But when you buy a new phone, it’s easy to throw away the old one and forget about it. But you might find that keeping access to your old phone is even more important than you think. It can be a backup or for testing, while on the road or even only occasionally, keeping control of this device can protect your security and privacy. So why should you not remove it from services such as ‘Find My Device’ that are available on Android or iPhone.
1. Keep Control over Your Device
If you aren’t using your old phone, that’s a good reason to keep it connected to ‘Find My Device’ so that you can track its location and control the device remotely. This can be helpful if you:
Lose the Device: Tracking features can help you find it whether it’s misplaced at home or left behind during a trip.
Need Remote Locking or Data Wiping: You can lock your phone or wipe its data remotely, for instance, if it’s stolen or you lose it while doing something specific.
Use It as a Backup Device: An old phone is your back up, so staying connected with ‘Find My Device’ means if you have important accounts logged in, or stored data, you can access it when you need to.
2. Also, Recover Your Device by means of the IMEI Code.
Keeping ‘Find My Device’ turned on is another advantage because you often get access to your phone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). This is the only code you can use to report your stolen phone to the authorities. If you lose or your phone is stolen while you’re hiking, travelling or any other risky situation, having the IMEI on hand may improve your chances of recovering your phone.
3. Protect your Accounts and your Authentication Apps
So many people have social media, email or even 2FA apps kept logged in on their old phones. If these accounts remain accessible on the device, you can keep track of it and secure it in case it’s unauthorized, if it’s connected to tracking services.
4. Help You Enhance Your Device’s Security and Privacy
The personal data you keep on your old phone, and the old security risks, still have value. Here’s how to better secure it:
Use Strong Access Controls: Have biometric measures set up such as with a facial recognition or powerful PIN code. When it comes to codes, avoid easy to guess answers such as ‘1234’ or birth dates and don’t use basic screen patterns.
Install Reliable Security Programs: In fact, make sure that the device has a trusted antivirus or security app. There are free options and paid options but pick one which has good reviews and a history of keeping out the malware.
Keep Software Up to Date: Vulnerability ‘patch alive’: Always install the latest updates to fix hackers’ vulnerabilities. Even if you never use the old phone, getting a new system decreases your chances of an enemy exploiting old software.
The Danger of Forgetting Old Devices
If you don’t take security into account before leaving your old phone behind, it becomes a prime target for cybercriminals. The device might still be exploitable for malware or for use of personal data. Since there are millions of older phones out there with unpatched software on them, it’s important to keep basic protection on every phone you own.
Final Thoughts
If your old phone is not your other device anymore, well you need not continue using it but make sure your old phone is still connected to things like ‘Find My Device’ to keep him safe and under control. Keeping your older devices in check is a smart move, for how they may be recovered should something bad happen, locked remotely if you lost or it might even just provide you with peace of mind. If your phone is rarely used, still always know where your old phone is and take steps to secure it.