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Stolen phone

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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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?
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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.
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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...

Root Options. sm-n986u

Wanting to root Sm-n986u Verizon. I have read that the Sm-n986u can be firmware flashed to the Sm-n986u1 with a patched odin. If that is possible will the oem bootloader unlock show up in the developers mode?

Read: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/sampwnd-usa-model-bl-unlock-info-u-u1-w.4205981/
You can root USA variant. You can find here

I did it and I'm thrilled, works great

We're you able to unlock the Bootloader!

Yes, I used a paid service, super easy and works great.

Can someone send me a link for sm 986 w rooting?

Shams kh said:
Can someone send me a link for sm 986 w rooting?
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The thread is about 5 up using a paid service.
[CLOSED][SamPWND]USA Model BL Unlock Info [U/U1/W]
Note: This Thread is @svetius Approved! NOTE: Thread temporarily closed until OP returns SamPWND Bootloader Unlock Service Note2: This is an informational thread that links to a paid service. Paid service is not a service provided by XDA...
forum.xda-developers.com

Jack143 said:
We're you able to unlock the Bootloader!
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Hey Jack. Were you ever able to figure out how to root your phone on your own? Without using a paid service. I think it is bull**** these guys keep the secret from everyone to capitalize on it.

DarkRasta33 said:
Hey Jack. Were you ever able to figure out how to root your phone on your own? Without using a paid service. I think it is bull**** these guys keep the secret from everyone to capitalize on it.
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I'd say it's fair, he put himself on the line to get the things required to do so.
How bout you work for sammy, grab their secret stuff and distribute it to everyone?
Were lucky we have anything at all. It's not really legal what he's doing you know.

No I haven't, and that's what my post was about.

coilbio said:
I'd say it's fair, he put himself on the line to get the things required to do so.
How bout you work for sammy, grab their secret stuff and distribute it to everyone?
Were lucky we have anything at all. It's not really legal what he's doing you know.
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as long as the device is paid for it is perfectly legal. #righttorepair

Arod4409 said:
as long as the device is paid for it is perfectly legal. #righttorepair
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Right to repair applies to cars and is old legislature. Just because people don't understand that doesn't mean we get to apply it to another market.
Electronic right to repair is not legal legislation, it's an idea, an incomplete idea that hasn't been well thought out at that considering big cell phone manufacturers can't even keep the same components and supply chains to build every device the same . Anyone who buys anything up to that point where it becomes actual defined legislation shouldnt assume rights to anything of the sort.
Read all the legal stuff you agreed to when you set up your phone, you're renting it, you don't own. It.

Right to repair applies to all consumer goods, and that legislation has been recently updated. It is legal to unlock and root/jailbreak your phone as long as you are not under a contract or lease agreement. Terms and conditions are very rarely binding contracts, and don't usually hold up in court, they are like a liability release at a trampoline park, ultimately you can still sue if you get injured. I doubt in the current political climate, any court would bother with a case of someone violating the t&c by rooting, unless it caused significant economic damage to a manufacturer. Yes, they would not have to honor the warranty anymore, but that's the risk you take.

Screen lock forgotten, need to bypass without wiping

Hi Everyone! I need help to find a solution to this silly issue. I have a customer who has a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and it so happened he forgot his screen lock pin. I also tried to get it fixed using Samsung's find my device to bypass it unfortunately his Samsung account is not activated on his device. Is there any workaround that can be done to bypass the phone screen lock without the need of wiping it? Thanks in advance!
PS: very important files are inside his device and wiping is never an option for him.

ShinGaiven said:
Hi Everyone! I need help to find a solution to this silly issue. I have a customer who has a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and it so happened he forgot his screen lock pin. I also tried to get it fixed using Samsung's find my device to bypass it unfortunately his Samsung account is not activated on his device. Is there any workaround that can be done to bypass the phone screen lock without the need of wiping it? Thanks in advance!
PS: very important files are inside his device and wiping is never an option for him.
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Nope, not possible.
If you have your own business, it seems like you would make good money advertising a service to help your customers ensure that their data is backed up at all times, for situations like this

iBowToAndroid said:
Nope, not possible.
If you have your own business, it seems like you would make good money advertising a service to help your customers ensure that their data is backed up at all times, for situations like this
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Lol, yeah I agree with you. I guess it's a dead end for that guy. It's a big mistake that he forgot to activate Samsung account on his Fold. In fact both of his Galaxy fold, it's not activated.

