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# Stolen phone? How to Blacklist a Phone in 3 Steps
> 
!/filters:quality(60)/2020-03-04-How-to-Blacklist-a-Phone-CDN.png "Mirtmirt/Shutterstock")
Mirtmirt/Shutterstock
[Sheila
Olson
Updated January 8, 2021
#### In this post
---
If you think your smartphone has been stolen, it may be wise to blacklist your phone number in order to prevent thieves from using your phone number and any personal data on the device.
## How do I blacklist a stolen phone?
Only your cellphone carrier can blacklist your phone. However, there are a few steps to take *before* you contact your carrier.
### **Step 1: Lock and wipe your phone**
Most phones let you remotely lock and deactivate your phone and even erase your data. How you do that depends on your device:
#### iPhone
If you have an iPhone, an activation lock is automatically enabled when you set up the Find My app. Log into iCloud.com/find, select the device and activate “Mark as lost.” Follow the instructions to deactivate your phone.
#### Android
If you have an Android device, you can remotely lock and wipe your device if the Find My Device option is enabled. Log into google.com/android/find and click “Lock” on the device you want to deactivate and erase. Follow the instructions for your phone.
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### **Step 2: Contact your carrier**
Your carrier can either suspend or blacklist your phone at your request once you let them know it has been report it lost or stolen.
#### AT&T
If you have AT&T, call 1-800-331-0500. If you don’t have a phone, you can also log onto your AT&T account at  and suspend your device through the website. However, you will need to speak to customer service if you want to blacklist your phone.
#### Sprint
If you have Sprint, call 1-888-211-4727. You can also log onto your MySprint account, click the device you want to report, select “Options” and then “Report a Lost/Stolen device.” Follow the instructions for your phone. If you want to know how to blacklist your phone, you’ll need to speak with a customer service representative.
#### Verizon
If you have Verizon, call 1-800-922-0204 or log onto your My Verizon account to suspend your phone. From the menu tab, choose “Devices” and tap “Manage” on the device you want to suspend. Then select “Controls” and “Suspend Device.” Follow the instructions for your phone. If you want to blacklist your phone, you need to speak with an agent.
#### T-Mobile
If you have T-Mobile, call 1-800-937-8997 and ask the agent to blacklist your phone. Alternatively, you can log onto your My T-Mobile account and select “Report a Lost or Stolen Device.” You can also message an agent on the website and ask how to blacklist your phone.
### **Step 3: Change your password for any cloud services**
Hackers can potentially retrieve information from a smartphone even if it’s been blacklisted, so it’s important to change your password for your carrier’s cloud backup service if you use it. You should also change the passwords for any accounts you access from your phone as an added precaution.
## What does it mean when a phone is blacklisted?
The cellphone blacklist is an international database of phones that are reported lost or stolen. Wireless carriers base the blacklist database on a phone’s IMEI.
“Every smartphone has a unique international mobile equipment identity [IMEI] number that, when put on the blacklist, will be prohibited from connecting to any cellphone service providers, even if the phone has a valid SIM card,” said Rachel Willson, investigative coordinator for the Smith Investigation Agency. “Unlike a SIM card, an IMEI number is a unique identifier that cannot be removed.”
The blacklist arose in response to a rapid increase in cellphone theft in Europe in the early 2000s. The GSMA, which is the trade association for global mobile operators, began developing security initiatives to track stolen phones. The IMEI database, or blacklist, was the association’s way of helping cellphone carriers and law enforcement combat mobile phone crime.
By 2012, U.S. carriers committed to blacklisting lost and stolen phones and sharing information with the IMEI database. “Many countries have blacklists and share this information on an international database so that a phone blacklisted in one country would be unable to connect in other countries,” Willson said.
Blacklisting is different from suspending your phone. When you notify your carrier that you want to suspend your phone, it can no longer make or receive calls or texts, and it can’t access any cellular data networks. Suspending your phone is a temporary measure that can be reversed. If you find your phone or the police recover it, it’s easy to unsuspend it.
Blacklisting is usually permanent. “The downside to blacklisting your phone is that you may not be able to get it reactivated even if you find it again,” said Chelsea Brown, CEO and founder of Digital Mom Talk. A blacklisted phone can access Wi-Fi, but not much else.
Even if you know how to blacklist your phone, make sure you’ve considered other options, such as remotely locking and wiping the device, tracking it, and suspending it through your carrier, before you take that step.
## Protecting your phone and your personal information
“Losing a smartphone or having one stolen is a frightening experience; not only because of the value of the phone itself but because of the personal information stored on it,” said Willson. She recommends taking some precautions to better protect yourself in case this happens.
* Enable the activation lock feature on iPhones or the Find My Device feature on Android.
* Use strong passwords and enable  for any account that offers it, so a thief can’t access your personal information. “This is yet another example of how two-factor authentication and having a password manager can prove critical to smartphone users,” said Willson.
