Database Info

[Q] Lost/Stolen Phone - track after the fact?

I did some search and didn't find anything, this may not be possible since it's a security risk but...
Now that installing apps remotely is available through the web browser android market. Are there any phone tracking apps that automatically work with default information?
So I remotely install it from the app market web page, and then track it instantly without having to set anything up on the phone itself. Any Ideas?

Try this one: market.android.com/details?id=com.lookout.labs.planb

I do not thave OT's problem yet...but i downloaded and gave it a try.
Amazing app, even turned my GPS on automaticaly and located the very exact position of my phone. (HTC Desire)

Well all good android anti virus software come with this feature
Like plan b available only from the market website
Some can even sound loud alarms!
Try avg and lookout
Both are nice

Great App.
Although I tested it first on my phone which is not lost and it did not work, but then tried it on the lost G2 and it worked well.
That's one thing Apple will always lack, an environment where developers can create applications quickly when an opportunity arises, such as the android web app market.

Not sure what I want - but I know what's driving me nuts!

I've got a rooted SGS4G. I still have the stock ROM since I run the phone as a PDA.
I got rid of the social and entertainment apps, and rooting was the only way.
Now Google maps is driving me crazy. I just want the coordinates, I live in this town so I know what's around and will not use an entertainment guide, want no part of Latitude. The stupid app just updates everything and I can't move it to the card or get rid of the extras. If I freeze it, Weatherbug Elite isn't happy. It updated yesterday, I undid the update with Titanium, and it updated itself again today.
I just might want a map sometime, so I don't want to delete it.
Anything suggestions about getting control over this stuff?

you realize that places, navigation, latitude are all a part of google maps. if you dont use it, dont put it on your homescreen and you should be good. let maps update because its helpful. use launcher pro or an app that hides apps and hide the app from your app drawer and you're fine.
dont try to mess with it because it is an integral part of the phone...
im not sure if that helps; im not 100% sure what youre trying to do

It doesn't. I don't need the maps - just the coordinates for astronomy and weather.
If I want a map, I'll download from mapquest on the computer and turn it into a pdf. Or use the printed page. I prefer print maps, I don't need a map to navigate.
If I can tell MS to get lost even though they say they own the latest OSs, then I should be able to tell Google the same. I dislike assumption.
I need a hosts file on the phone.

You could be nicer about it so good luck with what you're trying to do. I don't think it can be done to be honest. whiskey or acid may help you out
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Backup with titanium, delete with titanium, restore when needed with titanium.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk

I've been doing that. I have a question about TI backup. I told it to delete the Kindle App, and using manage apps on the phone, Kindle is still listed. Did TI actually remove it?
I can't use Kindle as a reader since it's only linked to Amazon's bookstore. I like Manybooks and Gutenberg project and you can't read them on either the Kindle or Nook apps. It's funny that I could read any file on the Nook Wifi I had.
The phone is rooted and unlocked. I use it mostly as a PDA.
I liked the Palm platform and now enjoying Linux. Ubuntu doesn't assume anything. Mine came with Open Office, but if I'd rather use Libre Office, I can delete Open and install Libre.
The carriers, Samsung, and Google are assuming too much in some cases. There's quite a few that would love plain vanilla Android.

I think you see kindle app after uninstalling because you didn't get rid of correspondent .odex files. Until you do, you're going to see a link to kindle on your app drawer.
Sent from my SGS4G using xda forum app

Thanks for that info. I am not familiar with Android extensions.
There's a couple of apps that will allow you to move stuff to the card. I have App2SD and am not impressed. I can understand some of the built in programs not being moved, but I have a financial app that I bought that won't let me move it.
Do any of the other move to sd card apps work any better?
Since I'm rooted, can I use a firewall to stop the updates? I was looking at Droidwall, but I'm not sure about IP tables.
I read in another section about low memory, I've done most of that, and there's still high usage from something.

Prey vs. WaveSecure vs Lookout

Which do you guys prefer? I've used WaveSecure before, but I've read about Prey being the new thing. There's also Plan B and Lookout is their version of the locator software you can preinstall.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/08/how-plan-b-found-the-droid-i-was-looking-for.ars
I haven't lost my phone yet (knock on wood), but any opinions on which you prefer?
Or what about Mobile Defense?
Prey: http://preyproject.com/
WaveSecure: https://www.wavesecure.com/
Mobile Defense: http://www.mobiledefense.com/
Lookout: https://www.mylookout.com/

There's also http://www.androidlost.com/

I use Cerebus. The best there is (I think) and great support.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus&hl=en
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

I'm using TheftAware(.com).
*disables USB debugging
*remote control via sms // I've heard they're also on a web-based remote control
*only pay once
and and adn...
you're just able to get the installer. that installer will allow you to choose a custom name for that application. once installed (root not required but recommended) you'll setup a password and enabled the protection it will vanish from the appdrawer! the only chance to get to the menu again is to call your password.
if you call "1234" the program will show up!
fantastic program imo
€: if you flash a new ROM you HAVE TO REINSTALL it! Activation is just 1-click because the app will save your IMEI to the server.

