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[Q] What is the best phone tracker/recovery app?

I am new to Android. Just got my Vibrant. I want to protect this phone so that in case it is lost or stolen I can recover it. Could you tell me what are some of the best apps for this?
Here is a list of names I know about for now:
Where's My Droid - This is currently installed, but required me to send a text to my phone to activate the GPS and even then it won't keep the GPS active long enough to get a precise location. Furthermore, it can alert the would be robber.
Glympse - well, this is not for stolen phones
Wavesecure - couldn't find any good threads on this. Seems to have an annual subscription fee of $19. I don't want that. Just want a standalone tracker.
Remote security - Not clear that this is a good app.
TheftAlarm - Again, developed in foreign language and I don't know how good it is
MobileDefense - Maybe this is the best app, but it is still in beta and no more users are accepted. I already filled out a request.
Find My Android - Was suggested in this thread, but it doesn't seem to be different from Where's My Droid, except the notification when SIM is replaced.
Lookout Mobile Security - Doesn't seem bad, but it doesn't lock your phone remotely. Can easily uninstall the program. I also found out that I better use a different email address than the one my phone gets otherwise the phone gets an email with "location" of the phone when you look it up online. This is better than Where's My Droid since you can do it more discreetly online, without sending texts (but have to make sure the email you use is not managed by the phone).
Am I missing something? I really want to protect this phone and it is frustrating that among so many apps, we seem to be missing good anti-theft solutions. Preferably I want something that can lock the phone remotely and allow me to do things without interruptions from the thief or at least discreetly. What would you recommend?
Also, I have a rooted (stock) Vibrant.
Thanks.

Where's My Droid isn't exactly very subtle about sending out replies, the author basically said there's nothing he can do.
Most of the other options include AntiVirus and other nonsense, and are expensive or questionable.
Tasker can automatically upload GPS, respond to an email or SMS to do so.. If you send it the right command it could take pictures periodically, make an outgoing call, whatever... It's extremely flexible in what it can do.

khaytsus said:
Where's My Droid isn't exactly very subtle about sending out replies, the author basically said there's nothing he can do.
Most of the other options include AntiVirus and other nonsense, and are expensive or questionable.
Tasker can automatically upload GPS, respond to an email or SMS to do so.. If you send it the right command it could take pictures periodically, make an outgoing call, whatever... It's extremely flexible in what it can do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW! Ok, but the question is - 1.can it lock the phone remotely? 2.What happens if the thief uninstalls Tracker or changes the SIM (can you password protect it)? Finally, 3.can it take picture AND email them remotely? Otherwise, I don't see much use to this feature if the phone is gone.

Lookout seems rather good, but I have not tested it personally. I'd add a link, but I'm a new user. Should be easy to find with a Google/Market search, though.

Well that (un installing tasker)may be the case with any tech anti theft, if the thief is smart and careful they will wipe/reset/format whatever they took, rendering a soft lo jack useless
I would just get tasker and lookup findmyandroid on lifehacker, its the best current option
Captiv

Yeah, I found out about LookOut on Android forums. I have installed it. It doesn't allow you to lock the phone remotely and can easily be uninstalled.
As for Find My Android, I don't see how is it different from Where's My Droid., maybe except the part where you're notified if the SIM card is replaced.
I updated the original post.

Find my android isn't the name of the app, its what the lifehacker post is tagged as (#findmyandroid)
The program is tasker, and its more customizable and it can turn on gps
Captiv

Sure, Lookout can be uninstalled, as can any other app. But really, you should have some sort of password on your device. With pattern unlock, there's really no reason not to do so.

According to one of the devs on their forums, remote locking as well as "other features" will be coming to Lookout "very soon".
https://lookout.zendesk.com/entries/24881-remote-lock
In the meanwhile, I use WaveSecure for locking my phone and Lookout for tracking, as its mechanism seems much better.
If you want to prevent Lookout from being uninstalled, just move the apk to /system/app (assuming your phone is rooted).

