Finding Or Wiping Your Android Smartphone Just Got Easier
By: Jim Stickley and Tina Davis
November 22, 2018
In 2017, Google announced there were more than 2 billion active Android mobile devices worldwide. In fact, research shows that on average, Android users touch their smartphone 2,617 times per day. Crazy? Perhaps. But what happens when you reach out for your smartphone and it’s not there? Not having your Android smartphone, lost or stolen, can be a nightmare.
Those frantic moments spent retracing your steps don’t always pay off. With the cost of Android smartphones hitting the $1000 mark, those can be some very expensive steps at that. Along with the thought of having to shell out big bucks is the realization of just how much information may now be in the hands of a not-so-good doer. Helping take the sting out of that very real fear, there are now Android device-finding apps available for that most cringe-worthy of moments.
Accessing contacts, social media, bank accounts, photos, emails, texts, and more are an everyday expectation for your mobile pal. Stored passwords, account numbers, and other data you don’t want in the hands of someone else can all be up for grabs in a flash. Until now, unlike iPhone users who can use the “Find My iPhone” feature or block access to it remotely, Android smartphone users were left crossing their fingers, perhaps hoping for some kind of divine intervention.
Knowing your device is locked and your information is safe while you’re searching for it is also a big deal. Finally, apps are available for doing both. The apps use GPS to pinpoint your phone’s location on a map, allowing you to track it down. Another feature lets you lock the device and display you phone number. One app lets you remotely wipe all the data your smartphone holds. However, choosing that option also deletes the app itself, removing the only hope of finding your phone using GPS. That’s a decision only you can make.
With over 2 billion Android smartphones out there, you’re in good company wanting to keep tabs on your device. Knowing all is not necessarily lost should be motivation enough for Android owners to check out these apps, and maybe rest a little easier knowing help is just a touch away.