Effective Ways to Secure Your Smartphone

Today’s smartphones offer all sorts of ways to guard against having your personal information compromised if your device is lost or stolen. Here are several steps you can easily take to preserve your “smartphone peace of mind.”

First, add a screen lock to make sure that only you can get to your phone’s home screen and access your contacts, photos, files, and apps. If you haven’t already done so, follow the steps in your user manual to learn how to add a PIN code or swipe pattern, or in newer phones, setup a fingerprint or even facial recognition. Remember, you can always find your user manual here.

Second, protect all of your passwords. The more difficult you make a password, the less chance a thief has of figuring it out! In addition, to help keep track of your passwords, download a password manager app, like LastPass, which works for both Android and iPhones. Many of these are free of charge, and store your passwords securely so you don’t forget them.

Even with screen lock protection and impenetrable passwords, we all know a phone can still go missing. To be prepared for this, both Android and iPhones allow you to setup tracking features that will help locate your device. You can activate these in just a few quick steps.

For Android smartphones:

  • Open the Settings app on your phone; then tap Security.
  • Under “Android Device Manager”, switch “Remotely locate this device” and “Allow remote lock and erase” to the “On” position.

Then, if your phone is misplaced,

  • On a computer or another phone, go to Google.com and search “Find my phone.”
  • Use the Android Device Manager option in your browser.
  • Log in using your Gmail account (the same one you use on your device).
  • Click the lost device to see its current location on a map.

For iPhones:

  • Open the Setting app on your iPhone; then tap iCloud.
  • Tap Find my iPhone, then tap the switch so it is in the “on” position.

If your device is missing,

  • Go to the “Find My iPhone” app on your iPad or another iPhone.
  • Log in using your Apple ID (you’ll need to have set this up previously).
  • In the main menu, select “Find iPhone.”
  • Select “All Devices”, and then find the iPhone that is missing. You’ll see its current location on a map.

With both of these, once you’ve located your phone, you’ll have the option to remotely erase all of its sensitive information if necessary. In most cases, you’ll probably find it’s simply fallen under a couch cushion or your car seat, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

14 Thoughts on "Effective Ways to Secure Your Smartphone"

  1. michael glazer says

    Give me a rate for 500 magabytes.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Michael! We don’t offer a specific plan for 500MB, but we do have a Connect plan with 250MB for $5 per month, and a 1GB plan for $10 per month. Both plans include unlimited text messaging as well. If we can answer any other questions you may have about our plans or if we can help you get started, just give us a call at 888-345-5509. Our account advisors will be ready to assist you! We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about us, and we hope you have a great day!

  2. frank says

    I have straight talk and want to leave them. Can I keep my number?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for posting, Frank! In most cases, you can keep your number without a hassle. You’ll want to keep your account with your current carrier open until we transfer your phone number. When you’re ready to make the switch to our service, call us at 888-345-5509, or create an account online or at your local Target store. You’ll need to have your account information, so we recommend having an invoice on hand for reference. In most cases, your previous account will close once the number is transferred to our service, so you’ll want to verify that once the switch has been made. We’re happy to answer any other questions you have, so please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to welcoming you to our service!

  3. Jim says

    Where are other smartphones besides the iPhone 8’s. Any Samsung so ? And where are the prices listed ?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Jim! We offer a variety of Android smartphones, including options from Samsung. You can see all of them here on our website. You can use the filter feature to display just the Android smartphones, and you’ll see the prices listed for each. We’re also happy to answer any questions you may have about a device or make a recommendation. Just call us at 888-345-5509, and we’ll help you find the perfect smartphone for your needs. We appreciate you taking the time to post!

  4. Pmverrett says

    I have a Microsoft lumia smartphone before I came to consumer cellular I could get pictures now I can’t get any pics… I don’t want to buy another one

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for reaching out to us about this issue. If you’re experiencing issues receiving pictures via text message, we may need to adjust some of the settings on your phone. Please give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we’ll be happy to work with you to get this resolved. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to speaking with you!

  5. Jas says

    With remote lock and erase in play, what will be deleted or erased? How would recovery the erased items?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Great question. If you have an Android phone that is lost and you erase the data, you would be able to sign in once again with your Google Account. You can save your photos, contacts and more to your Google Account. That way if you need to use a new phone or have had to factory reset your device, you can easily restore your phone with just your Google account information. If you’re using an iPhone, you could restore your phone with iCloud. We would recommend that you do everything possible to find your device before remotely erasing the data. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have at 888-345-5509. Thanks for posting today!

  6. ClarenceBulanek says

    CC is the best

  7. EDNA E OWENS says

    I have had CC for several years and where I live the service is getting worse not better. I need to know if you are not serving our area any longer. I have noticed that I have no service at home and most of the way to Paris, Texas. Is there anything I can do to make my service better in our area.
    Thanks,

    • Hi Edna, thanks for your post. That is something we definitely want to look into with you. I recommend actually giving us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here and we can look into what is going on in your area.

  8. WAYNE says

    DO YOU RECOMMEND ANY ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DEVICE SECURITY? THANK YOU.