I have had Wave Secure since the Beta (it is free to beta testers) and love it. I can understand not wanting to pay, but it really is a great app. They have a zip file that you can flash in recovery if you are rooted. That will prevent the app from being erased if the phone is factory reset. I have also been using an app lately called "Tasker". It can track your phone, although I have not used it for this. Here is a link to the Wiki.
http://tasker.wikidot.com/locatephone

GPS Tracker by Instamapper is the one I use most. With a text message, it will return its location via Google maps. It will continually do so for as long as you have it set up for. Every 10 Seconds, Every 2 minutes, Every half hour, etc. I used it to track my stolen phone with the laptop in the car. This app saved me from buying a new phone.

stickerbob said:
I have had Wave Secure since the Beta (it is free to beta testers) and love it. I can understand not wanting to pay, but it really is a great app. They have a zip file that you can flash in recovery if you are rooted. That will prevent the app from being erased if the phone is factory reset. I have also been using an app lately called "Tasker". It can track your phone, although I have not used it for this. Here is a link to the Wiki.
http://tasker.wikidot.com/locatephone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Glad I got it while it was still a beta!

[Q] Could someone make a custom ROM that steals personal information from users?

Recently I received a notice from Google saying that my account was accessed from Russia. I also recently installed a custom Android ROM onto my T-Mobile HTC HD2. I was thinking, pretty much anyone can take the Android OS, make a custom version, and release it for download, right?
If so, is it possible that the person who created the custom Android ROM also modified it so they could steal my personal information? I really do like the ROM I am currently using and would not like to switch if I don't have to, but this whole Google thing has me paranoid now.

I have had my facebook lock down a few times from that kind of thing. But never out of the country. Did you check if mock locations is enabled? Settings - Applications -Development. Not sure id that could be the issue, but it is possible it was your phone reporting as another location.
Sent by Supersonic!

Now Google has sent me a second notice, AFTER changing my password, so this is really starting to bother me. I tried changing that Mock Locations setting, but it was already disabled. Just to be sure I haven't entered any of my new passwords into my phone yet since this last incident and I'm going to see if I still have problems.

johnny1178 said:
Now Google has sent me a second notice, AFTER changing my password, so this is really starting to bother me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not good. Stay away from those warez & p0rn sites that end in ".ru"
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Watch out.
Are you sure google is sending these messages?
And does the mail contain a link for you to click on sayiong to change your password?
Alot of times the mail themselves are the scams. And are in most cases sent using the google account but from another server.
Could you copy paste the headers...leaving out your personal mail. In Outlook you can view this by opening the mail File->Info -> properties.
You should see internetheaders there.
Copy paste them. Dunno how to find them in Gmail havn't checked yet gonna see later how to view them in Gmail

Anything is possible, someone making a ROM could put whatever they wanted in there.
It's probably not the most likely way your account would end up compromised though, it could be anything from random hacking to malware on your PC.

Well, that's a good question. It's something that I wonder myself and that sometimes concerns me.

I have ESET antivirus installed and regularly do quick scans on my PC, but I suppose that wouldn't catch everything.
As far as the Google notice, it is not an email message. The notice appears in a red box with bold text at the top of my inbox when I sign into gmail, and I also checked the URL to make sure I was actually on Google.com.
I remember when I looking for ROMS to download, this particular build (can't remember the name) had the most thread views out of all of them at the time, so hopefully someone else would have noticed this issue by now if it was part of the build...
Anyways, thanks for your help. I'll try running an in-depth ESET scan to see if anything comes up.

I took it a step further and don't use any google account on my custom ROM at all. the less I rely on apps and cache data the better.

I always thought about that. Just me being cynical I suppose. Some of these deevs just do it for the love

I never thought of that before, maybe I should be more careful in the future..

Thank you gr8 idea...

lude219 said:
I took it a step further and don't use any google account on my custom ROM at all. the less I rely on apps and cache data the better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you doing where you'd really need to worry about that? Just seems like using an android phone without a google account would be a pain.

