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[Q] Xoom Security - Preventing Factory reset

I'm installing tracking tools on my Xoom but someone could easily do a factory reset to get rid of them.
Is there a way to prevent a factory reset or make it realy hard to do? or is there a way to modify the rom image so that these apps are installed by default?
Essentially i want to make sure that the only way to get rid of the tracking tool is to flash the roms...
note: I have a rooted Xoom with Android 3.2

If you want to prevent people from clearing the device memory from the Settings UI, you can simply password protect your entire tablet (or portions of the software using App Protector or similar software). You may also want to lock down ADB and Android Market app installs
I don't think that most people would be smart enough to know how to get to the recovery screen from a fully powered down device, since it's model specific.

willverduzco said:
If you want to prevent people from clearing the device memory from the Settings UI, you can simply password protect your entire tablet (or portions of the software using App Protector or similar software). You may also want to lock down ADB and Android Market app installs
I don't think that most people would be smart enough to know how to get to the recovery screen from a fully powered down device, since it's model specific.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While this is a good suggestion, I could quite easily figure out how to get to recovery from any given device. It's really as simple as Googling it. Granted though, most people won't even know what recovery is!
OP, I'm not sure that what you want is available but I'd be very interested in finding this out also!

The thing is that i want people to be able to use it or more specifically connect to a wifi allowing me to...
- Remotely take picture of them...
- keyloging all their facebook/twitter/paypal passwords
- get the location of the device with the gps
And use the information to destroy their life before sending the cops in for the picking...
If the device locks completly they would more then likely trow it in a garbage or have somme tech wiz manualy reset/flash it. My main goal is to bait an idiot into using it and raising the difficulty of resetting the device.

Vellius said:
The thing is that i want people to be able to use it or more specifically connect to a wifi allowing me to...
- Remotely take picture of them...
- keyloging all their facebook/twitter/paypal passwords
- get the location of the device with the gps
And use the information to destroy their life before sending the cops in for the picking...
If the device locks completly they would more then likely trow it in a garbage or have somme tech wiz manualy reset/flash it. My main goal is to bait an idiot into using it and raising the difficulty of resetting the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This strikes me as you wanting to leave a trap allowing you to phish someone's details, more then you wanting to protect your device from theft. Perhaps you are planning to leave the Xoom out for the use of coworkers or fellow students, and harvest their data?
Up until the "keyloging all their facebook/twitter/paypal passwords" you seemed a bit paranoid and draconian, but reasonable...after that, I got a bad feeling about this. Even if you do want it to deal with a possible thief, keylogging their Paypal passwords would make you just as guilty of a crime as the tablet thief...and likely just as open to prosecution.

...leave a trap allowing you to phish someone's details...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL! i admit it may sound like it at first glance. I dont plan leaving it or go "phishing" like you said. I'm not the kind of having the money to trow 500$ and crossing fingers.
All i want is raise my chances of recovering the device should it get stolen. If it's locked then they will just trow it in a garbage or have someone flash it. If it's unlocked then they can use it allowing me to trace it.
would make you just as guilty of a crime as the tablet thief
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont plan using the data my self... I was thinking more like posting the thief details on 4chan or other sites like these and post banking info free on underground sites. I dont want their money.
You cant blame me wanting to turn the life of a thief into a living hell for stealing from me

actually we can, you're allowing him to be stolen from all because he stole your tablet? Anyway, just flash tiamat rom 2.0 and add all of those apps to the "first install" or something folder and be done with it.
Just because he stole something of yours doesn't mean you should be alright with him being stolen from. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind dude.
Vellius said:
I dont plan using the data my self... I was thinking more like posting the thief details on 4chan or other sites like these and post banking info free on underground sites. I dont want their money.
You cant blame me wanting to turn the life of a thief into a living hell for stealing from me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, we can. That's still considered identity theft to a certain extent thus him stealing a 500$ tablet (which may be illegal but no where near identity theft) and then you posting about it in a public forum, thus incriminating yourself. You're pretty open to prosecution now.

Guide: How to haxor anyone that takes your tablet!
Alright, how you want to do this is by taking your left shoulder and putting it infront of you, running at maximum speed, then colliding with a wall. This guide was made to show you, GROW UP AND DEAL WITH YOUR TABLET BEING TAKEN! There are methods for you to be able to get it back if someone does a factory wipe (Tiamats install on first boot folder comes to mind) but aside from that, you shouldn't really have to worry about this, I mean grow up, people have -cars- stolen every day and not all of them have onstar. Deal with the fact your tablet got stolen, file a police report, and cry yourself to sleep. That is all.

