Is your data thief proof?
Getting your device stolen is stressful, especially considering the sensitive data that it might contain. Here’s all you need to know about how safe your data is, and what you can do about it.
We asked the experts
We asked specialists in device management that work with very sensitive information from hospitals to classified government research. They told all the internal working of setting up devices and ensuring they are secure.
Annika Harper
MaaS360 Technical Specialist
Eamonn McEvoy
Maas360 Technical Support
Jason Benett
Lead engineer for Windows managment
James Turner
Jamf apple device managment
The good news
There is a lot of sensitive information on your devices so it is natural to be worried. The good news is your data is really well encrypted in nearly all modern devices. As long as you don’t suspect they know your passwords, or shoulder surfed, you should be okay. None the less, there has been a few remote cases where devices were used for bank fraud so we would recommend contacting your bank to get your the cards blocked, especially nfc payment (https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/threats-2025/nsa-oac-2025#:~:text=Between January and August 2024%2C robbery of mobile,to China%2C Dubai%2C Algeria%2C Morocco%2C Romania%2C and Bulgaria).
In most cases all the thief wants to do is factory reset the device to resell it in another country, and has no interest in your data. Since some devices have factory reset protection or have Activation Locks you can enable on your “FindMy” apps, they may not be able to do that. In those cases they’ll strip the device for parts and resell those. Either way, your data is probably not their primary goal.
Just do these few steps:
-Don’t have an easy passcode and a shorter auto-lock times, because if they get in, that is when things get tricky.
-Also turn off message previews, so that thieves won’t see any messages about reset or login codes when your phone is locked.
Lost mode and automatic lock screens
None the less, you don’t know if they may have somehow managed to open your device, and you should act accordingly. The remote lock and activation lock features block your devices from being opened preventing the thief from attempting to break in.
If you are an employee
If this was a company device it is likely that it is being managed by in MDM or DDM, so do notify your IT team so that they can block that device. If you forgot to report it, it is still possible that it will automatically get flagged either based on the location of login, and if the thief’s behaviour matches your typical activity.
If the device isn’t managed, then that can be a serious concern if it was a targeted attack. Based on the contents of the leak your company may even get fined by the ICO. Company devices should be managed and kept up to date with benchmarks (CEIS, MIST, etc). Consider things like enforcing full-disk encryption across all platforms and disabling local backups and offline access for high-risk apps.
Be a part of the change
If you are worried about your phone or other belongings being stolen, consider getting a Tether Sticker to secure them. It’s an all in one solution with a powerful automatic anti-theft alarm integrated with Bluetooth tracking.