[Q] phone security. My phone has been hacked

I have a general question for all droid phones.
To make a long story short I have a crazy ex-wife that constantly hacks into my phone. When I get a new phone she tells me the model.
She reads thru my text messages and at times has even sent texts to my contacts.
At times when I open my phone she displays her facebook picture on the phone.
Does anyone know how to stop this???
I heard that droid phones are easy to hack by using something with the email system. If this is true is there any way to stop this?
This constant hacking is driving me crazy. My service provoder will not help no matter who I talk to.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jerry

Yeah get a restraining order... The perfect way to deal with a crazy X. Been there.

You should lock your phone. iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and WP7 all allow you to use a 4 digit code or something else (pattern, password) to lock your phone. Don't tell her what it is, and she won't be able to unlock your phone. I would be surprised if she has the ability to "hack" past that.

raydowe said:
You should lock your phone. iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and WP7 all allow you to use a 4 digit code or something else (pattern, password) to lock your phone. Don't tell her what it is, and she won't be able to unlock your phone. I would be surprised if she has the ability to "hack" past that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Minus, or so I am guessing, she isn't any where near him when she does it...
In other words, the phone could be in his pocket, and she would still be able to hack it...

I've never heard of anything like this being done without physical access or even knowing what model phone the person has, have you? I guess if someone had access to your google account they could remotely install apps through the marketplace.

It looks like she has access to your google account sync to your droid and installed any "spy" app. Try changing your account's password, do a factory reset and don't allow any backup.

raydowe said:
they could remotely install apps through the marketplace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If she has his email and password, I can see it possible. But either way if the phone company wont do anything. Then the easiest way is to serve her with a restraining order. My ex was this way and I had to freaking move states in order to get the hell away from her.
Even so she still followed and harassed me in the state I am in. Not in person. Electronically. I just ignored her, and the problems went away eventually.... His ex sound pretty persistent. That gets annoying QUICK! like you start having evil thoughts annoying.
Therefore I say get a restraining order. You may even be able to get a fee wavier if you qualify for it.

Change your google passwords, phone co. account password (if you pay online) lock you phone and any other accounts associated with your phone. Do get a restraining order!
Sent from my Radar 4G using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

Wow I feel sorry for you man it sounds crazy... Hope you can life through it and fix everything.

raydowe said:
You should lock your phone. iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and WP7 all allow you to use a 4 digit code or something else (pattern, password) to lock your phone. Don't tell her what it is, and she won't be able to unlock your phone. I would be surprised if she has the ability to "hack" past that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're missing the point, this crazy woman is his ex wife so there's no way she's putting her hands on his phone but she hacks him anyway from remote !

Your wife is really crazy to do such things! Get a restraining order. Change every account associated with the device. Create new ones. Hope things would definitely change!

extrem0 said:
It looks like she has access to your google account sync to your droid and installed any "spy" app. Try changing your account's password, do a factory reset and don't allow any backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but why do not allow any backup? what's the problem with the backup? I was hacked in a similar way and the only thing I did was clicking on a fake video I was tagged on Facebook, which installed a remote access tool. And similarly to the author of this thread, the hacker can now read my whatsapp, facebook, instagram and gallery pictures no matter how many password I change or 2FA. I would like so much to get rid of it.

[Q] lock down kid's smartphone

I have several outdated android smartphones laying around and would like to re-purpose one for an 8 year old.
The thing is, I cannot trust him not to install tons of adware and games on it and play it during school hours which will just cause trouble for everybody. What I'm thinking:
I need the ability to remotely enable/disable lock/unlock the phone and/or turn the phone on or off and/or time periods during which device is automatically locked or unlocked.
I need either a locked down modified cyanogen ROM (or equivalent) or I need to somehow setup everything from scratch.
GPS tracking (realtime constant monitoring isn't necessary but I'd like to be able to ping his location if I'm worried about him and maybe have some sort of perimeter alert system in case he strays into a dangerous neighborhood/gets kidnapped/whatever)
I also need to lockdown which contacts can be called/SMSed/telegramed/IMed/emailed
This kid is sharp, so if there is a way to circumvent these measures, he'll probably figure it out. But I'd like you're ideas and I'll try anyway. How would you go about this? If you're going to tell me I'm a horrible person for tracking my child, I know already.

