Remote wipe

A remote wipe erases a lost or stolen phone's data from far away, so a thief cannot read your photos, chats and accounts, if the phone is online.

Remote wipe: Remote wipe is a feature that lets the owner or an administrator erase a device's data from another device or a website. It is used when a phone is lost or stolen. It only works when the device is switched on and connected to the internet.

Google's Find My Device on Android can erase a lost phone. Companies use management tools to wipe work phones when staff leave. A wipe is a last step. First try to locate, ring and lock the phone, because once erased you cannot locate it again, and the thief may not be able to use it anyway. Some thieves block the signal or switch off the phone at once, so the wipe may run only when it reconnects.

Wipe makes sense if the phone holds sensitive data and you believe it is gone for good. Before that, change your Google, bank and chat passwords, tell your bank and report the loss to the police. Keep backups, since a wipe removes everything on the phone itself. Plan for that by keeping your accounts protected with strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

Tips

• Try locate, ring and lock before you choose wipe, and change your important passwords.
• Keep regular backups so a remote wipe does not cost you your photos.
• Note your phone's IMEI and report the theft to the police.

Related terms