I'm running androidlost atm. Works fantastic.
I did lose my last phone (galaxy s) thats why I got more then one app running.
Prey is also installed, I felt a bit lost with the app though.
Got Log2Calendar running wich syncs the call & sms log to a dedicated calendar. Isnt a security software, but it helped me last time it got stolen. App itself is not invisible in appdrawer, but you dont notice it running.
There is one serious issue with these apps, and that is that a factory reset wipes them. This is what they did with my phone. That or flashing it.
I know flashing is hard(impossible?) to prevent, however; it is unlikely they will flash it straightaway. The average user doesnt know anything about that, but does know the factory reset option.

Theft Aware survives factory resets even on rooted phones! And they are now backed up by Avast! www.appbrain.com/app/theft-aware-2-0-trial/at.itagents.ta_setup_mf

ESET Mobile Security also packs a locator feature: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.eset.ems

Parental lockdown

Over at Random Blame's Sero 7 Pro Jellytime thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2474673&page=20 there was a brief discussion about creating a locked down kid-safe rom for kids with known internet-misuse issues. My basic idea was to turn the Sero into a glorified media player, with no access at all to communication capabilities, including browser, facebook and such, but still permitting youtube and some other niceties.
There are "apps for that" in the store, but at least the free apps have security holes in them bigger than the Titanic, post-iceberg. The largest hole is the easy workaround of accessing the play store through an ad, then simply uninstalling the PC software. If the kid remembers to put it back later, you might never know it was done.
Here's what I came up with, rolling with several of the ideas proposed in that thread. I'm no dev, and no ability to create a rom, all I did was butcher an existing one In theory, you could do this with any custom rom for any rooted device. It's a one-way trip, so make sure you save the original image someplace in case you want to return to full functionality.
As always, proceed at your own risk.
So for my Sero 7 Pro I did as follows:
1. Root and install XboxeXpert's custom rom, from post 3 here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2297246
2. Install any apps you want on the device from Google Play. Do NOT install from Amazon, they won't work without the Amazon App store installed, which defeats the entire purpose. Trust me, I blew hours on this.
3. Install titanium backup and save everything thus far. Move the save files to a secure laptop so you can reinstall and update later, as needed.
4. Use an app manager like App Master and start stripping out everything related to communications. I blew away Messenger, Browser, Email services, and a number of others. Use your imagination.
5. Lastly, in direct opposition to almost everything XDA stands for, remove Play Store.
* App Master has a backup function, and you may be tempted to use this to preserve Play Store in case you want to install something else later. I found it does not restore correctly and Play Store was unusable, and had to re-flash and start all over again. You may have better luck with Titanium, but I did not try it.
Without a browser, the kid cannot get on any inappropriate sites. Without an app store, they cannot replace the stock browser / messenger or add Facebook / Snapchat to the tablet, even by clicking on an add. The free game apps I installed worked fine, but the ads went nowhere.
This is pretty efficient, about the only thing the kid can do at this point is install a new rom fresh, for which they would need access to a computer, which you would also control in your own house. Can it be beaten? Sure, some of these kids give the NSA night-sweats, but unless your kid is an aspiring dev, it's about as secure as you can hope for.
Best of Luck,
TM

[Q] Backing up N5? (newbie)

Hi everyone!
I was wondering how do I go about with backing up my Nexus 5 if the need ever arose.
Being an iPhone user since Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone and I've been pretty much pampered by iTunes doing all the "heavy lifting" (read: backups). It's not elegant, it's slow, but it works whenever I migrate from an old iPhone to a new one.
Now that I've made the switch, of course I had to move most of my emails, contacts and calendar to Google's services... and they are essentially in the cloud.
Does Google actually backup any stuff for me, like what Apple's iCloud does?
So my question is, do I really need to download/purchase an app for backing up?
Hope you guys can enlighten me

