Tracking lost smartphones is easy, regardless of OS!

No matter what smartphone you own, Apple or Samsung, Nokia or any other company, when you lose it or it is stolen from you, there is a big change that you will think about tracking your device. Last week, a few companies like Samsung, Apple, T-Mobile, U.S Cellular, Verizon Wireless and AT&T, decided to place anti-theft tools in their devices, too, but this project will only apply from July 2015 on.

Of course, most people would say: “Why bother? All it takes to obstruct the tracking is turning the device off.”  Even though experienced thieves know exactly what to do to impede you from tracking a smartphone, whoever find a lost one will probably just play with it for a while, using Wi-Fi or other services. That might give you the time to track it or at least erase your confidential information from it.  So just in case you will want to track and secure your device, here are a few methods that might help you out, according to the OS.

Android

• Enable the tracking system : Apps – Google Settings – Location – tick “Access location”
• Go to https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager – accept Terms and Conditions – wait for connection – click on Setup Lock & Erase – send notification
• Tap the notification on your phone – ACTIVATE

iOS

• Ensure that your device is running at least iOS 5
• Create an iCloud account
• Go to Find my iPhone App
• Settings – iCloud – enter Apple ID –Find my Phone – Allow
• Go to https://www.icloud.com/#find –  click on Lost mode or Erase iPhone

Windows

• Create a Microsoft account
• Go to www.windowsphone.com and log in with the same account
• Click on Find my Phone
• Go on your phone, Settings – Find my Phone – select Send apps to my phone using push notifications or Save my phone’s locations periodically.

Blackberry

• Make sure you have BlackBerry 10. If not, download app from https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/20844/?region=222&lang=en&IID=us:bb:devices:device-features:blackberry-protect:downloadprotect
• Swipe down from the top of the screen – Settings – Protect – Turn on BlackBerry Protect
• Choose “ring”, “add a message on home screen”, “lock phone”, “reset passwords” , etc.

In most of the cases, though, the lost device has to be connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data and to be ON. Unless it has an Internet connection, it will hardly be seen on any map. So, regardless of any opinions, enable these settings and be sure that your smartphone’s tracking abilities are on.