Secure your phone

Ten minutes of settings that make a lost or stolen phone far less of a problem.

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Updates

Install the latest system update
Look under software update in Settings, and turn on automatic updates.
Turn on automatic app updates

Use a strong screen lock
A PIN of six digits or more, with face or fingerprint unlock for convenience. Avoid easy ones like 123456 or your birthday.
Make the screen lock after a minute or two
Hide message previews on the lock screen
So codes and private messages aren't shown to anyone holding your phone.
Set a SIM PIN
It stops someone putting your SIM card in another phone to receive your text codes. Your mobile network can tell you the starting PIN to change.

Turn on your phone's lost-phone finder
It's in your Apple or Google account settings and lets you find, lock or wipe the phone if it's lost or stolen.
Turn on backups
Turn on two-step verification for your Apple or Google account

Only install apps from the official app store
On Android, keep "install unknown apps" switched off.
Check app permissions
Location, camera, microphone, contacts: take access away from apps that don't need it.
Delete apps you don't use

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