* Do your due diligence before you buy a used or secondhand cellphone. “We recommend consumers do not buy used cellphones but instead purchase only from reputable outlets,” Willson said. Also, check the phone’s IMEI to see if it’s been blacklisted before you buy it.
* Be vigilant about unusual communications. Hackers use  and other email tactics to steal personal information from your phone; an  can help you decide if a suspicious email is safe to open. If you’re getting calls from an unknown number, a  may suggest if the call is a scam.
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# What Is Grayware? How Does It Impact My Device?
!/filters:quality(60)/2019-10-17-What-Is-Grayware.jpg "Fizkes/Shutterstock")
Fizkes/Shutterstock
!/filters:quality(60)/2019-10-29-Cheryl-Lock-headshot.png)
[Cheryl
Lock
Updated January 7, 2021
Most people are familiar with two types of computer application: software that serves a useful purpose and malware, which wreaks havoc on your device. There is a third variety that might not cause as much harm as malware, but these unwanted programs can still infiltrate your device and lead to any number of problems—meet grayware.
## What is grayware?
Grayware is the general term adopted by the tech industry for computer software hackers and cybercriminals use to infiltrate your computer and/or computer systems. “It is a one-size-fits-all term for everything from viruses to malware, ransomware, trojans, worms, adware, spyware—and any other code that can be delivered onto a victim’s machine,” said Ray Walsh, digital privacy expert at ProPrivacy.com.
Although grayware programs have existed for as long as computers have been around, it wasn’t until 2004 that these types of programs were grouped officially under one umbrella and given a name, said Bryan Osima, CEO at Uvietech Software.
## How does grayware work?
While the impact that grayware has on your device will vary depending on the kind of software involved, it’s typically not as harmful as a computer virus or trojan specifically designed for malicious purposes. Instead, “they are usually annoying, disruptive and have the potential to bog your system resources,” said Osima. The bigger risk is grayware exposing your device to other more damaging viruses than the grayware program itself.
“The typical way most consumers end up with grayware is when they download free software off the internet,” said Osima. It might be, for example, a utility software program you download to help you accomplish some task. Buried within the software could be another program that is grayware.
## What is an example of grayware?
Grayware comes in many forms, including:
### **Adware**
These programs provide advertisers the ability to send targeted advertising to you based on your interests.
### Spyware
 is a type of grayware can monitor your activities and keystrokes to harvest your personal information and send it to advertisers or other entities that could use it to either profit from you or to commit cybercrime.
### **Worms**
A malicious computer program that works by spreading itself across a network of computers. Worms differ from viruses because they don’t need to attach themselves to any executable file or program to work. In other words, “they are self-activating,” said Osima.
### Trojans
Any kind of malware or virus programmed which disguises itself as legitimate software is a trojan. The average user might see such a program on their computer and believe it’s there for a valid reason, “when in reality, it’s simply malicious software,” said Osima.
### **Ransomware**
Malicious software of any kind that takes control of your device, locks it up and threatens destruction of your data unless you pay up is called . “These types of malicious exploits have really exploded in recent times,” said Osima, “and there have been instances where whole governments or corporate networks have been taken over by such programs.” The infiltration of computer systems in 22 municipalities in Texas is just one recent example involving this attack.
## How can I protect myself from grayware?
Protecting your digital devices from grayware involves many of the same steps you would take to prevent malware infiltration.
### **Update your antivirus protections regularly**
These types of programs also screen for grayware applications, too. Ad-blocking and script-blocking extensions can further help you avoid potentially dangerous advertisements that automatically force a victim’s browser to execute grayware. Walsh recommends uMatrix, uBlock, Adblock Plus, Ghostery and Privacy Badger.
### **Only install programs from vendors you trust**
A lot of the free software you find online gets bundled with grayware, said Osima. It’s important to only download and install applications from companies you know.
### **Don’t open unsolicited emails**
Grayware is often delivered onto devices using a social-engineering attack called . “Phishing causes a victim to download grayware onto their device or click an infected link in an email,” said Walsh. When in doubt, use a  to try and get more information about the sender before opening any links.
### **Avoid unfamiliar and unverified websites**
Simply visiting a website can sometimes be enough to become infected by grayware. “Hackers can infect a device by using drive-by exploits that automatically download onto the victim’s machine when they visit a webpage,” said Walsh. While it may be difficult to avoid drive-by downloads, having an antivirus or anti-malware program on your device scanning for potential threats is key.
### **Run frequent systems checks**
Regular audits of the programs installed on your computer will show you which software you never use and which are potentially malware or spyware. “Uninstall these immediately when you find them,” said Osima.
Yes, would-be hackers are growing more sophisticated in their methods of attack, but software that protects your systems from grayware are becoming just as smart. By staying vigilant and keeping your protection software updated, you’ll help ward off possible attacks on your digital life.
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