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How to make my phone secure?

I am running cm10 with CWM recovery. I am looking to make my phone secure in the case it gets stolen. Pretty much everything is accessible through the recovery what can be done about it? Can we put a password on the recovery? Can i go back to stock recovery using cm10?
I know there is no such thing as fool proof but i would atleast want it to be a little difficult for a thief to get into my phone.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

Have you tried looking at the encryption option? I think once enabled you will need a password even before getting into recovery.
Sent from my Nexus S

anshumandash said:
Have you tried looking at the encryption option? I think once enabled you will need a password even before getting into recovery.
Sent from my Nexus S
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I did.
It says it needs an hour to complete and that one cannot go back. Does it have any drawbacks to the user itself? Or is it just whenever you reboot the phone that it needs a password?

Gambler_3 said:
I am running cm10 with CWM recovery. I am looking to make my phone secure in the case it gets stolen. Pretty much everything is accessible through the recovery what can be done about it? Can we put a password on the recovery? Can i go back to stock recovery using cm10?
I know there is no such thing as fool proof but i would atleast want it to be a little difficult for a thief to get into my phone.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app
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Put pin, password or pattern and relock bootloader. That's the only real secure way. With an unlocked bootloader there's always a way.

polobunny said:
Put pin, password or pattern and relock bootloader. That's the only real secure way. With an unlocked bootloader there's always a way.
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Have already put pattern but locking the bootloader seems too much no? Is it even possible with CM10?
And I keep USB debugging off so no one can use adb.

Gambler_3 said:
Have already put pattern but locking the bootloader seems too much no? Is it even possible with CM10?
And I keep USB debugging off so no one can use adb.
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Even if you keep the bootloader locked if you got a custom recovery, it is not safe. The only way to make it real safe is to flash stock recovery, lock bootloader and then put a pin or pattern password.

Gambler_3 said:
Have already put pattern but locking the bootloader seems too much no? Is it even possible with CM10?
And I keep USB debugging off so no one can use adb.
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Too much? It takes someone knowledgeable 5 minutes to destroy a password, pattern lock or pin if the bootloader isn't locked.
Say you flash back to stock recovery. That's fine, but with an unlocked bootloader I can flash back to a custom recovery, get full adb access, mount your SD card, peruse your stuff, remove the lock and boot the phone if I want to. If you lock the bootloader, I can't flash a custom recovery.
The downside is pretty evident. With a locked bootloader + a stock recovery, you can't update your custom ROM, not without unlocking the bootloader. And if you do that, you wipe your stuff.

I'm with polo on this. Like he said, someone with a minimal amount of skills can do whatever. If your phone gets stolen, the phone would get blacklisted and if it's gsm it might work on another carrier. If you had lookout, you can find the phone through gps on their site and remotely wipe it.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app

Thanks alot guys. Okay i know how to lock the bootloader but can someone tell me how i flash back stock recovery? As in where to find the file?
I know the not being able to flash anything without reset is the bummer but i will still be able to update the cm rom through ota right?
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

Gambler_3 said:
Thanks alot guys. Okay i know how to lock the bootloader but can someone tell me how i flash back stock recovery? As in where to find the file?
I know the not being able to flash anything without reset is the bummer but i will still be able to update the cm rom through ota right?
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app
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Your better off not doing it, is just to much hassle for what? A thief doesn't care about your data so it doesn't matter to them about passwords etc. They'll just wipe the phone and sell it.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium

Cerberus App
How about installing the Cerberus app, you can do a remote format/wipe
NIMBAH said:
Your better off not doing it, is just to much hassle for what? A thief doesn't care about your data so it doesn't matter to them about passwords etc. They'll just wipe the phone and sell it.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
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I guess you guys are right I might be taking this too seriously. I dont keep any confidential pictures on my phone and I unlinked my google account from my phone with a simple change of password from the desktop just to check if it really works. So all my accounts will be protected. Whatsapp will be taken care of by blocking the sim.
Thanks anyways everyone.

