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How does Anti-Theft Software for Windows Mobile work? Is it possble for a thief to uninstall or hard reset the mobile to remove Anti-Theft Software? So, any use of spending money on Anti-Theft? plz help.
Well, there's probably not any use spending money on Anti Theft software, considering you can download RemoteTracker, an excellent free alternative, from this forum, which will do nearly everything a paid version will.
As for your other questions: a thief wouldn't be able to install any anti-theft software normally, because the good ones ask for a password, or else they won't uninstall. However, any anti-theft software will be uninstalled when you hard reset.
Which do you guys prefer? I've used WaveSecure before, but I've read about Prey being the new thing. There's also Plan B and Lookout is their version of the locator software you can preinstall.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/08/how-plan-b-found-the-droid-i-was-looking-for.ars
I haven't lost my phone yet (knock on wood), but any opinions on which you prefer?
Or what about Mobile Defense?
Prey: http://preyproject.com/
WaveSecure: https://www.wavesecure.com/
Mobile Defense: http://www.mobiledefense.com/
Lookout: https://www.mylookout.com/
There's also http://www.androidlost.com/
I use Cerebus. The best there is (I think) and great support.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus&hl=en
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
I'm using TheftAware(.com).
*disables USB debugging
*remote control via sms // I've heard they're also on a web-based remote control
*only pay once
and and adn...
you're just able to get the installer. that installer will allow you to choose a custom name for that application. once installed (root not required but recommended) you'll setup a password and enabled the protection it will vanish from the appdrawer! the only chance to get to the menu again is to call your password.
if you call "1234" the program will show up!
fantastic program imo
€: if you flash a new ROM you HAVE TO REINSTALL it! Activation is just 1-click because the app will save your IMEI to the server.
I'm running androidlost atm. Works fantastic.
I did lose my last phone (galaxy s) thats why I got more then one app running.
Prey is also installed, I felt a bit lost with the app though.
Got Log2Calendar running wich syncs the call & sms log to a dedicated calendar. Isnt a security software, but it helped me last time it got stolen. App itself is not invisible in appdrawer, but you dont notice it running.
There is one serious issue with these apps, and that is that a factory reset wipes them. This is what they did with my phone. That or flashing it.
I know flashing is hard(impossible?) to prevent, however; it is unlikely they will flash it straightaway. The average user doesnt know anything about that, but does know the factory reset option.
Theft Aware survives factory resets even on rooted phones! And they are now backed up by Avast! www.appbrain.com/app/theft-aware-2-0-trial/at.itagents.ta_setup_mf
ESET Mobile Security also packs a locator feature: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.eset.ems
"Hello Android buddies!". Sounds really cool, right??
Obviously, Android has created a new revolution in the mobile world because of its Open Source features. Though it is Open Source, we can see lot of advantages and disadvantages. I've seen many geeks in android also lot more noobs. More than 1 Billion android users are there in this world and the count is getting increased day by day. Even now many users are reading this blog in your android phones. If so, a Happy news in waiting for you guys.
We are spending huge bucks in buying a Android device but How you feel when it got stolen are Misplaced somewhere? Don't worry guys, you are at right place. Yeah, here we gonna see how to secure your device from thieves hand also how to track it effectively. You know what the word "Effectively" means and you really agree it once you are done with this cool method.
For Android geeks - Best method to track/protect your droid (Rooted devices)
For Noobs - Sorry for you guys, small loop hole is there (NON Rooted devices)
Before we customize our device for tracking, lets consider what a thief will do if he/she steals your mobile.
Power Off your mobile to prevent getting calls and sms or simply to get off from tracking.
If lockscreen protection is enabled, he/she tries to remove the phone battery (in case of removable battery mobiles).
Remove SIM card from your mobile. At this point all users will lose their hope in getting their mobile back.
Factory reset your mobile.
If he/she is a geeky, flashing new ROM is also possible(bit funny but its fact).
To overcome all these darkest part, we gonna use 3 different apps in our process.
STEP 1:
Enable Password protected lock-screen from settings and I hope all users know how to do it. Now your droid's data is protected securely.
STEP 2:
Install Smart Lockscreen protector app from Playstore and ON the Enable Lockscreen option under Power menu settings.
Now this app won't let you to Power Off your mobile from Lockscreen. Its one of the best app for devices with non-removable battery. Problem 1 is solved.
