Stolen smartphone? How to secure your information and get your phone back

CTV Vancouver: How to secure your smartphone info Having your smartphone lost or stolen isn’t just frustrating, it also puts your personal information at risk.

Having your smartphone lost or stolen isn’t just financially frustrating, it also puts your personal information at risk.

Many phones that disappear each year are never recovered.

"It's almost a panic situation because if someone else gets hold of your phone they have all the texts that you sent out, where you're going, what your schedule is, who you're meeting," said Shari Dipaola, who has lost her smartphone in the past.

So how do you protect your information if your phone falls into the wrong hands, and what can you do to get your phone back?

Dipaola secures her phone with a passcode, but more than half of smartphone owners fail to use this basic security function, according to a survey by Consumer Reports.

"Four digits are better than nothing,” says Mike Gikas, “but the strongest passcodes have at least eight digits in them and have a mix of letters, numbers and symbols."

Regardless of passcode security, it can be difficult to recover a lost or stolen phone. Your best bet is to think ahead.

"The simplest step: tape your email address to the back of the phone," said Gikas.

You can also block the use of your phone using your International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, which is unique to your phone. Write down the number and give it to your service provider if your device is lost or stolen.

Service providers can put the IMEI number on a national blacklist and prevent anyone from accessing the information on your phone. To find your IMEI number, dial *#06# on your phone and the number will appear on your screen.

There are also a number of “Find My Phone” services that help you track your device remotely. However, the Consumer Reports survey found that less than a quarter of smart phone owners take advantage of these accounts.

Android phones have this service built in. To activate it, go to Google Settings, click Android Device Manager and then once in Settings, you can activate “Access Location.”

For iPhones, you can install “Find My iPhone” for free from the App Store. You need to be signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID in order to download the app.

If your phone goes missing, sign into the account from a computer or tablet to track its location.

"Look for the phone on the map. If it's far away, or you can't see it, push the erase button," said Gikas.

Consumer Reports suggests changing the passwords on your important accounts and filing a report with the police about the lost or stolen phone. The police report is important if you need to dispute any unauthorized charges made on your credit cards through the stolen phone. Similarly, notify your bank and credit card companies that your phone is missing.