NIMBAH said:
Your better off not doing it, is just to much hassle for what? A thief doesn't care about your data so it doesn't matter to them about passwords etc. They'll just wipe the phone and sell it.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
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Depends what kind of data you have. It's not about the thief and if that person cares about your data. It's about if YOU care about your data. Some people have critical information on work projects or similar on their phone, and the worst thing that could happen is for that information to get published/shared.
Personally, I keep nothing too important on my phone, I have a remote wipe installed, pattern lock, but my bootloader is unlocked and i have a custom recovery. It's good enough for my needs, but I understand it's not the ultimate security either.

Ultimate solution I've found. I have a small amount of c4 inside the battery compartment linked to my unlock code. Wrong code.... BOOM!
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app

n2d551 said:
Ultimate solution I've found. I have a small amount of c4 inside the battery compartment linked to my unlock code. Wrong code.... BOOM!
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app
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I prefer thermite.

polobunny said:
Depends what kind of data you have. It's not about the thief and if that person cares about your data. It's about if YOU care about your data. Some people have critical information on work projects or similar on their phone, and the worst thing that could happen is for that information to get published/shared.
Personally, I keep nothing too important on my phone, I have a remote wipe installed, pattern lock, but my bootloader is unlocked and i have a custom recovery. It's good enough for my needs, but I understand it's not the ultimate security either.
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The only really personal thing on my phone is my convo with my girlfriend but i am no celebrity so i am sure it won't be published.
And i have always been very particular about not keeping compromising photos or videos on my phone or pretty much anywhere. See them once on the big screen and then destroy the SD card if you know what i mean.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

install security software, i remember there was a Reddit thread

Install any secure app like lookout so that you can wipe remotely. Also, record your IMEI so that if your phone gets stolen, you can call your carrier and block it.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

[Q] Gaining root without wiping data?

Excuse me if this is a dumb question, but I have zero experience with HTC devices. I was trying to root my girlfriends sensation, but to my understanding, you have to unlock bootloader first, thus wiping everything on the phone. Now of course being an owner of a Motorola, I've never unlocked a bootloader lol. So my question is, is there any way to root this phone without unlocking the bootloader, and if not is there a utility like titanium backup to back up the data to be restored later?
Sent from my MB865 using xda app-developers app

Neontc said:
Excuse me if this is a dumb question, but I have zero experience with HTC devices. I was trying to root my girlfriends sensation, but to my understanding, you have to unlock bootloader first, thus wiping everything on the phone. Now of course being an owner of a Motorola, I've never unlocked a bootloader lol. So my question is, is there any way to root this phone without unlocking the bootloader, and if not is there a utility like titanium backup to back up the data to be restored later?
Sent from my MB865 using xda app-developers app
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use this guide to S-OFF and root the device
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1661631
it doesn't require htcdev unlock method
but backup everything from your sdcard
because it will erase everything

I saw that method, but the wire trick thing seems way too tricky. Is there an app to back everything up so I can just unlock the bootloader, similar to titanium backup, but for unrooted phones?
Sent from my MB865 using xda app-developers app

Neontc said:
I saw that method, but the wire trick thing seems way too tricky. Is there an app to back everything up so I can just unlock the bootloader, similar to titanium backup, but for unrooted phones?
Sent from my MB865 using xda app-developers app
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There is a tool for unrooted devices
Type and search for ultimate backup tool or something like that
I have never used it but it says that you can backup without root
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

Unlock Bootloader without Factory Reset?

Is it possible? I've read that it isn't, but there have been methods in the past to unlock Nexus bootloaders without the use of fastboot. I was dumb and didn't unlock it right away.
Sent from my Nexus 5

Cheater912 said:
Is it possible? I've read that it isn't, but there have been methods in the past to unlock Nexus bootloaders without the use of fastboot. I was dumb and didn't unlock it right away.
Sent from my Nexus 5
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Nope. Not on the Nexus 5.