OK, this is getting a bit sketchy here. We're not going to discuss how to commit identity theft on XDA, even if the person who steals the tablet is a criminal.

Anti-theft set-up

First of all, why don't I just write this in an existing thread? Because I don't want this post to get buried. I think I've come up with a perfect anti-theft setup.
(1) Go to google and setup a new account. Password for this account should be something easy for you to remember. Do not add this account to your tablet. You also do not want to use this account for your everyday emailing.
(2) Go to market and buy the app "gotya". It's only $2 or so. Come on, morning coffee costs more than this.
(3) Go into gotya and setup so that gotya will email a picture and gps coordinate every time the tablet is turned on or brought out of sleep. Delay taking a picture by a few seconds to make sure the user is looking into the tablet.
(4) Put the email account you just setup into gotya. This email is a complete record of who's been using the tablet. Most of the time, it will be you. But if your tablet is ever stolen or lost, all you have to do is go into this email account and look at the last time it was turned on for picture of user and location.
(5) Don't forget to password protect gotya.
(6) DO NOT password or lock your tablet. The point of this setup is you want the thief to be able to log into your tablet so he can log into wifi so gotya can email the info to you. If the thief is logged out, he can simply nvflash, factory reset, hard reset, or sell it at a pawn shop. You want to encourage him (or her) to use the tablet at least once so you can get a good picture and gps coordinate of the thief for the police.
(7) The app gotya will run quietly in the background for all times. It consumes the absolute minimal resources. In fact, your tablet can even go into deep sleep. Gotya really is a well written app.
(8) Again, do not put the gotya email into your email account to sync on your tablet. You don't want the thief to know you're keeping track of his whereabouts and his face.

hmm. this may be cool to setup in the future. my tf doesnt leave the house at all really so theres no need quite yet. lol good post though OP!

very interesting, thanks for sharing. Would be interested in what fellow xoomers or eepaders have to say about this setup

definitely getting this for my tablet

cerberus is pretty much the same as this and as alot of nice features

salbalboa said:
cerberus is pretty much the same as this and as alot of nice features
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please elaborate.

locks the device,emails you the location and takes pictures also can wipe data all from a web page. i use this on my phone aswell as the tf.

salbalboa said:
locks the device,emails you the location and takes pictures also can wipe data all from a web page. i use this on my phone aswell as the tf.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does it know when to lock the device?

It wouldn't stop the thief to boot into recovery right away and wipe the device, would it? So, it might be a nice protection against a crime of opportunity, but nothing against someone who knows what he's doing.

pypen said:
It wouldn't stop the thief to boot into recovery right away and wipe the device, would it? So, it might be a nice protection against a crime of opportunity, but nothing against someone who knows what he's doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just for kicks, I've been asking random people the past 5 days or so if they know how to boot into recovery on an android device. So far, no one has said yes.
What are the chances that the thief would know how to wipe the device?
Any security system can be bypassed if you have the know-how. This doesn't prevent we have security systems all over the place. Why? Because not many have the know-how.

goodintentions said:
I think I've come up with a perfect anti-theft setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think your name fits you well. It is obvious you have the best of intentions. However, a thief that knows ANYTHING about tech would open it up, and then before doing anything else (such as connecting to wifi) would just factory reset it. At least that is what I would do with any stolen tech I took (assuming I would...and if our economy keeps tanking I might have to become a thief). Even with open wifi, if you don't already have that SSID setup, it wouldn't connect without input.
So unless the person was dumb enough to not only open it up, but then connect to a wifi source first, this would never work. Your best bet would be to hope they were either really stupid in general, or a really stupid identity thief that would want your personal data intact while using it.
Basically, your best anti-theft practices would be to always keep your **** with you. Don't leave it in the car, don't leave it sitting on a table at a coffee shop while you go take a piss, etc. Mine never leaves my side when I'm out and about with it. So the only way someone is getting it from me is either by gunpoint or magic.

