(NAPSI)—Smartphones make life so much more convenient, but if they are lost or stolen, your personal information may be exposed. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your information.

Here are a few tips from CTIA—the international wireless telecommunications association:

Take steps to prevent theft. Before a phone is lost or stolen, protect your information by using passcodes and applications.

Passcodes—Use a passcode to make it harder for a thief to access your smartphone if it is lost or stolen.

Apps—Use apps that can track or locate a lost or stolen smartphone. Some apps may also enable you to remotely wipe a device or emit a loud alarm.

If your device is lost or stolen, contact your wireless provider immediately to suspend your service. CTIA and its members always want America’s wireless users to be safe.

Together with the Federal Communications Commission and major city police chiefs, CTIA and participating wireless companies have agreed to take steps to help protect consumers and their private information on smartphones.

Paramount to preventing smartphone thefts is educating consumers about the tools and features that carriers, device manufacturers and app creators already offer. By using these passcodes and apps, consumers can protect themselves and their personal information on their wireless devices.

In addition, participating carriers have agreed to implement and deploy databases to prevent thieves from reactivating stolen smartphones in the U.S. and, when appropriate, internationally.

By using a smartphone’s unique identifying number, wireless providers will help prevent smartphones that are reported by their customers as stolen from being activated and/or provided service on their own networks.

The U.S. wireless industry has always been dedicated to advancing public safety and enhancing the security and protection of its customers.

For more information, visit www.ctia.org.

 

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