Ive looked all through the threads and have found nothing of an relevance on this subject. Surely with everything we know and can do with phones someone has something. Android devices are much greater than just Google Find my device when our devices are stolen. But it seems we cant track them after someone easily erases the google account from the device. Can someone please restore my faith in the Android community and help me figure out how to properly locate my stolen device.
Ask for police.
They are professional for catching thief. Just offer the IMEI code to the police and trust they will track your phone and get it back very soon.
Not the police around here, they can barely spell IMEI. :/
Related
I know this is a touchy subject due to the potentially illegal uses of IMEI numbers. Let me be very clear, I want to restore MY original IMEI number. Here is my situation:
Through various ROM flashes I have changed my IMEI number. Kies says my device in unregistered because I have the wrong IMEI. I wanted to try going back to stock since GB is now available without using a custom ROM. I have my device's original IMEI number saved in a document (in case it was ever stolen). I do not have a backup of my original EFS folder, only the IMEI number itself saved in a text document.
Is there any way for me to manually input my devices IMEI number and save it back into my phone?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=881162
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Thanks for the suggestion. I had already seen this, but since it was talking about setting the values to a "generic" setting I was trying to avoid it. I tried it anyway and it didn't fix the problem. I unrooted the phone and took it to AT&T. The problem ended up being that the APN setting couldn't be accessed and they weren't configured. The rep was able to do a hard reset. Not sure what kind of reset it was though. Not factory. It didn't revert back to Froyo, but it did remove all the apps (to include all google apps) I had to reinstall the market and restart the phone before it would work. Anyway, everything seems to be working fine now. I just wish I could have seen what the rep was doing so I could describe the solution better, but he was on the other side of the counter and didn't seem to want me to see.
IMei Problems in turkey and registration rules
Hi there
I know this will probably yield me a "no its illegal" reply but please hear me out on this. Im a good person!
I moved to turkey 6 months ago to work here as an IT teacher in an international school. I brought with me my lovely HTC HD2 which i had hacked using XDA software to now run andoid (was very pleased with my phone). registered my phone here with my passport. The phone then broke and while trying to fix it I snapped some of the internal data cables...
I have my old HTC wildfire here but cant use it on the GSM network as im only allowed to register 1 phone to my passport every two years!
I know its not technically allowed but i was thinking of changing the imei on my wildfire to that of my broken (but registered) HTC HD2 and was figuring if i got caught for it that they would see that the imei number is in fact registered to me anyway.
I have searched high and low for solutions for this. I found the Iwizard but I think that this was released in 2007 and my phone was released in 2010 so i am presuming that this will not work. also had some problems and questions about using activesync on my windows 7 computer along with presuming that I cant connect an android phone to activesync.
As I said before. Im not tying to commit a crime here but just trying not to go out and spend lots of money (and phones do cost lots of money here) on buying a turkish phone.
if anyone can help then please let me know
my email is [email protected]
cheers..
Thats called cloning. Will not be discussed here as it is illegal in the states and many other places. Check Turkish law, they may not have any laws against it, however you would still be on your own as its not discussed here.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
just because something is illegal doesnt mean it is illegal to discuss it. it is called freedom of speech. this guy stated he wish he knew how to clone a phone. if you preface your response with the fact the information is not intended for illegal use, you are not aiding anyone. he is responsible for his own actions. a good example of this is when a group attempted to ban "the anarchists cookbook" , a judge ruled that even though the book detailed how to construct illegal devices it could not be baned. the judge cited the first amendment.
i would never advise anyone to break a law but i would not look down on anyone who seeks information. my point is this: it is illegal to make TNT in your basement but it is not illegal to speak or write about how TNT is made. the op should seek his information on the web elsewhere since xda is not for q and a for phone cloning. there are many web sites that explain cloning and it is not illegal to read or write about this matter.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Uh ya, and in short, its not discussed on XDA. I never trounced on anyone's freedom of speech.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
georgiajad said:
just because something is illegal doesnt mean it is illegal to discuss it. it is called freedom of speech. this guy stated he wish he knew how to clone a phone. if you preface your response with the fact the information is not intended for illegal use, you are not aiding anyone. he is responsible for his own actions. a good example of this is when a group attempted to ban "the anarchists cookbook" , a judge ruled that even though the book detailed how to construct illegal devices it could not be baned. the judge cited the first amendment.
i would never advise anyone to break a law but i would not look down on anyone who seeks information. my point is this: it is illegal to make TNT in your basement but it is not illegal to speak or write about how TNT is made. the op should seek his information on the web elsewhere since xda is not for q and a for phone cloning. there are many web sites that explain cloning and it is not illegal to read or write about this matter.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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It's not about whether or not it is illegal for the topic to be discussed. If you allow potentially illegal information to be placed on the forum freely then you open the community up to unnecessary scrutiny. There are a lot of people out there that do not like developers helping people alter there mobile devices. Yes it's legal, but it also pisses a lot of companies off. So one way the community protects itself is through self-censorship.
that's right
reply
ConeyKiller said:
Thats called cloning. Will not be discussed here as it is illegal in the states and many other places. Check Turkish law, they may not have any laws against it, however you would still be on your own as its not discussed here.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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cheers for taking the time to at least explain this. I was under the impression that someone from XDA had previously posted software on here for the very purpose i am describing in my last post (re turkey). I saw a screen capture of the software (iwizard) and it has a picture of a turkish cup of tea on it. I was guessing that XDA had decided to help people in turkey with the the registration issues we have. But after about 1 week of free time spent searching the internet for solutions I am ready to give in and just go out and buy a turkish mobile phone (can sell me blocked one in england next time i go home) .