I have a story to tell. So, a long time ago in another life I worked as a cop. Patrolled along the highway during the nighttime. One night, and it was a boring slow night, I decided to pull over a car that was going about 15 or so over and was going to give him a warning. Nothing else to do. When I walked up to him, the first thing I saw was him eating something. As we talked, I could see weed all over his teeth. The guy ate a bag of weed. Told him to step out. A bag of rock cocaine fell out of his pocket.
I walked away from my law enforcement career knowing most criminals out there are stoopid. And no matter how tough or tough looking they are, they all cry once busted. Sure, there are some brilliant ones out there. But I'm sure chances are you will lose your TF to a dumb one. The odds are against a smart criminal stealing your TF.
Anyway, you are absolutely right. My method isn't fool proof. But think about it for a moment. The email account for this purpose will have a detail record of who and where turns the TF on or bring it out of sleep. All it takes is a connection to wifi and the app will email all its records.
That said, my TF doesn't leave my side either LOL.

I really wish they would enable wireless/GPS tracking right into the ROM so you can look it up based on serial number. I wonder if I should patent the idea so I can sue Apple and others when they finally get around to implementing it on tablets... Hmmm....

Not sure if it works on tablets, but my wife lost her Android phone and I used Android Track to get it back - I even installed it after the phone was lost. It does quite a bit like location tracking, remote wipe, takes pictures, records audio, will say something using text-to-speech, can view the call log, etc. Free too
-- Sent from my HP TouchPad using Communities

ExploreMN said:
I really wish they would enable wireless/GPS tracking right into the ROM so you can look it up based on serial number. I wonder if I should patent the idea so I can sue Apple and others when they finally get around to implementing it on tablets... Hmmm....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isnt that already in the iphone? They had that big invasion of privacy thing on the news.
If you made it an optional etc though that would be cool and different.
Sent from my tf101 using xda premium 1.54Ghz

A good companion for this is App Locker. It pops up a fake FC screen. You can lock stuff you don't want them to see. pic/mail/ect. It has a feature that if you unlock one app, they all unlock, then locks when screen turns off/on.
Check it out.
https://market.android.com/details?id=net.xdevelop.protector&hl=en

I like the OP's idea. I also think this thread betrays some peoples naiveity. If you are going to steal someones computer: go for broke. See what data of value you can scavenge out of it, THEN do a factory reset. You might find more ROI on the risk of having stole the darn thing, and hey, if you're gonna be a thief, may as well do it right lol.
Does anyone else wonder if ICS's face unlock stuff can handle beards or just photo prints? LOL. Edit: Looks like the photo-print idea has already been tested.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

Automatic Self Destroy / Wipe

Well I had the misfortune of getting all of my stuff stolen by some crooked F****r
This happen to include my Infuse, nice and shiny
I am really... really ticked... so I was curious
Is there such a thing as a program or condition that one could put into their phone where a security test would be frequently asked (something that isn't annoying but catches unauthorized users) to verify the authorized user ie owner of the device?
Also the program would have to be have some leniency as I don't want it to brick itself when I ask somebody to check my messages of course I would tell them the code or trick whatever it may be.
I need something that when the phone is in jeopardy, it will destroy the device as well as all of the data that has accumulated on this device...
I just hate... absolutely hate with the blackest black like a black hole of hatred, when I have this feeling of "some bastard out there is freely running through my device" and I can't do **** about it.
Which happens to have past data on it, even if my SIM is terminated and my phone is cut off... there is still the numbers, photos, messages and such
Man I tell you, these lowlife scums... really? I was in a college cafeteria, I have my coat sitting there in front of everyone, I was sitting alone, I get up to get some fruit, when I come back, the coat is gone.
Yeah I left it unattended but at the same time you have to consider the fact that maybe these humans have something called morals in their little brains.
It's like... WTF
Plus the University Police's cameras suck... you would think that their capability of funding a $60 million dollar building, that perhaps they could install cameras which could do more than just differentiate whether a human is a girl or a guy.
Anyways... aside from all this bull
What can you guys think of... is there something like this?
I may just make it myself if something like this isn't already made, I'm so pissed
I just wanted to kill whoever this person was (not really as I could never do that) but man I was about ready to pick up this desk and hurl it at the window...
Thank you guys in advance for the read and perhaps an answer to my question.

Sorry for your loss.
SeekDroid is my phone's best friend. You can locate, lock, force an alarm, and wipe the phone from a computer. You can also see the phone number of the sim, along with a list of the last 10 placed calls. On top of all this, you can also force the app to hide on the phone so that nobody can uninstall it. Insanely cheap for what it offers.

