If you’ve ever lost a phone or tablet before, then you know how utterly depressing it can be. You didn’t just lose your device; you lost everything that was on it. And you didn’t just lose a device worth hundreds of dollars; you might have lost sensitive work data and private financial information.
Depressing.
Luckily for you, though, many companies have started releasing apps and software that will find your missing phone. These applications can remotely wipe your data, lock your device, or turn on the device’s tools (like the camera or recorder). Here are two of our favorite phone-finding applications.
(On a quick side note, we strongly recommend contacting the police before attempting to track down your phone. These situations can end badly like it did here.)
Lookout
Lookout triples as a phone-finding app, security software, and backup solution. This app automatically backs up your contacts, photos, and call history; it can quickly pinpoint your device if it goes missing, and it will protect your device from malicious websites and downloads.
Available for both Android and Apple devices, Lookout offers a slew of high-tech features. If you have an Android, and your phone is lost or stolen, Lookout will send a theft alert to you via email. Inside this email, you’ll receive a photo taken with your phone’s front-facing camera and a map with the exact location of where your phone is. If you have an iPhone, you can scare off thieves with a custom lock message and a remotely activated alarm.
If you aren’t able to track down your phone, you can easily transfer all your data from your lost phone to a new device. And if you’re worried about your laptop or tablet, Lookout can cover those, too.
Prey
Much like Lookout, Prey is also capable of tracking down your phone, turning on your device’s features, and displaying a custom lock message. However, what makes Prey a little different is that it can delete all of your stored passwords.
If you fear that your laptop has been stolen, log into Prey from another device and ask the app to remotely wipe all the passwords stored on your laptop’s browser (or any other connected device that has gone missing). This feature is extremely valuable if the device you’re missing has recently accessed your bank account, email, or a professional database or if you regularly ask your devices to remember login credentials for you.
Whether you use one of these two applications listed, or you opt for another phone-finding application, it’s a good idea to use something. Give yourself a fighting chance to retrieve your lost devices and better secure and protect your sensitive data in the process.