STEP 3:
Install AutomateIT app from Playstore or spend few bucks on AutomateIT PRO which unlocks all features. This app allows user to enable Data/WIFI/GPS using SMS commands. For devices running android version prior to GingerBread 2.3, GPS can be enabled by any third party apps however devices above GB 2.3, Google has blocked the access hence ROOT permission is required to enable this feature. Sorry for the users with non-rooted droids. Check the picture to create trigger and action if you are using the app for the first time. To enable the "Composite Action" in the Action column, you need to unlock the feature at the bottom of the list which asks you to create account. Just Go ahead.
Once you are done with the configuration, test it by sending the sms with specified format gpson from another number and see what happens. You'll receive an acknowledgment sms that the config has been applied and all the options which you've specified are enabled. So if you come to know that your mobile has been stolen, this sms commands let you to activate GPS remotely and we can track effectively compared to Network location. Big thanks to the developer of this awesome app.
STEP 4:
Now we are going to use 2 different steps to track the devices running android version 2.2 and above.
Using Android Device Manger
Using Cerberus Antitheft app
Android Device Manger:
Thanks to Google for allowing us to track our device associated with the Gmail account. To locate your device in ADM, you need to apply some settings. Open Google Settings app and enable the options in picture.
Goto Settings->Security->Phone administrator and Enable Android Device Manger. Now open Android Device Manager from the browser and you can track the device, also it allows you to remotely lock and wipe user data.
Though ADM allows you to locate your device, the features are very limited and I hope Google will update more features in near future.
Cerberus Anti-theft:
I'm sure you guys will surely attracted by this awesome app. Many have heard about this app but still I need to explain its features here but sadly I don't have time for it. Hope you know what I mean. It has hell lot of features which allows user to get device info remotely, call logs, sms logs, Send sms to specified number about the SIM change which is one of the best feature which solves problem 3.
Install Cerberus Antitheft app from Playstore. You'll get one week trail period after that you need to buy license to continue the service and its worth spending few bucks on this app. First installation allows you to create User account and enable the following options
You can register 3 mobile numbers to receive notification about the SIM change. Login to the Cerberus site and there you can see all the features provided by this app and I'm damn sure that you can surely locate your device using any one of the features.
STEP 5:
Catch the thief and show who you are..!! :good:
DEVICE NOW SECURED
Even though we considered so many things in mind to protect our device, you must be very careful from looters. I can't guarantee that this method will work 100% but surely I'll give 95% to rooted mobile and 90% to others. Also keep in mind that you've limited time period to track & recover your mobile as it decreases along with the device battery percentage.
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Hi all, I work at a group home and one of the clients recently purchased an Amazon Fire tablet to facebook chat with his dad.
My issue is that thanks to the crapiness of humanity I know that there's a strong potential for the tablet to grow legs.
Without getting into details, the client cannot have the tablet always in their posession, and we can't conveniently lock it down anywhere, and ideally whoever is supporting him needs to have access to the tablet whenever possible.
I'm wondering if there is an app, or even better, a device, which can cause the tablet to alert my manager the moment the device leaves the property? Ideally something not easily accessed or removed.
I know getting a tablet just for facebook chat is overkill, I wasn't the one who purchased it for the client, I'm just trying to make do with what is available.
theseventensplit said:
Hi all, I work at a group home and one of the clients recently purchased an Amazon Fire tablet to facebook chat with his dad.
My issue is that thanks to the crapiness of humanity I know that there's a strong potential for the tablet to grow legs.
Without getting into details, the client cannot have the tablet always in their posession, and we can't conveniently lock it down anywhere, and ideally whoever is supporting him needs to have access to the tablet whenever possible.
I'm wondering if there is an app, or even better, a device, which can cause the tablet to alert my manager the moment the device leaves the property? Ideally something not easily accessed or removed.
I know getting a tablet just for facebook chat is overkill, I wasn't the one who purchased it for the client, I'm just trying to make do with what is available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's an Android right?
I had a look at the Amazon store for anti-theft apps but there were none that I recognised from sources I trust (nit that I have researched them, but maybe you can find a reliable review) You have to be certain it's from a trusted source as these type of apps require special permissions eg admin in order to do their job, and could be abused by a malicious app.
I would recommend Cerberus Anti Theft, I used them for years & they have a good reputation, even though Google removed the app form play store. This is because they had to link the Google app to additional downloads in order to maintain the functionality of the app that made it the best, after Google changed what permissions apps could be granted for apps downloaded from Google store.
You can download for Android devices from their website
https://www.cerberusapp.com/
However there is a potential problem with all antitheft apps, ie. Turning off wifi/data means you can't communicate with it(but Cerberus could be activated via SMS), also a factory reset will remove them, so if a knowledgeable person steals a phone/tablet they can remove the antitheft app, so possibly you would have limited time to activate it. Which is why I used to root & install as a system app, which meant only reinstalling the full factory Android operating system to remove it.