GreenAce92 said:
Well I had the misfortune of getting all of my stuff stolen by some crooked F****r
This happen to include my Infuse, nice and shiny
I am really... really ticked... so I was curious
Is there such a thing as a program or condition that one could put into their phone where a security test would be frequently asked (something that isn't annoying but catches unauthorized users) to verify the authorized user ie owner of the device?
Also the program would have to be have some leniency as I don't want it to brick itself when I ask somebody to check my messages of course I would tell them the code or trick whatever it may be.
I need something that when the phone is in jeopardy, it will destroy the device as well as all of the data that has accumulated on this device...
I just hate... absolutely hate with the blackest black like a black hole of hatred, when I have this feeling of "some bastard out there is freely running through my device" and I can't do **** about it.
Which happens to have past data on it, even if my SIM is terminated and my phone is cut off... there is still the numbers, photos, messages and such
Man I tell you, these lowlife scums... really? I was in a college cafeteria, I have my coat sitting there in front of everyone, I was sitting alone, I get up to get some fruit, when I come back, the coat is gone.
Yeah I left it unattended but at the same time you have to consider the fact that maybe these humans have something called morals in their little brains.
It's like... WTF
Plus the University Police's cameras suck... you would think that their capability of funding a $60 million dollar building, that perhaps they could install cameras which could do more than just differentiate whether a human is a girl or a guy.
Anyways... aside from all this bull
What can you guys think of... is there something like this?
I may just make it myself if something like this isn't already made, I'm so pissed
I just wanted to kill whoever this person was (not really as I could never do that) but man I was about ready to pick up this desk and hurl it at the window...
Thank you guys in advance for the read and perhaps an answer to my question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure there is a lock out there that will wipe data or whatever you want if you get the passcode wrong a certain amount of times. You should use a screen lock from now on though... quick and easy for everyday use. And when something happens like this at least you know the dickhead has a paperweight and can't get past the lockscreen. You can also password lock the sim card too. I'm sorry about your stolen device. :/
Sent from my Samsung Infuse

Thank you guys for the condolences
DangKid
How much is this app? It's a one time buy right?
The thing is, how helpful are these things when the phone is off? I guess the criminal would have to turn the phone on at some point
The main thing that concerns me (besides the fact that it's stolen) is the data still being on there, it's my privacy you know? I am entitled to it just like everyone else, as private as one can get here in the US anyways which I would say is pretty good... anyways
slapshot30
I used to use screen locks, I just got annoyed by it
I just have the little puzzle piece (or had)
I just want the phone to be useless, although if there was a chance for me to get it back, I'd like to be able to restore it (bricking I guess is what this is)
I just want to scream "MY BABY!!!! IT'S MISSING!!!!!" In a girl shrieking voice hahaha
Anyways, thanks guys I will heed your warnings and look into this app
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What about the condition that the phone would terminate itself when it detects that someone else is using the phone
Say it gives you three tries to enter the authorization code
The unbricking would be easy (due to the way the app is programmed) so that if I accidentally bricked it on myself by not entering the code right, it wouldn't be a hassle to restore it.

GreenAce92 said:
Well I had the misfortune of getting all of my stuff stolen by some crooked F****r
This happen to include my Infuse, nice and shiny
I am really... really ticked... so I was curious
Is there such a thing as a program or condition that one could put into their phone where a security test would be frequently asked (something that isn't annoying but catches unauthorized users) to verify the authorized user ie owner of the device?
Also the program would have to be have some leniency as I don't want it to brick itself when I ask somebody to check my messages of course I would tell them the code or trick whatever it may be.
I need something that when the phone is in jeopardy, it will destroy the device as well as all of the data that has accumulated on this device...
I just hate... absolutely hate with the blackest black like a black hole of hatred, when I have this feeling of "some bastard out there is freely running through my device" and I can't do **** about it.
Which happens to have past data on it, even if my SIM is terminated and my phone is cut off... there is still the numbers, photos, messages and such
Man I tell you, these lowlife scums... really? I was in a college cafeteria, I have my coat sitting there in front of everyone, I was sitting alone, I get up to get some fruit, when I come back, the coat is gone.
Yeah I left it unattended but at the same time you have to consider the fact that maybe these humans have something called morals in their little brains.
It's like... WTF
Plus the University Police's cameras suck... you would think that their capability of funding a $60 million dollar building, that perhaps they could install cameras which could do more than just differentiate whether a human is a girl or a guy.
Anyways... aside from all this bull
What can you guys think of... is there something like this?
I may just make it myself if something like this isn't already made, I'm so pissed
I just wanted to kill whoever this person was (not really as I could never do that) but man I was about ready to pick up this desk and hurl it at the window...
Thank you guys in advance for the read and perhaps an answer to my question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sooooooooooooooo sorry to hear that!. I use Android Lost on the market...IT IS FREE and it is the most awesome thing and dev is VERY responsive too. I recommend it to anyone!

