Step-by-Step Guide To Locating Your Lost Android Mobile Phone, IPhone

• Losing a mobile phone can be depressing as it's now one of the basic necessities for Kenyans regardless of their social status
• Cyber security expert Allan Lwala told TUKO.co.ke in an exclusive interview that by activating the 'find my feature', iPhone users could locate their devices in case they get lost
• Lwala explained that an Android phone has a similar feature to an iPhone, 'find my device' and advised phone users to secure their data

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers profound insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Nowadays, a mobile phone is a basic necessity that we use to communicate and entertain ourselves.

Losing one might be compared to an out-of-body experience that can cause stress and interfere with everyday activities.

How to locate a lost iPhone or iPad

Cyber security expert Allan Lwala told TUKO.co.ke in an exclusive interview that by activating the 'find my feature', iPhone users could locate their devices in case they get lost.

"Only the police have the legal mandate and tools to locate lost mobile phones. As individuals, iPhone Operating System (IOS) users have the "find my" feature. There are stories of people who lost their phones and were able to locate them later. One fell into the water and recovered it days later," Lwala explained.

Apple noted that when you mark your iPhone or iPad as lost, your device is put in lost mode.

Follow the steps below:

• Sign in to iCloud.com/find.
• Select your iPhone or iPad. The map will zoom in on your device's location if it's available. It will show the location.
• Select mark as lost and follow the onscreen instructions to leave a phone number and message.
• Select activate to lock your iPhone or iPad with its existing passcode. If you don't have a passcode set, you must create one.

"If your iPhone or iPad was stolen or it appears on the map at a location that you don't recognise (such as an unfamiliar address), don't try to recover the device yourself. Instead, contact local law enforcement," Apple stated.

How to locate an Android phone

Lwala explained that an Android phone has a similar feature to an iPhone, 'find my device'.

He advised smartphone owners to secure and back up their data to keep it safe.

"Android has something similar. But the effort it takes is mostly not worth it. Data is safe with the owner. As long as it is with a third party, it's not safe. That said, one can ensure regular backups to the cloud and secure them with a password, passkey, or any other multifactor authentication method," Lwala said.

"For Android, one can install an app called Cerberus. It does a lot: remote wipe, takes a photo of the person unlocking it and sends it to the related email address when they turn it on," he added.

How to activate 'find my device' in an Android phone

• Open Settings.
• Navigate to security and privacy.
• Select device finders.
• Ensure find my device is switched on.

How remote lock and erase works

You can remotely lock your device to stop unwanted access in case of theft.

You can also remotely erase its data if recovery is not an option to secure your sensitive information and private data.

Find my device can help you quickly access information about your phone, such as its IMEI number.

This feature makes it easier to handle circumstances that call for special identification or verification by enabling you to manage and display important device characteristics.

Even if your phone is silent, 'find my device' can make it ring if it gets lost within your home or surroundings.

The feature emits a loud sound, making it easy to locate if it's hidden in a cluttered area.

How to prevent SIM swap fraud

In related news, numerous frauds have targeted bank and mobile money accounts, resulting in losses of thousands of shillings from unsuspecting Kenyans.

SIM swap fraud allows a hacker to access a victim's online accounts, enabling them to steal money.

Lwala told TUKO.co.ke that it is accomplished using social engineering strategies, including impersonating the victim's identity.

Safaricom unveiled an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code (*100*100#) that users can dial and whitelist their mobile phone numbers.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.