Someone Call Security!

I've long been an advocate of security on electronic devices. Whether it's your main computer, or your smartphone or tablet. Some sort of security software is always the first thing I install on a new device, and that is unlikely to ever change. And I'm not talking about anti-virus or malware (although those are important also)... I'm referring to software that can help you locate your device if it is lost, or worse, stolen.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned an app called Cerberus before, but in case I haven't, let me tell you a little story. Across the pond, in the United Kingdom, on a tech centered message board called Overclockers UK, a new thread was created called "This man knows who stole my phone, can anyone help". It continued:

"Well about 3 hours ago some lovely person let themselves into my friends house and stole amongst other things my mobile phone."

"Good artists copy, great artists steal."

Thank you to Steve Jobs for that pearl of wisdom. One would think, with that mentality, stealing would be somewhat tolerated. Not so, apparently. Stealing is only tolerated if Apple is the thief.

We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas.

• Triumph of the Nerds (1996)

But don't you dare steal a stolen idea from Apple.

"We were robbed!"

Those are three words nobody wants to say. As a recent victim of a burglary, I can honestly say that few things in life will make you angrier than discovering someone has broken into your home and just taken your belongings. Since hindsight is 20/20, let’s go over a few things that you can do to help prevent situations like that.... or at least get on a fast track to catching the thief.