iPhone and Android users can stop bank-raiding thieves from swiping their device – it starts by knowing 15-digit number [Video]

THE word “cybersecurity” calls to mind images of hackers and scammers – but how often do you think about thieves physically stealing your device?

Since this crime is rarely considered in the scope of mobile security, iPhone and Android owners are even more at risk.

Luckily, there are steps to ensure a malicious actor doesn’t breach your device once it slips out of your grasp.

The best tip is to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. You should know your phone’s unique identifier – a string of digits either 15 or 14 characters long, known as an IMEI or MEID, respectively.

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity and is a chain of numbers assigned to mobile phones on the GSM network.

MEID, meanwhile, is short for Mobile Equipment Identifier. It …