We use them for a wide variety of personal and business purposes, therefore it’s particularly frustrating when we lose them or they get stolen.
These devices are easy and interesting targets for thieves precisely because of their small sizes, mobility, and there is a large market where they can be sold.
Although the thieves are quite effective, there are still a few things you can do to prevent your mobile phone or laptop getting into the wrong hands.
HOW TO PREVENT THEFT
- Do not leave your devices unattended, especially if they are switched on. If you are with your mobile phone or laptop in public, be aware of your surroundings. Always know where your mobile device is. Although there are no places where your devices would be fully protected, some are safer than others. Always keep your mobile phone in the inside pocket of your bag or jacket and simply don't let the laptop out of your hands.
- Be careful in busy places such as tram or bus stops, shopping malls, airports and train stations, restaurants, cinemas, concert halls and nightclubs. If, for example, you happen to be at a bar, place the laptop in the bag and under your table, and, if you have to leave the table, ask a friend to keep an eye on the laptop for you.
- Do not attract attention of potential thieves. You can achieve this by carrying your laptop in a simpler bag or a backpack instead of a bag designed specifically for this purpose. Also, when talking on your mobile phone, opt for the hands-free option so your device isn't easily visible. iPhones are particularly interesting to thieves. Try to deceive them by replacing the typical white iPhone headset with an 'ordinary' black one.
- Label your laptop/mobile phone. . If your portable device is different from others in some way, the thief will find it tougher to sell. You can, for example, use stickers.
- Lock your mobile phone/laptop. Always lock your device with a password/PIN code. If a thief gets a hold of it, then they won't be able to access the information on your SIM card or your laptop's memory. Special laptop padlocks are available on the market (e.g. Kensington lock) and are used to secure the device to a desk or another heavy object. This way you can physically prevent a thief to steal a device from right before your eyes.
PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION
Mobile devices are constantly on the road, and with them (confidential) information. Although such easy access may be useful, there are some risks:
- Information stored on your mobile device (e.g. username and password stored for practical purposes, a list of names, contact information, documents, etc.) are generally of confidential nature.
- With the use of mobile data devices, business and private domains are directly intertwined. In case of inadequate protection, unauthorized persons may, by using your mobile device, gain access not only to personal but also to confidential business information.
- If Bluetooth is turned on and visible, the device is then exposed to a potential attack – there is an open possibility for your information to be misused, and your data interface could be used without your knowledge.
- Using open and unknown Wi-Fi networks makes our information accessible to everyone.
PROTECTION OPTIONS AND METHODS
- Do not allow unauthorized persons to have a look at/access your mobile device – be careful and hide your data from prying. If you can, use a privacy foil screen.
- Make security backups on a regular basis.
- Use protection in form of a PIN code/password and change it frequently. Immediately change factory preset passwords (mainly 12345 or 0000).
- Encrypt confidential information stored on mobile media.
- Enable Bluetooth/WiFi/GPS only when actively using the device. Otherwise, they will just unnecessarily drain your battery, but also allow unauthorized connection to your device.
- Use protected WiFi only. Never connect to an unknown WiFi network before you have made sure that it is protected.
- Never leave mobile devices containing business/personal information/data in the car, not even in the locked trunk of a parked vehicle.
- Update your antivirus software on a regular basis.
- Individual software companies offer applications that provide encryption of the mobile phone's cards and internal memory, as well as remote wipes.
- Erase old/unnecessary data, so that in the case of theft/loss of the device, less data will be available for abuse (identity theft etc.)
- Write down important numbers. As soon as you get a new mobile device, write down all data essential for its identification (mobile phones – IMEI code, laptops – MAC address) on a special place (paper, file). These data may be used by the police to locate your stolen device, if it is still active on the network. Also, back-up your contacts and other important data.
- Furthermore, if the applications used on your device do not require log in for each session, consider logging out each time when you are not using them.
- Consider opening an insurance policy. In the case of theft, you will be able to partially or fully compensate the financial damage incurred. HT offers insurance of mobile devices at favorable rates – all details are available here.
IN THE CASE OF THEFT…
Although nobody expects that their mobile phone/laptop will be stolen, one should be prepared for such an event in order to minimize potential damage and/or find the device.
Change your passwords
f you used the mobile phone /laptop for access to e-mail, online banking, social networks etc., in the case of theft immediately change all access passwords. This way you will prevent the thief to misuse your personal data.
Immediately report stolen devices to your carrier and to the police. Your mobile carrier can deactivate your SIM card and thus prevent the thief to cause further financial damage. However, to make this possible, you need to first register device ownership with your carrier.