Expert revealed what you should activate on your cell phone so that criminals can't do anything

Cell phones are one of the most attractive items for thieves to carry out their exploits. Often due to lack of knowledge, people leave their personal information in plain sight and suffer from extortion, data breaches, etc.

Pablo Sabbatella told through his X profile how he was the victim of a robbery in Palermo. He said that last Friday, February 21, his unlocked cell phone was stolen. However, he specified that he was prepared for that scenario and that those who took his cell phone could not do anything with it, nor format it.

On Friday, my unlocked cell phone was stolen in Palermo. Thanks to the fact that I was prepared for this scenario, they couldn't do anything with it (not even format it). Here are a couple of simple recommendations that will save you a headache if it ever happens to you. 👇 pic.twitter.com/xA5LFvn2JK

— pablito.eth 🦇🔊 ♢ (@PabloSabbatella) February 23, 2025

1. Activate Android's 'Theft Protection' or iOS's 'Stolen Device Protection'. This feature locks your phone if it detects sudden movement, such as a snatch on the street.

“This was the first barrier that protected me. It blocked instantly,” Sabbatella said.

2. Enter a PIN code for your SIM card. This code will be requested every time you restart your phone and when you insert the chip into another device.

According to the victim, the first thing a thief does if the cell phone is blocked is to remove the chip from the phone, put it in another one and start resetting access to the platforms that give access to their accounts. That is why it is useful to put a password on the SIM.

3. To activate the SIM PIN: Please note that all SIM cards come with a default PIN. This is usually 1234. When you go to configure it, it will ask you for the default PIN. Enter it.

"If you enter 1234 and it gives you an error, don't try again because it can be blocked, call your cell phone company and ask for it. Then when you activate it, pay close attention because it's easy to get confused when it asks for the old PIN and when for the new one," adds Sabbatella.

4. Activate 'Find My iPhone' or 'Find My Android' with the extended network search functionality. If there are other cell phones nearby, this allows the device to be found even if Wi-Fi and 4G are turned off.

5. Enable 'remote lock' and 'remote wipe'. This will allow them to not only find where your phone is, but to lock or wipe it remotely.

6. Share your real-time location with a close friend or family member.

7. Have an emergency number handy, keep it in your diary or memorize it.

8. Put a password, fingerprint or FaceID on all apps that have sensitive information. Do this with WhatsApp, banks, Fintechs and photo apps.

“Apple added it recently and Android will add it starting with version 16,” said the X user to explain that most devices already have these blocking functions.

9. Do not put passwords or login codes in the notes app or send them to your own WhatsApp chat.

10. Do not use your cell phone number as a recovery number for any account.

According to one of the latest tips he shared in his X thread, these points to keep in mind are what will help you be 95 percent safe in the event of a cell phone theft situation .

In addition, the operational security researcher suggested that it is important to have a document with a step-by-step explanation of what to do when such an incident occurs.

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