GreenAce92 said:
Thank you guys for the condolences
DangKid
How much is this app? It's a one time buy right?
The thing is, how helpful are these things when the phone is off? I guess the criminal would have to turn the phone on at some point
The main thing that concerns me (besides the fact that it's stolen) is the data still being on there, it's my privacy you know? I am entitled to it just like everyone else, as private as one can get here in the US anyways which I would say is pretty good... anyways
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hated lock screens also. I'm constantly opening my phone out and to have to spend 3 seconds unlocking it gets annoying. I used to use WheresMyDroid (free on the Market) and its nice for finding the phone. By texting the phone (from any number) a special code, the phone will send gps latitude/longitude of the phones location and another special code will force the phone to play an alarm. It's not so great compared to SeekDroid, but it doesn't need data.
SeekDroid needs data, so if you send a bunch of commands, it won't be recognized until the phone establishes an online connection. So if the phone is off, then nothing can be done. But there's a high chance that they'll turn it on eventually. And there's an even higher chance that they'll try going online with it. From what I remember, it was $1 for the app. It was on Amazon's FAD a couple of times. Looks like the app is now $4.99 on the Market, but there is a lite version that you can try out. I think it's a steal even at $4.99.

get an app called seek droid
only cost a buck and works great
log into their webiste and you can wipe your internal and external memory cards, make an alarm go off even of phone is on silent (this lost phone) and other stuff.
also lets you set a password remotely. pretty awesome

DangKid said:
Sorry for your loss.
SeekDroid is my phone's best friend. You can locate, lock, force an alarm, and wipe the phone from a computer. You can also see the phone number of the sim, along with a list of the last 10 placed calls. On top of all this, you can also force the app to hide on the phone so that nobody can uninstall it. Insanely cheap for what it offers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah SeekDroid is the way to go. it was free a while back on the amazon app store.
Where is my droid pro also gives you the location off the device. but SeekDroid offers more.

DangKid said:
SeekDroid needs data, so if you send a bunch of commands, it won't be recognized until the phone establishes an online connection. So if the phone is off, then nothing can be done. But there's a high chance that they'll turn it on eventually. And there's an even higher chance that they'll try going online with it. From what I remember, it was $1 for the app. It was on Amazon's FAD a couple of times. Looks like the app is now $4.99 on the Market, but there is a lite version that you can try out. I think it's a steal even at $4.99.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last few releases of SeekDroid have included SMS, in-case the device has no data connection. Its not very well advertised right now, but some documentation can be found here: http://help.seekdroid.com/kb/features/sms-how-to-and-help
Glad to hear everyone likes the app. If anyone has any questions, shoot us a line at http://help.seekdroid.com
PS: We should be going on sale on the Amazon Appstore within the next few day. If you wait you might be able to save a few bucks.

sycko said:
Last few releases of SeekDroid have included SMS, in-case the device has no data connection. Its not very well advertised right now, but some documentation can be found here: http://help.seekdroid.com/kb/features/sms-how-to-and-help
Glad to hear everyone likes the app. If anyone has any questions, shoot us a line at http://help.seekdroid.com
PS: We should be going on sale on the Amazon Appstore within the next few day. If you wait you might be able to save a few bucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh dammmmmmmmmn, SeekDroid now has the ability to wipe the phone through a text message? That's so awesome. Will the phone show that a text conversation has initiated? The person could turn off the phone if they somehow saw that someone was trying to find it.

DangKid said:
Oh dammmmmmmmmn, SeekDroid now has the ability to wipe the phone through a text message? That's so awesome. Will the phone show that a text conversation has initiated? The person could turn off the phone if they somehow saw that someone was trying to find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you send a SMS to SeekDroid (with the correct SMS pin and all), we will block that message from going to the phones SMS app. This means it still stays hidden from a thief that they are being tracked.

