Remote security
Some devices offer remote security features to protect you in the event that your device is lost or stolen. These can vary by manufacturer and device but common security features are listed below. Many of these features will need to be configured before they are needed, so you should spend some time familiarising yourself with your device and the options available to you.
Lock your device
Remotely lock the device to prevent unauthorised access.
If the device doesn’t already have a screen lock password, you can enable one remotely too.
Find your device
View your device's last known location online.
You can even tell your device to ring if you think it's nearby.
Display a message on the lock screen
Display a message on the lock screen to say that the device is lost and provide a contact phone number or email address so the device can be returned to you.
Erase your device
If you're unable to find your device, you can instruct it to erase all its data.
This ensures that any sensitive data cannot be compromised.
More information
For more information, please refer to the manufacturer's documentation:
- Mac OS X, iPhone and iPad: iCloud Find My Device
- Android: Android Device Manager