Your phone holds email, banking apps, photos, and the group chat. You don’t need a bunker — you need a short list that actually gets done. Free Phone Security Check walks through the basics and scores what still needs attention.
Do these first
- Lock screen on — PIN, pattern, or biometrics. No “none.”
- Find My / Find My Device turned on — so a lost phone isn’t a total loss.
- OS updates when prompted — boring, important.
- Unknown SMS links: don’t tap — paste into ScamCheck instead.
- Five- or six-digit sender — use ShortCode Check for codes such as 57513; the digits alone do not verify the sender.
- Unknown callback numbers — run PhoneCheck before you call back.
If the phone is lost or stolen
- Use Find My / Find My Device from another computer or a family member’s phone.
- Change email and banking passwords from a safe device if you think someone unlocked it.
- Call your carrier to suspend service if needed.
- Tell family so they ignore weird texts “from you.”
Scam calls and texts on the same phone
Security settings won’t stop every fake IRS text. Habits will: don’t share codes, don’t pay gift cards, and use the free checkers when something feels off. Pair this guide with Unknown number called?
FAQ
- Is Phone Security Check free? Yes. No signup.
- Android vs iPhone? The habits are the same; button names differ. The tool uses plain language for both.