Phone tracking/wiping
sorry to hear about stolen phone, but folks dont go out and spend money on those apps. Did I not read the reply or did I just miss the one that reminds us all they are 95% USELESS. They are P.O.S!!! They will only work if the phone 1) is powered on 2) has cellular coverage 3) has your sim in it.
All anyone has to do is turn it off, travel out of coverage range, or simply take out or replace the sim.

socialal said:
sorry to hear about stolen phone, but folks dont go out and spend money on those apps. Did I not read the reply or did I just miss the one that reminds us all they are 95% USELESS. They are P.O.S!!! They will only work if the phone 1) is powered on 2) has cellular coverage 3) has your sim in it.
All anyone has to do is turn it off, travel out of coverage range, or simply take out or replace the sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We get success stories of people recovering their devices all the time. Also, as long as the device has a network OR data connection it can be tracked. SeekDroid will still track the device if the SIM is replaced.

socialal said:
sorry to hear about stolen phone, but folks dont go out and spend money on those apps. Did I not read the reply or did I just miss the one that reminds us all they are 95% USELESS. They are P.O.S!!! They will only work if the phone 1) is powered on 2) has cellular coverage 3) has your sim in it.
All anyone has to do is turn it off, travel out of coverage range, or simply take out or replace the sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lolwut? I can gurantee that 99% of phone thieves will at least connect it to a network of some sort. And that's when SeekDroid will strike. I'd take SeekDroid over any app out there on the market. It's simply the best at what it does and then some.

socialal said:
sorry to hear about stolen phone, but folks dont go out and spend money on those apps. Did I not read the reply or did I just miss the one that reminds us all they are 95% USELESS. They are P.O.S!!! They will only work if the phone 1) is powered on 2) has cellular coverage 3) has your sim in it.
All anyone has to do is turn it off, travel out of coverage range, or simply take out or replace the sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
at least this gives you a chance as long as your proactive and get on it fast.
you get the choice to locate it, or completely wipe everything off the phone, which is what i would do because i wouldn't want someone to be able to screw with my email account, facebook, contacts, and everything else on my phone.
not to mention being able to set off an alarm on my phone even when its on silent has helped me find it a few times when it decides to go deep sea couch diving

hmm Really? might make it worth looking into then. Because according to big brother (ATT) and apple. The only was those work is by sending a message/signal to the device. if the device is off or has no signal there is no way to for the service. if its a free download. I'll download it and then remove my sim and try pinging it
---------- Post added at 08:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:49 AM ----------
What identifier is it using? Because i thought once the sim card was swapped it became essentialy a different phone

Check out an app called plan b on the marketplace website. You can install it from there and it will show you where the phone is an you can wipe it clean. It's free.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium

The stuff with the locations "longitude and latitude" doesn't the GPS have to be turned on the phone?
What about if the sim card was removed?
I had looked on my AT&T records and the 'criminal' did go online for a bit until the phone was turned off
But damn... the thought of having my email accounts logged in, my messages, phone numbers, personal notes and voice recordings etc... pictures...
Oh man it's like someone has just stripped me naked and posted my image on somebody's bedroom wall (ha)
Anyhow it would have been nice to have any of these apps on my phone, though my phone sticks to me like a cancer
Thank you guys for your input
I'll try to be wiser next time
Just a side question
What's the cost of switching devices if your last device was stolen? I like the sound of the "skyrocket" though I wouldn't mind getting my old Infuse back either and trying the ubuntu os
That looks sweet

john21511 said:
Check out an app called plan b on the marketplace website. You can install it from there and it will show you where the phone is an you can wipe it clean. It's free.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha! Plan B now that's an app name

[Q] (not) Unique Situation - Have 2 Galaxy S3 Verizon and Need Guidance

Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark

I really should say I'm surprised but in reality I'm not. Your right when you say they don't care because I've experienced it for myself and with my gf over the phone and my mom for that matter. The sad part is they are getting way too big for even themselves and like most companies don't have very good customer service. I'm unlocked as well and have never had issues with voice calls on this phone, only my first phone with a weird rom. It's not there business to ask you if you've installed a custom rom or not. I wouldn't even of answered the question myself.
Personally i would dump verizon if they treated me like that. I was in the store yesterday with my gf and she is a looooong time VZW customer. I'm taking 14 plus years and she went to best buy to get a phone because VZW doesn't know how to take care of customers at all.
It's a sad trend but the bigger the company the worse the customer service is
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

mrbonine said:
Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

ShapesBlue said:
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

XdrummerXboy said:
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

ShapesBlue said:
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

XdrummerXboy said:
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear that. I have mine until June next year. Not quite sure what I'm doing just yet. The Super power saving mode is quite a nice feature. It basically disables all apps but the essential ones. The battery life then goes way over a day plus on the S5
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