Cheers and thanks for all the great software I have previously had from the site for my HTC HD2
f
This is a long-standing discussion amongst me and my friends that never seems to get anywhere!
Is it safe in the UK, to give someone your IMEI number when you're trying to sell a phone. Personally, I always thought that it would be really useful because you could check to see if it's been stolen / lost etc but others say that it could be cloned and land you in a lot of trouble with huge network charges etc.
Surely the sim card is the thing that you need to protect as you can use it in any phone with any IMEI..
Can someone offer any expert advice?
Ive read it said to never give out imei for all the reasons you stated and maybe more.
Well I'm no expert but what's important about deciding on whether or not to give out your IMEI is to find out exactly what it is going to be used for.
For example a closed beta application may be coded to only work on specific IMEI numbers.
As a general rule I'd say find out what it's needed for, give it to trusted people only and keep it out of public viewing.
My wife just called me on a landline to say her Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100 has gone missing. She was working in a tiny charity bookshop, so it was easy to check that it wasn't just dropped, and it goes straight to voicemail. It was double PIN protected on both device and SIM.
It was on Android 4.0.1 - I know, I know, she wouldn't allow me to upgrade it.
Question - I know from experience of flashing a new ROM that Google insists on entering the Google account details again to verify proper ownership. Is this a general Android security procedure, or does it work only on Lollipop/Marshmallow?
Just asking because it will be of some small comfort to know that the thieving scum has a paperweight rather than a phone...
dahawthorne said:
I know from experience of flashing a new ROM that Google insists on entering the Google account details again to verify proper ownership.
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Click to collapse
Incorrect.
I was hoping for something a bit more concrete than that. And it is correct. When I've done a full reset of my phone to flash a new ROM I get "This device has been reset. Please enter your Google credentials" or words to that effect.
I'm happy to have the response, but can someone please give me a sensible one based on knowledge and not guesswork?
dahawthorne said:
I was hoping for something a bit more concrete than that. And it is correct. When I've done a full reset of my phone to flash a new ROM I get "This device has been reset. Please enter your Google credentials" or words to that effect.
I'm happy to have the response, but can someone please give me a sensible one based on knowledge and not guesswork?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh hey look... no Google account!
You're the one operating on guesswork assuming a Google account is mandatory to use an Android device.
Look, guy, if you have no useful advice to offer me then quit wasting my time...
"Friends
Wakamatsu has not made any friends yet
Befriend Wakamatsu"
Well, am I surprised? I think I'll pass on that offer...
You asked about when a security measure was introduced in Android. I informed you that no such security measure exists.
There is a disconnect between what you want to believe and the reality. First, you refused to accept it. Now, you're angry at me because you have no choice but to accept it.
You want reassurances because of your situation? There is none to be offered here.
dahawthorne said:
My wife just called me on a landline to say her Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100 has gone missing. She was working in a tiny charity bookshop, so it was easy to check that it wasn't just dropped, and it goes straight to voicemail. It was double PIN protected on both device and SIM.
It was on Android 4.0.1 - I know, I know, she wouldn't allow me to upgrade it.
Question - I know from experience of flashing a new ROM that Google insists on entering the Google account details again to verify proper ownership. Is this a general Android security procedure, or does it work only on Lollipop/Marshmallow?
Just asking because it will be of some small comfort to know that the thieving scum has a paperweight rather than a phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless your carrier has a service that allows imei blacklisting, there is nothing you can do. Even if they do, you'll need a solid proof of ownership and that the phone wasn't just lost. If your wife lost her phone, in most cases there is no obligation on the part of the finder to return it. Any other measure won't do anything, as the device could be wiped clean of everything.
Thanks. optimumpro. My service provider has blocked the phone and the SIM, so with any luck the scumbag will get no joy from it. It's also reported with its IMEI on a website (immobilise.com) which the police refer to when items are recovered.
As to my original question, I believe that the function I mentioned started with Android 5.1, so if the thief has the tech knowledge he/she can probably wipe it and install a new ROM, though I hope the IMEI block will prevent use even with other providers.
Pity - it was a nice little phone - my first smartphone.
And thanks for providing a sensible answer - appreciated.
dahawthorne said:
Thanks. optimumpro. My service provider has blocked the phone and the SIM, so with any luck the scumbag will get no joy from it. It's also reported with its IMEI on a website (immobilise.com) which the police refer to when items are recovered.