There should be the basic "fined my device" on Android built in (I'm not familiar with Amazon variants) but its not very powerful.
I'll look into it, thanks. It does have tracking but unfortunately that wouldn't alert in time to be able to accurately determine who took it.
If Cerberus can do sms then my manager might be able to get immediate notification if it walks away, once it disconnects from wifi
What I don't get is why isn't there a hardware based solution, something that you have connected to your wifi that alerts you if devices in connected to that wifi signal get disconnected. Or even simpler, bluetooth based.
The problem is that tablets don't all have data, and if turned off they lose the anti theft features. So there needs to be something outside of the device itself that can alert the owner. Maybe it's just to specific a problem unfortunately.
theseventensplit said:
What I don't get is why isn't there a hardware based solution, something that you have connected to your wifi that alerts you if devices in connected to that wifi signal get disconnected. Or even simpler, bluetooth based.
The problem is that tablets don't all have data, and if turned off they lose the anti theft features. So there needs to be something outside of the device itself that can alert the owner. Maybe it's just to specific a problem unfortunately.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PS. You could use Tasker app (or other automation app) on your phone to set up an alert when the tablet losses connection, if you use your phone as a hotspot, I think.
I am the proud owner of a brand new Isudar PX6 (tailored for my VW Golf 6), with Android 10.
I am concerned about security: I want to use things like Google maps, but also other Google Play apps (Tomtom, etc).
But if I configure my personal Google account, anyone driving the car can have access to my personal data (including mails, can purchase from Google Play, etc).
So, if my car get stolen, not only the car is stolen, but my Google account as well.
Thinking about a solution, I am wondering if there is a way to unlock the unit automatically based on a smartphone being connected using Bluetooth?
Ideally, one could configure a specific Google Account for a specific connected Bluetooth smartphone, so that my wife gets her Google account and data when driving, I would get mine when driving, etc.
Anyone having a clue on how this could be done, or suggest alternatives?
I could use a specific Google account for the car, but this has drawbacks: I'd have to purchase the same application twice (once for my personal account, once for the car account) for example.
Thanks in advance,
Laurent
Is it an MTCD device?
marchnz said:
Is it an MTCD device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I can see (I am a beginner), it is be a MTCE.
ldebacker said:
From what I can see (I am a beginner), it is be a MTCE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Post MCU version
marchnz said:
Post MCU version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MTCE_GS_V3.67_3
You could create a secondary Google account for free. Exclusively for use with your car head unit and not provide too much information about yourself on the acct. Especially don't setup any associated payment methods tied to the acct. If you wanted to purchase apps for the head unit, I suggest buying a Google Play gift card and load that into your head unit exclusive Google acct.
If you have purchased apps with another Google acct, you can login with the acct that you paid for the apps with. Install whatever you want and then remove the acct that you don't want to use on the head unit the rest of the time. The apps won't get removed by removing the acct. However some apps check their licenses via Google Play services so it's possible some might not work without the paying Google acct present (see Goggle Play gift card suggestion).
jlbooth said:
You could create a secondary Google account for free. Exclusively for use with your car head unit and not provide too much information about yourself on the acct. Especially don't setup any associated payment methods tied to the acct. If you wanted to purchase apps for the head unit, I suggest buying a Google Play gift card and load that into your head unit exclusive Google acct.
If you have purchased apps with another Google acct, you can login with the acct that you paid for the apps with. Install whatever you want and then remove the acct that you don't want to use on the head unit the rest of the time. The apps won't get removed by removing the acct. However some apps check their licenses via Google Play services so it's possible some might not work without the paying Google acct present (see Goggle Play gift card suggestion).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is the workaround I came up with as well.
This is only a work around, though, because applications check the user account for licenses, but also for other reasons (such as having to replicate data between Google accounts, no access to e-mails, etc).
It would be much more elegant upon connection of bluetooth device to automatically switch to the corresponding Google user account and unlock it.
I use the Automate app from the Google play store to script/automate tasks like this. The tool is as easy as creating a flowchart and connecting the flow. The app is free for flowcharts having a small number of flowchart blocks. I have the paid version of the app and it does have a "Pick account" flowchart block. This probably could be called into action when a certain bluetooth device is connected. Just search Google Play for "Automate LlamaLab."
Also worth mentioning the developer of the app was very responsive and helpful when I have had questions.
Just an idea.
