A number of the software developers at Snapper attended KiwiCon late last year. This is an IT security conference (i.e. a hacker’s conference), so we were pretty excited about what the team would report back to the rest of us.
Would we be regaled with tales of daring bank heists via virtual secret passages? Or perhaps online identity theft using Facebook profiles, and leaving the victim liable for hundreds of broken hearts and ruined fortunes?
Well… kind of.
It turns out that all these things are possible, but the most common way in to your bank account, or identity, or indeed, your heart, is not some little known virtual back door. It’s in your hands. Literally. It’s that thing you carry around with you every day; that you can’t bear to be parted from; that holds all your online keys. Your mobile phone.
So as a public service, and because the level of mobile phone security amongst Snapper staff could use an upgrade, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how you turn on the ‘Find My Phone’ services on your mobile phone. This functionality allows you to find your phone should you lose it (What a relief! I left it at home.), but also to delete data from it remotely, if it’s lost for good (Take that, bad guys!). I was disappointed to learn that the functionality does not allow you to spontaneously explode your phone from a distance, but regardless, ‘Find My Phone’ functionality protects you and your company (if you use your mobile phone for work) should you misplace it.
First things first
OK, first, unlock your phone. You have a passcode on your phone right?
No?
Well, that’s like leaving your front door open. Not everyone who walks past will go in and steal your stuff, but if they’re that way inclined, you just made it incredibly easy. Go to the settings menu on your phone (it usually has a symbol that looks like a cog), then under security, set a passcode.
Really…. Do it now.
We’ll wait…
For those of you waiting with me, here’s a cat video compilation to amuse you in the meantime.
The pleb’s guide to finding not losing your phone
Right, everyone back now?
Good.
Here’s how you set up ‘Find My Phone’.
For an Android phone or tablet
1. From the home screen, tap ‘Google Settings’.
2. Under the Services menu, tap ‘Security’
3. Under Android Device Manager, move sliders to the right to turn on ‘Remotely locate this device’ and ‘Allow remote lock and erase’.
4. Done!
Should you lose your Andrpoid phone or tablet:
1. Go to https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager and log in to your Google account.
2. If your device is on and connected to the internet, it will appear on a handy map.
3. You will then have the option to:
- Ring – will help you find it, if it’s in the vicinity
- Lock – locks the phone
- Erase – gets rid of all the data.
4. If your device is not connected, you can perform the same functions as above – they will simply take effect as soon as the phone is connected again.
5. Done!
For an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
1. From your home screen, tap Settings > iCloud
2. Scroll to the bottom of the iCloud menu and tap ‘Find My iPhone’.
3. Move sliders to the right to turn on ‘Find My iPhone’ and ‘Send Last Location’ (Use the same menus to set up Find My Mac on https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205362)
4. Done!
Should you lose your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch:
1. Go to www.icloud.com and log in.
2. Click ‘Find iPhone’
3. If your device is on and connected to the internet, it will appear on a handy map. You will then have the option to:
- Play sound – will help you find it, if it’s in the vicinity
- Lost mode – locks the phone
- Erase iPhone – gets rid of all the data.
4. If your device is not connected, you can tick to be notified when it comes online again, and perform the same functions as above. The function you choose, will take effect as soon as the device is connected.
5. Done!
Easy, wasn’t it? You’re welcome.