Cell Phones and GPS: A Solution for Cell Phone Theft?

The proliferation of cell phones worldwide today has led to the proliferation of a new kind of crime: cell phone theft. Most of us know someone who has had a cell phone stolen at some point—and many reading this are the unfortunate victims of such a theft. According to some estimations, over 100 cell phones are stolen every minute.

Today’s smartphones contain a lot more information than the original cell phones did, so having one stolen can really throw your life into upheaval.

What kind of sensitive data can be compromised if your cell phone is stolen? Not only personal items such as family photos and texts between you and friends but also emails, apps, your Internet history, your contact list, and even passwords and security codes can fall into the hands of thieves who can use the information for identity theft and other illegal purposes. Is there anything you can do about it other than chaining your cell phone to your hip?

Probably one of the simplest and best things you can do is to activate your smartphone’s Global Positioning System, or GPS, features. These features vary depending on the type of phone (for example, an iPhone versus an Android phone), but their basic purpose is the same: to allow you to track and locate your phone when it’s lost or stolen. This is a great tool, but you need to be sure you activate it.

If you’re an iPhone user, one helpful app is Find My iPhone. (Note that this app also enables you to find a stolen iPad, iPod touch, or Mac computer.) The app uses GPS technology to locate your phone on a map. You can use it to remotely lock your device—or even erase all its data.

Another app that works on both iOS and Android devices is called “Prey.” Touted as a free anti-theft security system, Prey uses both Wifi and GPS technology to locate your stolen phone through triangulation. It allows you, among other things, to trigger an alarm on the device, take pictures with the device, and gather network information regarding the thief’s use of the device.

Finally, another step forward in curbing cell phone theft that does not involve GPS tracking technology was finalized in November of 2012 when AT&T unveiled their stolen phone database. This database enables customers not only to report stolen phones but also to disable them from use, if they are part of the AT&T network.

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Cell Phones and GPS: A Solution for Cell Phone Theft?