Et tu Verizon
Thanks for the info. I did have the MyVerizon app installed, I believe. I don't remember it requesting root, but I sometimes click through those things without paying too much attention (since I'm fairly careful about what goes on the phone); the reason I install software requiring root is to access it (circular, I know) so, they are doing what they must to run. I appreciate the suggestions about other call centers, etc. I do have the contact information from the single most helpful and polite (funny how that goes together) person I talked to through this debacle. I'll drop him a quick note, but really, since they never even bothered to call back, it's clear to me that they want me to leave. Paying over $200 per month to be treated like crap is not something I could ever do. They are big, very profitable, and don't care about anything but extracting cash from people under contract, or too complacent to leave (I'm in the 2nd category until now). Being in a codependent relationship with Verizon is not only self-defeating, but irrational. Until we have some politicians owned by the people instead of corporations we have no chance of reigning these folks in. Sure, they employ lot's of people, but an army of good people working against the best interest of everyone is not good, it's an uncontrollable menace: just look at the banks that gambled with people's homes, lost their bets, then collateralized them when the bottom fell out of their own septic tank of greed. The entire world economy hit an air pocket, but we're still letting the same greed intoxicated pilots fly. My only regret is believing their lies as long as I did. I deserve better, and it's won't be particularly hard to find it. Since the 4.4.3 G3 (nor the 4.1.2 for that matter) are particularly compatible with the GSM carriers, and Samsung is the lookout for the felonious Verizon, I'll probably get a Nexus 5. I think the G5 is better for several reasons, but that's too bad. All of the tech and marketing in the world will not make me "grateful" to manufacturers or carriers that somehow feel controlling how you use the equipment you buy from them is somehow acceptable. The money Verizon cares about is the corporate contracts, since they can manage that process much better, the revenue is less volatile, and they don't have to take calls from subscribers, wasting the money that could be spent on acquisitions, and expanding their market oligarchy. Public utilities create natural monopolies. There are not 2 sets of power lines, or water lines, or sewers running into your home. And the idea that competition from fiber will for improvements from Comcast is false, prices may move, but service will not get better. Only when barriers of entry are low can new competitors help drive down the price of entrenched utilities. We could all create our own mobile system on meshes of unlicensed 5.0 Gig or other spectrum, but it would be very costly to do that and linking this metropolitan radio webs would be tricky. But probably, someone is already working on that. Ask a HAM radio enthusiast about how they handle phone calls over shortwave. They have licenses, yes, but the technology to connect 2-way voice wireless signals to PSTN phone calls has been around for many years. Big corporations exact huge profits and drag down anyone that needs the services, the trick is to find creative ways around them, most importantly by thinking outside of the feature/function cage they've placed around us. Soon, you'll be able to buy just the cable channels you want, perhaps. I have hundreds and I generally watch less than 10.
The accusation flung at me by the enraged employee is little more that hot air. It reflects a corporate culture of mendacity and blame. My fault was to allow him to take control of the conversation, for a millisecond. Whatever I've done to the software on the phone (which, as you noted, was not a ROM change) it's still my phone and not theirs. They don't even provide the "insurance" to replace the failed device, a third party does. I didn't stop my phone from working to get a new phone. Had the replacement worked as well or better as the one it replaced I would have been happy. Now, I'm going over a week with no phone and they will never get paid for that week. The longer it takes to resolve, the less on my final bill, which will be coming up soon. When folks have experiences like this it's best to communicate the problem to the FCC (as if they cared) and their state PUC. Not that they will do anything about it, but it's important to remember they have a duty to regulate whether this group of appointees cares or not. The only thing that affects Verizon is withdrawing my monthly gratuity and when that happens because of abuse, manipulation, and possible fraud, the regulators need to be informed, if only so they can't say they didn't know.
Thanks for the reminder that they have no business asking questions about rooted phones or ROMS. That lingering guilt that one may have done something Daddy Verizon doesn't approve of is there, for sure, but since what I was accused of I didn't do, it was easier to just say, no, I didn't do that.....when I offered to factory reset TWICE during the call and he pretended not to hear me I realized it was all just a manipulative game played by a bully. No, no lunch money for you today, dude. I think they actually hire volatile people and use them as scarecrows. If Verizon didn't want their customers to be exposed to abuse, they'd fire these guys. The second guy was so cold, trying to do the right thing, but hating it. If you've ever been to a time-share presentation and not purchased one, you are familiar with this game. It's not only wrong, but it reflects how truly manipulative and immoral the employers are, they are paying the guy to be insulting, intimidating, and thuggish. So many large companies act this way, it's amazing we let them get away with it. The only way to stop it is to stop paying them and tell them why. I worked in a small hardware store in a small town 30+ years ago. Even when customers were trying some trick, like returning something they didn't buy from us, or a more elaborate ruse (I'll bring the old stuff back tomorrow......), I just explained how it worked and enforced the process; I never shouted, "You are so busted...." These were customers, some making honest errors, some trying to take advantage, but there were none I didn't want to come back again, because it would be bad for business and likely make an enemy. After I leave Verizon I will never give them another dime ever, and I think they honestly don't believe that.
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Can i enable usb debugging on a locked phone or otherwise unlock it?

