sensitive information.

Source: Elcomercio

James

I have worked as a journalist for over 10 years and have written for various news outlets. I currently work as an author at 24 News Recorder, mostly covering entertainment news. I have a keen interest in the industry and enjoy writing about the latest news and gossip. I am also a member of the National Association of Journalists.