wow your asking for alot OP. lol eaither this is a really dangours kid, or your extremely protective lol
eaither way il try and help as best as i can. for tracking you can use "wheres my android" app. its gps tracking after you text it a certain phrase, it gives the location to the phone you texted.
you can try cnmod and just install wa app passwors to lock the settings, so the kid wont change anything

Thanks for the reply. He isn't dangerous, he is more of the absent minded genius type. I'm more afraid a stranger will say "lets go to my place to build model rockets" and he won't be able to resist.
What do you mean "wa app passwords"?
You sort of addressed the tracking and locking down apps. Any ideas for contact control so he doesn't just use up all of the minutes calling buddies and 900 numbers?

Hello, what phone are you going to give your child?? What I'm thinking is putting custom rom on the device and use the multi user option if the rom supports it. Then maybe, (maybe) you'll be able to omit which things can see/use and disable some of the things you're asking for.
Good luck.
Sent from my 1+1

go0 said:
Thanks for the reply. He isn't dangerous, he is more of the absent minded genius type. I'm more afraid a stranger will say "lets go to my place to build model rockets" and he won't be able to resist.
What do you mean "wa app passwords"?
You sort of addressed the tracking and locking down apps. Any ideas for contact control so he doesn't just use up all of the minutes calling buddies and 900 numbers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We use MMGuardian Does everything you want and more and it's pretty cheap. I just assume you know a thing or two about Android so I'll tell you this, mmguardian is amazing, the only thing is you have to turn off persistent notifications for the app. I get why they don't have that built in, but just do that and hide that app and your as good as gold. You can add 'key words' that when come up in a text, IM, email or search, it will send you and alert on your phone. You get transcripts of their texts, im and email (which I was happy for, now I just find creepy and intrusive to my childs privacy) but it's pretty sold service OP

Program to Encrypt Apps

I want to beef up my security on my tablet. I want a program that can lock and encrypt selected applications. But I don't just want a basic app locker. I don't want a program that just prevents apps from running unless I have a password. A lot of programs can do that. I want encryption. I want the app's data secure, so even if someone boots it into recovery and goes in with ADB or something, they can't get any data. I don't necessarily need to encrypt the apk or the odex or anything like that, but the data for sure.
Basically, I want something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Hackerso35-Crypto-App-Locker/dp/B074FJPFPN . That description really seems to be what I'm looking for. "Protects your apps data with SHA3 / AES 256-bit encryption." BUT that program was released back in 2017 with no apparent updates since, it only has one review, and searching for it on Google only gives two pages of results. So I don't know if I want to trust that particular program. I want something like it.
I want something that can do what that program purports to do, regarding encrypting app data. I want something with a strong reputation. I want something a lot of people use and trust. Any recommendations? Thanks.

Recommendation only. I will not be here to reply.
Smart AppLock: Privacy Protect - Apps on Google Play
Lock apps with password!
play.google.com
As for not having it unable to be uninstalled, do some research on how to set it as a device admin app.
Also, you mentioned"connecting through adb"
just disable USB debugging, etc
All the best.
ps, contact the developer of the app you mentioned ,and im sure he could point out why he hasnt updated, maybe "they" are already on other projects...

Not quite what I was asking for. The Crypto App Locker program above says that it "encrypts the app's data as well." The one you recommended doesn't say anything about that.
Like I say, I'm only hesitant about that particular app because it has so few reviews and hasn't been updated in so long. As for the developer, this very forum reports: "Last seen Nov 26, 2017"

Well that all depends(regarding your first post) Have you heard of Trust Wallet?
Also if you're rooted, you can compress the app..etc. With a vital key. Then, unfreeze it.
The reason I suggested contacting the Dev, was he/she could point you in the right direction.
But if its an app you open every day, that could be a pain. Perhaps telegram group could give you some insight. Maybe As the guys at airdrop...