ShinGaiven said:
Lol, yeah I agree with you. I guess it's a dead end for that guy. It's a big mistake that he forgot to activate Samsung account on his Fold. In fact both of his Galaxy fold, it's not activated.
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I feel like most people do not set up a Samsung account. I personally would have no use for one. But, it is very nice that they added the option to remotely back up your PIN/password (I think they started doing that 2 years ago). So for someone who may forget their PIN, yes, it would be nice to have

It used to be against the rules here, or at least frowned upon, to discuss how to defeat security measures such as FRP here. Just FYI. Prevents thieves from coming here and learning how to get into devices they stole.

Mr. Orange 645 said:
It used to be against the rules here, or at least frowned upon, to discuss how to defeat security measures such as FRP here. Just FYI. Prevents thieves from coming here and learning how to get into devices they stole.
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You're aware that not everyone with an FRP problem is a thief, correct?

iBowToAndroid said:
You're aware that not everyone with an FRP problem is a thief, correct?
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Click to collapse
You're aware I never said everyone was, right?
Reading comprehension is a skill....

s960 usqu9fue1 FRP PLZ HELP

I've tried it all making my own combo rom downloading's from multiple sources multiple odin versions nothing is working it is literally costing me money and sleep i need this phone to work asap i cant find the right forum or am to stupid to know what the right one is would really really appreciate an answer asap on this like my whole show is depending on it and I'm failing badly id love a step by step for dummies concerning frp removal or bypass for this modal its s9 Verizon on 10 usqu9fue1 please thankyou

To disable / remove FRP lock you
either
delete your Google account on phone
or
do a Factory Reset

jwoegerbauer said:
To disable / remove FRP lock you
either
delete your Google account on phone
or
do a Factory Reset
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset doesn't remove FRP lock, that actually puts the device in a state of being FRP locked if FRP/Find My Device hasn't been disabled BEFORE doing the factory reset.

Droidriven said:
Factory reset doesn't remove FRP lock, that actually puts the device in a state of being FRP locked if FRP/Find My Device hasn't been disabled BEFORE doing the factory reset.
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Wtfanyone that actually has a clue care to help me out....wow just....wow

jwoegerbauer said:
To disable / remove FRP lock you
either
delete your Google account on phone
or
do a Factory Reset
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No why are u answering questions fr like....wtf

Jessicad89 said:
Wtfanyone that actually has a clue care to help me out....wow just....wow
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Click to collapse
Not all devices are equal, therefore, the fix to this varies from one device to the next. Also, giving you the solution also makes the solution available to people that are trying to find a way to remove FRP lock from devices that are not rightfully theirs, such as stolen devices. To avoid potentially aiding someone in gaining access to devices and personal data that is not theirs, we typically don't answer. We also don't know if the device you are trying to access is actually yours, I mean, it isn't like we can take your word for it because you could be lying to us and we wouldn't know, not that you are, just saying that it is an uncertain scenario. It isn't specifically against the forum rules but its kind of an unspoken rule because it is a grey area that is best to stay out of.

Droidriven said:
Not all devices are equal, therefore, the fix to this varies from one device to the next. Also, giving you the solution also makes the solution available to people that are trying to find a way to remove FRP lock from devices that are not rightfully theirs, such as stolen devices. To avoid potentially aiding someone in gaining access to devices and personal data that is not theirs, we typically don't answer. We also don't know if the device you are trying to access is actually yours, I mean, it isn't like we can take your word for it because you could be lying to us and we wouldn't know, not that you are, just saying that it is an uncertain scenario. It isn't specifically against the forum rules but its kind of an unspoken rule because it is a grey area that is best to stay out of.
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that is an asinine approach and a terrible mentality why wuld you even take the time to tell me that load of hogwash, is isnt my fault thaat production companies are struggling ith security and have terrible answers i provide the information needed to identify the correct procedure u know...the modal number build ect. i am somewhat appalled by this response as it has wasted both of our time, i live in America where your innocent till proven guilty not assumed potentially guilty at all times i will find an answer regardless of your counterproductive rathole ideology concerning information. heres whos fault it is if a device is stolen...the owners security is my responsibility concerning my things and that goes across the board worldwide. but i do appreciate well nothing about what you've said here. quite the opposite google its he evil empire and the "solution" of frp is absolutely a wash but thanks anyways

Wondering why you not simply do a Google search for it, if the answer given here isn't what you expected to be, instead of ranting around here?
BTW:
The Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is regulated in the US via the Smartphone Theft Prevention Act of 2015. The Act requires device manufacturers to feature a so-called "kill switch". The purpose of the kill switch was to discourage smartphone theft by dramatically reducing resale value of stolen devices.