Are you rooted?
-----------------------
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I do NOT reply to support queries over PM. Please keep support queries to the Q&A section, so that others may benefit

andretan said:
Hi everyone!
I was wondering how do I go about with backing up my Nexus 5 if the need ever arose.
Being an iPhone user since Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone and I've been pretty much pampered by iTunes doing all the "heavy lifting" (read: backups). It's not elegant, it's slow, but it works whenever I migrate from an old iPhone to a new one.
Now that I've made the switch, of course I had to move most of my emails, contacts and calendar to Google's services... and they are essentially in the cloud.
Does Google actually backup any stuff for me, like what Apple's iCloud does?
So my question is, do I really need to download/purchase an app for backing up?
Hope you guys can enlighten me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm not sure how iCloud works because I despise Apple :silly:, but the short answer is yes and no. Anything that Google syncs with it's servers is backed up (ie. Contacts, Calendar, basically anything that you can log in on a computer and access). You can set Google+ or even Dropbox to backup your pictures to the cloud just in case. That's what I do since I once deleted my whole camera folder on accident. I take it since you have been a heavy iPhone user that your N5 is not rooted? I ask because, usually, even for some paid games, they don't really make your data transferable to another device, or recoverable in case of data loss on your current device. For this reason, I root all my devices and first thing I do is make a nandroid backup using a custom recovery. That way, if anything ever goes wrong, you can always restore your phone to exactly how it was when you made the backup. Another priceless app I use is Titanium Backup. With this app, you can backup all your apps and their data (ie settings, game progress, etc.) You can even backup system apps and data, although it can be dangerous if you're not entirely sure what you are doing when restoring.

andretan said:
Hi everyone!
I was wondering how do I go about with backing up my Nexus 5 if the need ever arose.
Being an iPhone user since Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone and I've been pretty much pampered by iTunes doing all the "heavy lifting" (read: backups). It's not elegant, it's slow, but it works whenever I migrate from an old iPhone to a new one.
Now that I've made the switch, of course I had to move most of my emails, contacts and calendar to Google's services... and they are essentially in the cloud.
Does Google actually backup any stuff for me, like what Apple's iCloud does?
So my question is, do I really need to download/purchase an app for backing up?
Hope you guys can enlighten me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all by been already here, you have the tools and a 5 million community not to buy a single app never again. I personally have used rooted and unrooted android phones quite a while and I can recommend you:
1. Titanium back-up (you need to be rooted thou)
2. SMS Backup&Restore
3. Dropbox for your pics
4. Google for your users info and contacts
5. You can use File Expert to backup your Whatsapp folder to Dropbox
have fun!

If you are rooted,
Take nandroid backup - this is a system image in case everything gets screwed up
Titanium Backup - this will allow you to create backups of apps and app-data for any app, or sms or call log etc
FolderSync will backup individual files
If you are not rooted,
Email/contacts/calendar are auto-backed up to Google
Photos - enable google plus auto backup (or dropbox or copy auto-backup)
Music - store on google music, so no need for separate backup
Helium - allows backup of app/app-data
Individual files - FolderSync

rootSU said:
Are you rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I am not rooted.

charesa39 said:
Well, I'm not sure how iCloud works because I despise Apple :silly:, but the short answer is yes and no. Anything that Google syncs with it's servers is backed up (ie. Contacts, Calendar, basically anything that you can log in on a computer and access). You can set Google+ or even Dropbox to backup your pictures to the cloud just in case. That's what I do since I once deleted my whole camera folder on accident. I take it since you have been a heavy iPhone user that your N5 is not rooted? I ask because, usually, even for some paid games, they don't really make your data transferable to another device, or recoverable in case of data loss on your current device. For this reason, I root all my devices and first thing I do is make a nandroid backup using a custom recovery. That way, if anything ever goes wrong, you can always restore your phone to exactly how it was when you made the backup. Another priceless app I use is Titanium Backup. With this app, you can backup all your apps and their data (ie settings, game progress, etc.) You can even backup system apps and data, although it can be dangerous if you're not entirely sure what you are doing when restoring.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iTunes or iCloud works great because you just turn it on and it backs up everything, and if required you can restore from there. To me, it's great because it's "first party".

coux said:
First of all by been already here, you have the tools and a 5 million community not to buy a single app never again. I personally have used rooted and unrooted android phones quite a while and I can recommend you:
1. Titanium back-up (you need to be rooted thou)
2. SMS Backup&Restore
3. Dropbox for your pics
4. Google for your users info and contacts
5. You can use File Expert to backup your Whatsapp folder to Dropbox
have fun!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How safe are the apps that are not available through the officially channels?
One of the apps I installed outside of the Google Play Store was Netflix as it isn't available in my country's Play Store... but I don't think it will ever see updates? (Is that correct?)
For what it's worth: I do not intend to install any antivirus in my phone...