-----------------------
Another thought, if you were to take this suggested approach, you would still have to have both your "regular" Google account and the secondary account on the head unit. In my mind this kind of defeats the reasons for switching back and forth between accounts. I suppose it warrants the questions why the apprehension for having the "regular" account on the head unit full time and is it not safe for some known reason?
Bloody hell, is there really no way to remove a posted comment in this forum, or am I stupid enough to not see how to do it?
jlbooth said:
I use the Automate app from the Google play store to script/automate tasks like this. The tool is as easy as creating a flowchart and connecting the flow. The app is free for flowcharts having a small number of flowchart blocks. I have the paid version of the app and it does have a "Pick account" flowchart block. This probably could be called into action when a certain bluetooth device is connected. Just search Google Play for "Automate LlamaLab."
Also worth mentioning the developer of the app was very responsive and helpful when I have had questions.
Just an idea.
-----------------------
Another thought, if you were to take this suggested approach, you would still have to have both your "regular" Google account and the secondary account on the head unit. In my mind this kind of defeats the reasons for switching back and forth between accounts. I suppose it warrants the questions why the apprehension for having the "regular" account on the head unit full time and is it not safe for some known reason?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for the idea. I had a look at the Automate app, and even if I am unsure I can solve my issue this way, it gives me a lot of other ideas.
One would be to install the Automate app on my Smartphone, so that as soon as I connect to my Head unit using Bluetooth (which is done automatically), my mobile phone would turn cellular data on (I am an old fart, I only connect to 4G when I need it ;-) and the Wifi hotspot. This way, my PX6 head unit will automatically be connected to the internet when driving (and reverse operations when I get out of my car).
Coming back to the idea of having different Google accounts, I need to think how I can do this. Switching would be no problem, but this would still mean pre-configuring the accounts on the head unit.
May be I could have the Google accounts configured, but password protected (I don't know if this is feasible), and emulate the password entry using Automate, which would get the password from a source file hold on my mobile phone for example(if that is feasible, I don't know if file sharing is allowed in the Bluetooth profiles of the android head unit).
I am very concerned about security indeed. I think as it is configured now is completely absurd and represents a huge threat: pre-encoded Google accounts, completely unprotected for whomever has the unit in his hands.
Using Bluetooth smartphones as a key to unlock the access to the device seems like a nice way, but I haven't seen much efforts in this direction.
My pleasure. I was thinking Automate could run on both the head unit and the phone. That's the nice thing about paying for an app once. You can run it on as many devices as desired.
I created an Automate script on my phone that kicks in the mobile hotspot automatically when the bluetooth connects, etc.
Incidentally you can do UI operations like data entry and stuff from Automate. I actually have some logic in one of my Automate scripts that will key in my phone unlock code if needed. I didn't want to have to be fidgeting with the phone and entering a PIN while trying to drive.
ldebacker said:
Bloody hell, is there really no way to remove a posted comment in this forum, or am I stupid enough to not see how to do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use the report button and ask the forum moderator to delete for you and/or you can edit the post to say whatever you want.
jlbooth said:
My pleasure. I was thinking Automate could run on both the head unit and the phone. That's the nice thing about paying for an app once. You can run it on as many devices as desired.
I created an Automate script on my phone that kicks in the mobile hotspot automatically when the bluetooth connects, etc.
Incidentally you can do UI operations like data entry and stuff from Automate. I actually have some logic in one of my Automate scripts that will key in my phone unlock code if needed. I didn't want to have to be fidgeting with the phone and entering a PIN while trying to drive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Automate script you developed to kick the mobile hotpot on Bluetooth connection is what I was thinking about. I gave it a try, but this (activating data) requires rooting the smartphone, which I'd like to avoid. Anyway, thanks!
jlbooth said:
You can use the report button and ask the forum moderator to delete for you and/or you can edit the post to say whatever you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did with this one (edit the post to say what I wanted) ;-)
ldebacker said:
The Automate script you developed to kick the mobile hotpot on Bluetooth connection is what I was thinking about. I gave it a try, but this (activating data) requires rooting the smartphone, which I'd like to avoid. Anyway, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to get it to work without having to root my phone, but I suppose it is very subjective to a lot of variables (e.g. model phone, carrier, Android version, etc). There are ways to get the phone to do various things that might require root to do directly, but one action might cause the phone to do another. For example, to turn off the mobile hotspot, I found that I could just enable WiFi which causes the phone to turn off the hotspot (which doesn't require root).
Anyway best of luck to you on getting your phone, Google accts, and head unit working to your satisfaction.