Find My iStuff

Built in to iOS 5+ and OS 10.7 and later is the ability to use iCloud. iCloud lets you back up and sync contacts, email, photos, and a host of other data. Not everyone needs all of these features, but everyone is advised to take advantage of the security features, “Find my iPhone” and “Find my Mac.”

You can easily track your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac from another one of your devices or from icloud.com if the device or computer is lost or stolen. In addition to tracking, you can wipe its data remotely, lock it, or play a sound to help find it in case it has been kicked under the couch.

To use these features, the device needs to be connected to the internet. iPhones are obviously connected via a cellular network, and any cellular-enabled iPad would be as well. However, Wi-Fi-only iPads and Macs would need a Wi-Fi signal or hard-wired connection to be able to reach the iCloud servers. Apple suggests that users enable a Guest account and disable autologin for greater security, since if your Mac is lost or stolen, there is a better chance that somebody can start using immediately since no password is needed (and thus, it will connect to the internet).

iPod touches and iPads that do not have cellular service get more complicated. Neither of these have the ability to enable or access a guest account. If you have your device password-protected, then there is no way for the device to have the chance to connect to the internet. It’s a tough choice at present. Maybe a future refinement will allow people to use this great feature without compromising their security in the process.

To enable Find my Mac:

• Click the Apple logo in the top left hand corner
• Select system Preferences
• Select iCloud
• Click the check box Find My Mac at the bottom

To enable the Guest account:

• Click the Apple logo on the top left hand corner
• Click Users & Groups
• Unlock preferences by click the padlock in the bottom right hand corner
• Click the Guest account on the left hand side then click the check “Allow guests to log in this computer”

To enable Find my iPhone in iOS:

• Go to settings
• Select iCloud form the list on the left hand side
• Make sure Find My iPhone is selected and switched to on