As to my original question, I believe that the function I mentioned started with Android 5.1, so if the thief has the tech knowledge he/she can probably wipe it and install a new ROM, though I hope the IMEI block will prevent use even with other providers.
Pity - it was a nice little phone - my first smartphone.
And thanks for providing a sensible answer - appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may want to check ebay, because the phone can be sold to someone from another country. So, with luck you may catch the guy...
Greetings everyone,
I have an issue i have been trying to combat for a full week now, so i am now based on your expertise to resolve my situation. I have a friend who has bought a fake lenovo clone with the model code S850c. Because the firmware it shipped with was fulled to the brim with bloatware and popups, he asked me to flash another ROM using SP Flash tool. Since it is not a legit model, i only found a couple of ROMS which actually worked.
In between firmware flashes, i had to do a "Format all and flash", which also resulted in the IMEI numbers originally binded with the phone to be deleted. However, I am not able to restore them, because i ommited writing them down before flashing the phone. As a result, the phone recongnises the SIM card but is unable to register to any network. Naturally, i went into engineering mode and punched in the 2 IMEI numbers located under the battery(it is dual SIM), but they must be invalid, since the phone will still not register and imei.info cannot recongnise them.
As a last resort, i also tried to input IMEI numbers from old working phones i have in my drawer, but i still experience the same behaviour. Is there any way to find the original IMEI numbers again or i am doomed? Also, with known working IMEI failed to work?
Only ways xda will advise is to restore a backup that should have been made or to return it to the oem.
Messing with the imei in anyway is illegal in most countries so the above is the only ways xda allows to be talked about.
Thanks for the tip, but I can provide proof that my statements are true and the devices are not stolen, if that is required. I am by no means a thief, i just want to correct a mistake i made in the first place.
In addition, what i asked is about another way to retrieve the IMEI that ORIGINALLY came with the device in order to restore it, without having a backup beforehand. As i mentioned before, the ones under the battery are NOT blacklisted, they are simply fake ones.
With that said, i understand and respect XDA's rules and policies.
DarksonDAP said:
Thanks for the tip, but I can provide proof that my statements are true and the devices are not stolen, if that is required. I am by no means a thief, i just want to correct a mistake i made in the first place.
In addition, what i asked is about another way to retrieve the IMEI that ORIGINALLY came with the device in order to restore it, without having a backup beforehand. As i mentioned before, the ones under the battery are NOT blacklisted, they are simply fake ones.
With that said, i understand and respect XDA's rules and policies.
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Click to collapse
I am sure you can. That wasn't a question really. The biggest issue is that any of the tools that might even help you are illegal so you understand the hard place xda is in. Your issue will be most likely the fact that it is a knock off which will mean that it doesn't have a valid imei to begin with. See if you can track down a stock OS for it in another site. (you won't find one here) and see if flashing it will bring it back. Other then that I would send it back and get it replaced but to be honest, with clones you are best off not touching them.
ok i see, thank you so much for your help! I hope i did not sound agressive in my reply, but i was really desperate for a solution
Best regards!
Good afternoon, I've had the fortune of someone stealing my phone at an internet cafe. They did the whole hard reset (I think) because it's not coming up on Where's my device?, I was wondering is there any software out there that can track the IMEI number because I'm pretty sure the individual that took it knows enough to pull the SIM card out and reformat the phone but not enough that the IMEI number can be traced or am I SOL?
Google IMEI Tracker Online | Google IMEI Tracker Phone
Want to Google IMEI Tracker Online.One of the easiest route is to follow your cell phone utilizing Android Device Manager.
trackimei.net
IMEI Tracker | Find your mobile with IMEI
Imei-tracker can track any mobile device around the world by IMEI. Track the IMEI and find the accurate position of your phone.
imei-tracker.com
Thanks, just for future reference is there some kind of rom that I could hide in the phone that can track it? Kinda like an added level of security outside of my Google account?
You're welcome.
Unless your in a secure area the phone should never leave your hands except when in your pocket. Never set it down.
Don't "flash" the phone around strangers unless absolutely necessary... keep a low profile with it.
Always be aware of your surroundings and of the people.
Robbers tend to look for easy targets, don't be easy.
Any particular reason I need to do surveys on that second link?
BakedinRC said:
Good afternoon, I've had the fortune of someone stealing my phone at an internet cafe. They did the whole hard reset (I think) because it's not coming up on Where's my device?, I was wondering is there any software out there that can track the IMEI number because I'm pretty sure the individual that took it knows enough to pull the SIM card out and reformat the phone but not enough that the IMEI number can be traced or am I SOL?
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Click to collapse
Hi. Did you later find your phone? Same thing happened to me. I want to recover it.
Toriv said:
Hi. Did you later find your phone? Same thing happened to me. I want to recover it.
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Click to collapse
Nope I gave up, if there's anyway I could get my hands on some IMEI tracking software I would've given it some more effort, good luck...cops don't seem to care.