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Over the past few weeks, 9 to 5MyIt covered how criminals in Brazil steal people’s phones and use them to drain users’ savings in an instant. Over the weekend my iPhone 12 was stolen, but iOS 15 and many other precautions were very helpful and made sure the situation wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
One of the best features available on iOS 15 is the ability to make iPhone discoverable even after being turned off or factory reset as long as Activation Lock is on. It turns out that it really works in real life as I still have access to the iPhone’s position even though I have factory reset it.
While it’s up to the police to do something, at least I can figure out exactly where the iPhone 12 is, although I’m not going to do anything on my own. Along with that, it’s easier than ever to restore the backup to my old and new iPhone, an XS.
Not only does this mean that I can get all my data back safely, but I can also easily fix Apple Watch without losing my cellular data.
Now I want to share some precautions before getting robbed and what I did next:
How to protect your iPhone before it gets stolen
For many of you, as I thought for myself, it might be unthinkable for someone to intimidate you with a gun and ask for your unlocked iPhone. It happened, but here’s what I did long before something like it happened:
- SIM PIN: In Brazil, we found out that the first thing thieves do is use your iPhone’s SIM card with another phone, as you can read more about here. Do not forget to create a PIN code for your SIM. In “Settings” and “Cellular”, make sure you have created a four-digit PIN code, so that no one can use your SIM card after your iPhone is switched off or when it is inserted in another smartphone.
- Protect your email accounts: I love the Mail app, but not on my iPhone. This is why I use the Outlook app because it allows me to block the app with my face so that no one can easily access my Apple ID.
- Check out your photo gallery: Type “Card” and “Credit Card” into the search bar of your Photos app. If your credit card happens to be there, please withdraw it.
- Discover your Notes application: Believe it or not, many people save their passwords on the Notes app. If you do, at least block the note with your face. Here is how to do it
- Face ID / Touch ID is your best friend: If the app allows you to block it with your fingerprint or face, then do so. Some examples: WhatsApp, Google Drive, banking apps and 2FA apps let you block them with your face.
- Record the serial number and IMEI: These two are key information to have. Both are available in your iPhone’s box, in iPhone settings, or in iCloud. If anything happens, Apple and the police will know from these numbers whether or not the cell phone is stolen.
- Use 2FA apps, not SMS: Using two-factor authentication is very important these days, but using your cell phone number as the primary factor is not a good idea. Whenever you can, use an appropriate app.
My favorite two-factor authentication apps were from Google and Microsoft, but since I downloaded “Authenticator” by 2Stable, I have never regretted it. It works well with all my Apple devices, which means that with my Apple Watch I was able to access a friend’s computer and find all of my 2FA codes from my Watch. My suggestion: Find a 2FA app that works on all of your Apple devices, like this one. You can learn more about it here.
Stolen iPhone: what to do next?
From now on, it becomes the standard procedure: reset your iPhone as quickly as possible. You can use another Apple device or iCloud to do this. Read more on how to do it here.
Factory reset your iPhone also removes all cards from the wallet. Also, don’t forget to call the police and your bank to withdraw your virtual token.
Then, as a precaution, don’t forget to change all your main passwords: Apple ID, main email, Facebook and Twitter.
If you live in certain states in the United States, it may be a good idea to check out the Apple Care + Theft and Loss option. After you register the case with the police, you pay a fee and you can get a new iPhone. This feature was introduced in 2018, and I wish Apple would expand it globally, as you must be flown in those states to use this concierge.
Wrap
Hope you find these tips helpful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation. I’m fine, I’m not injured and my accounts are safe. Remember to upgrade your iPhone to iOS 15 as soon as it becomes available. In fact, always update your iPhone and apps to make sure everything is as secure as possible.
Do you have any additional tips? Don’t forget to share them with us in the comments section below.
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