How to keep your phone and its content safe

Apart from a serious personal injury, one of the worst things that can happen when you travel, is to have your mobile phone lost or stolen.

The phone is our lifeline in so many ways. We use it to communicate with family and friends, we access the internet to stay up to date with current affairs, social media, emails and banking. We use the built-in GPS to help us navigate and apps to translate foreign languages — and, of course — we use the cameras to capture vast numbers of photos and videos.

Unfortunately, phones, wallets and cameras are easy pickings for pickpockets when we are out sightseeing.

So, how can you keep your valuables safe?

Well, there’s a lot of common sense involved. It’s easy to get distracted by the exciting new place you’re exploring, but don’t make yourself an easy target.

Always pay attention to your surroundings, particularly the people around you, and don’t tempt fate by leaving your phone on the table at the cafe while you sip on your almond milk latte.

Pickpockets look for easy targets and work on the theory that they can run faster than their victims. They often work in pairs — one might engage you in conversation or try to distract you in other ways, while the other helps themselves to your valuables.

When you’re walking around, try not to carry your phone in your hand unless you really need to — and if you do, be extra vigilant or have it attached to a lanyard or wrist strap so it’s more difficult to snatch.

The best solution is to keep it safely tucked away in a crossbody bag and take it out sparingly. There are several good crossbody bags that are big enough to fit your phone and other valuables but slim and compact enough to fit under a jacket. I wear mine across my chest, so it is easy to access and to keep an eye on. If I’m wearing the bag over a T-shirt, I’ll walk with one hand resting on the bag.

If I need to use my phone in a busy place, I’ll look around to see if I can find a safe spot first. I’ll search for a quieter place or perhaps back up against a wall so I can see any potential thieves coming at me.

It may sound a bit counterintuitive, but you can look too cautious and over-protective, so try not to give the impression that you are carrying something particularly valuable.

Bags and lanyards

A crossbody bag is, in my opinion, the best bet to keep your phone and other essential items safe when travelling.

Pacsafe make bags specifically for travellers. They make a huge range of good looking bags, and as the name suggests, they are made to keep your valuables safe with a range of anti-theft technologies built in. The Pacsafe Vibe 150 anti-theft sling pack has lockable zips, is made from cut-resistant material and has RFID-blocking pockets. It’s big enough for carrying a wallet, phone, passport and other essential items and costs around $150. Visit pacsafe.com for more information.

If you do want to keep you phone on hand at any time, the Australian-designed phone case, Louve, which comes with a specially designed strap adapter that makes it easy to attach or detach a crossbody strap, is one of the best options. The Louve collection includes a range a fashionable protective and shockproof cases with detachable straps and lanyards in styles that appeal to everyone. They start from around $75. Visit louvecollection.com.

Top tips to protect your phone data

It’s one thing if your phone is stolen but it can be so much worse if the thieves get access to the content … a new phone may cost you around $1000 to replace but if they get access to the content, the consequences can be far greater.

• Make sure your phone has a strong, unique password. Don’t use easily guessable combinations like 1234 or 2222. Pick random numbers and use biometric security features like fingerprint or facial recognition to add an extra level of security.
• Keep your phone updated with the latest operating system and software. This ensures you have the latest up-to-date security protection.
• Install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your phone to keep your private information safe — particularly when using public networks to browse, check emails or do your online banking.
• Activate the remote tracking (Find My Phone) feature on your device. It may help you locate your phone if you have misplaced or lost it — but if it is stolen, you can also erase its data to prevent it falling into the wrong hands.
• Always back up your data regularly to a secure cloud service like iCloud or Google Drive.
• Consider having a back-up phone with all the same apps and information loaded should the worst happen.