Experts tell you how to protect your accounts and data if you lose your phone

If you've lost or had your phone, tablet, laptop, or other device stolen, it's important to take steps to protect your data right away.

There are a few simple steps that can help you maintain control over your account and personal information.

The first step is to protect your device from unauthorized access. You can do this by remotely locking your phone, tablet, or Chromebook, sounding an alarm, or signing out of your Google Account on the device.

If your device supports Find My Phone, go to your Google Account, look for Your Devices, and select your lost device. In this menu, you'll see information about when and where the device was last used. If you can't find your device, be sure to sign out of your Google Account to stop access to your data.

For further data security, you should change your Google Account password. Go to your Google Account page, select the Security section, and change your password.

If your device is connected to the Internet through a browser, you can also change saved passwords.

If you lose your iPhone, use iCloud to locate and lock it. Your carrier can also help you, such as by forwarding calls or disabling the SIM card so that others can't use your phone.

If your device doesn't appear in the Find My Phone list or you can't find it, you should change the passwords for all your important accounts, especially Gmail and YouTube.