Cheater912 said:
Is it possible? I've read that it isn't, but there have been methods in the past to unlock Nexus bootloaders without the use of fastboot. I was dumb and didn't unlock it right away.
Sent from my Nexus 5
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Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible. Titanium Backup and upload to Drive.

aznxk3vi17 said:
Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible. Titanium Backup and upload to Drive.
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Don't you need root for TB?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Cheater912 said:
Don't you need root for TB?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Oops, forgot about that. You're hosed.

the only way this would be possible is if someone found an exploit in 4.4. The last time this was available i believe it was closed on 4.2.2 or 4.3

There's a way to make an adb backup (without being rooted) that backs up everything including app data. Kind of like making a backup image. I can't find the link now, but if you search around, there's a guide. You would then just have to restore from that add backup.
EDIT: Here's the link. I haven't tried this in a while, so I can't guarantee it will work, but its worth a shot. It wont mess anything up.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1420351

How to root Nexus 5 without unlocking bootloader?

How to root Nexus 5 without unlocking bootloader?

mini_wan said:
How to root Nexus 5 without unlocking bootloader?
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theres no way yet, it cant be done as of now. you can unlock it, get root, then relock it easy enough.

simms22 said:
theres no way yet, it cant be done as of now. you can unlock it, get root, then relock it easy enough.
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Unlock bootloader will earse my all data

simms22 said:
theres no way yet, it cant be done as of now. you can unlock it, get root, then relock it easy enough.
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I not want lost my data:crying:

mini_wan said:
Unlock bootloader will earse my all data
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mini_wan said:
I not want lost my data:crying:
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thats understandable. thats why i do it right away. backup and save whatever you can onto your computer.

Haha the first thing I did when I got my nexus 5 was unlock bootloader and root to avoid this!
Sorry to gloat
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

TechMennis said:
Haha the first thing I did when I got my nexus 5 was unlock bootloader and root to avoid this!
Sorry to gloat
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
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i got mine and never did power it on into the os once while unrooted. booted to bootloader very first thing, unlocked, flashed, then powered it in to the os the first time with custom rom/kernel

adb backup was implemented for this exact purpose, though it seems to have mixed results for people. you could try it

As others say learn about your phone. ADB commands save it.
The number of stupid tool kits on the nexus 5 is out of hand. No wonder pple can't do anything. They buy a phone unlock it and flash the wrong thing and cry. Tough learn!
Sent by mobile telephone.

Can't Flash Custom ROM (Hard Bricks)

Hello, all!
I'll make this quick. My SCH-I535 is fully rooted, and the bootloader is unlocked using EZ-Unlock v1.2.
However, when I try to flash a custom ROM using Flashify, my phone hard bricks when rebooting into recovery. Every. Single. Time.
Fortunately I've used the wonderful thread here to successfully restore my phone. The problem still remains, though; I want to flash a custom ROM, but can't seem to do it.
Also, I'm not worried about tripping the KNOX counter. My phone is well over two years old and way out of warranty.
Anyone seen anything like this before? Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!

aar0 said:
Hello, all!
I'll make this quick. My SCH-I535 is fully rooted, and the bootloader is unlocked using EZ-Unlock v1.2.
However, when I try to flash a custom ROM using Flashify, my phone hard bricks when rebooting into recovery. Every. Single. Time.
Fortunately I've used the wonderful thread here to successfully restore my phone. The problem still remains, though; I want to flash a custom ROM, but can't seem to do it.
Also, I'm not worried about tripping the KNOX counter. My phone is well over two years old and way out of warranty.
Anyone seen anything like this before? Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything passed 4.3 is bootloader locked.
Ez unlock is hard bricking your phone, not flashify, regardless you can't flash anything related to a custom rom or a custom kernel.
Read the sticky guide in the development section.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app

BadUsername said:
Anything passed 4.3 is bootloader locked.
Ez unlock is hard bricking your phone, not flashify, regardless you can't flash anything related to a custom rom or a custom kernel.
Read the sticky guide in the development section.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app
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Ah, I see. That explains a lot. Thanks for the reading material!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app