HI, my stepmoms brother recently passed away and she is asking me if there is any way to unlock his phone. She wants to extract the photos and check the messages for anything pertaining to his death. The sim card was empty
We dont have his samsung account and cant unlock it that way. The USB Debugging is turned off and the phone is not rooted.
Is there anyway to turn on ADB via recovery mode or anything like that? iOS had tons of lockscreen bypasses years ago, are there any for android? Thanks very much

No.
You need a data recovery specialist. Not sure if they can with a screen lock or not... probably not.
That be your best shot.
My thought is if he wanted it to be accessible he wouldn't have locked it...

blackhawk said:
No.
You need a data recovery specialist. Not sure if they can with a screen lock or not... probably not.
That be your best shot.
My thought is if he wanted it to be accessible he wouldn't have locked it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I lock my phone so my kids don't see a dirty pic or something. When I'm dead I probably won't have time to unlock it and I hope someone would help my family.
I used software back In the day to recover **** on a locked I phone 5 that my stepson forgot his info to. It wasn't complete data but got alot of photos back and scrambled texts. Obviously it's not a good idea of there's sensitive info but he was young and the phone was done for.
It advertised android but this was 4 years ago. It was sold under the guise of parental control/monitoring. Recovery.

Ry4n83 said:
I lock my phone so my kids don't see a dirty pic or something. When I'm dead I probably won't have time to unlock it and I hope someone would help my family.
I used software back In the day to recover **** on a locked I phone 5 that my stepson forgot his info to. It wasn't complete data but got alot of photos back and scrambled texts. Obviously it's not a good idea of there's sensitive info but he was young and the phone was done for.
It advertised android but this was 4 years ago. It was sold under the guise of parental control/monitoring. Recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're point?
If the data is important than amateur attempts can complicate recovery or make it impossible if it is possible at all.
Even if recovered the file structure is destroyed which has far reaching consequences and limitations.
When you lock, encrypt or otherwise password a device, the person most likely to get locked out is you.
As for kids maybe you need to be more of an open book or get use to the fact the book maybe locked till the end of time.
My original thought on the matter stands, the owner wanted it for their eyes only.

blackhawk said:
You're point?
If the data is important than amateur attempts can complicate recovery or make it impossible if it is possible at all.
Even if recovered the file structure is destroyed which has far reaching consequences and limitations.
When you lock, encrypt or otherwise password a device, the person most likely to get locked out is you.
As for kids maybe you need to be more of an open book or get use to the fact the book maybe locked till the end of time.
My original thought on the matter stands, the owner wanted it for their eyes only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man I was just trying to give them a glimmer of hope. I wasnt trying to claim your ethical stance isn't on point. Hell alot of devices require a lock to use stuff. So if by chance there are special photos maybe there's still a chance. I wasn't trying to be right or wrong just that it was possible at one point. Sorry my intent wasn't a disagreement just felt some sympathy for the situation. Have a good one.

Ry4n83 said:
Man I was just trying to give them a glimmer of hope. I wasnt trying to claim your ethical stance isn't on point. Hell alot of devices require a lock to use stuff. So if by chance there are special photos maybe there's still a chance. I wasn't trying to be right or wrong just that it was possible at one point. Sorry my intent wasn't a disagreement just felt some sympathy for the situation. Have a good one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Point is you're likely to do more damage than good if you don't know what you're doing.
Simply booting up the device risks overwriting the deleted data. It's unassigned disk space now, free for system use. A hands on recovery expert is the OP's best shot.
I wuv philosophical debates; you opened that door.
In reality we have no clue who this online OP is or who's phone it was. My empathy tends to go to whoever locked the device.
When I lock something it's with the intent I will be unlocking it. Unless I give someone the key as well...

blackhawk said:
When you lock, encrypt or otherwise password a device, the person most likely to get locked out is you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree with this.

@Ry4n83
My grandchilds all got a cheap phone with NO Internet access, only for calling. So it's granted they can't access stuff what isn't good for their mind.