Jessicad89 said:
that is an asinine approach and a terrible mentality why wuld you even take the time to tell me that load of hogwash, is isnt my fault thaat production companies are struggling ith security and have terrible answers i provide the information needed to identify the correct procedure u know...the modal number build ect. i am somewhat appalled by this response as it has wasted both of our time, i live in America where your innocent till proven guilty not assumed potentially guilty at all times i will find an answer regardless of your counterproductive rathole ideology concerning information. heres whos fault it is if a device is stolen...the owners security is my responsibility concerning my things and that goes across the board worldwide. but i do appreciate well nothing about what you've said here. quite the opposite google its he evil empire and the "solution" of frp is absolutely a wash but thanks anyways
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Click to collapse
Just because it isn't the reply that you wanted, does not make it hogwash. If you can't understand the logic of what I said, that's your failing, not mine. I don't care what you appreciate or don't, that has nothing to do with anything. Thinking like that only makes you the one with the personal problem, not us. FRP exists for a very good reason, one that is understandably inconvenient for you in the current circumstances. It has nothing to do with guilt, no one labeled you or assumed you to be guilty, don't take it personal and drop the attitude.
But, hey, nevermind the fact that FRP exists for a reason, let's just ignore that just for you since it is you and you are so special that we should help you while at the same time making it easier for actual thieves to be able to use and resale devices that they've stolen, let's enable criminal activity just to help you since you're so special, right? Get real!

Droidriven said:
Just because it isn't the reply that you wanted, does not make it hogwash. If you can't understand the logic of what I said, that's your failing, not mine. I don't care what you appreciate or don't, that has nothing to do with anything. Thinking like that only makes you the one with the personal problem, not us. FRP exists for a very good reason, one that is understandably inconvenient for you in the current circumstances. It has nothing to do with guilt, no one labeled you or assumed you to be guilty, don't take it personal and drop the attitude.
But, hey, nevermind the fact that FRP exists for a reason, let's just ignore that just for you since it is you and you are so special that we should help you while at the same time making it easier for actual thieves to be able to use and resale devices that they've stolen, let's enable criminal activity just to help you since you're so special, right? Get real!
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i care so little about what you have to say i didn't even read that dribble and will continue that policy throughout our relationship ill get it either way thought i would give xda a shot if your representative of the body of knowledge and attitude here it as a mistake to be certain

Jessicad89 said:
i care so little about what you have to say i didn't even read that dribble and will continue that policy throughout our relationship ill get it either way thought i would give xda a shot if your representative of the body of knowledge and attitude here it as a mistake to be certain
Click to expand...
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Do you think your opinion matters to anyone here? Do you think your attitude makes you superior somehow? It actually achieves quite the opposite, but please, continue proving me right, I know you've got more big talk in there somewhere because that is all you have, which is nothing.

Can phone makers track stolen phone?

Hi there community <3
I invested a considerable amount of effort in searching posts/threads related to this but did not find anything even near to it so here I am.
I got my android phone stolen some weeks ago. Find My Phone is not helpful at all. I know that police can help tracking using IMEI but, my question is, is there any unique number, other than IMEI, which can be used to track phone? And if yes, who can track using that, phone makers or someone else?
I got a clue of this idea by this and this Quora posts. Kindly have a look at these posts if you don't understand what I am talking about.
I am very thankful to any helpful reply. The phone was very dear to me, or particularly, the data that it contained. So I am even willing to donate appropriately to anyone who can help me in the matter.

MiaBhai said:
Hi there community <3
I invested a considerable amount of effort in searching posts/threads related to this but did not find anything even near to it so here I am.
I got my android phone stolen some weeks ago. Find My Phone is not helpful at all. I know that police can help tracking using IMEI but, my question is, is there any unique number, other than IMEI, which can be used to track phone? And if yes, who can track using that, phone makers or someone else?
I got a clue of this idea by this and this Quora posts. Kindly have a look at these posts if you don't understand what I am talking about.
I am very thankful to any helpful reply. The phone was very dear to me, or particularly, the data that it contained. So I am even willing to donate appropriately to anyone who can help me in the matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your options are, Find My Device or contact law enforcement agencies.

Droidriven said:
Your options are, Find My Device or contact law enforcement agencies.
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Click to collapse
Yup, already did both of them. Weeks happened and still no good news that's why was looking for some other method.

MiaBhai said:
Yup, already did both of them. Weeks happened and still no good news that's why was looking for some other method.
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It is possible that the IMEI and any other registered numbers that can identify the device remotely have been changed, making tracking/finding impossible.

by this time the imei has been already changed or used as parts for others, nothing to do.

Droidriven said:
It is possible that the IMEI and another registered numbers that can identify the device remotely have been changed, making tracking/finding impossible.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for enlightening and yes, that's a probability too but it's really hard to accept!

tutibreaker said:
by this time the imei has been already changed or used as parts for others, nothing to do.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for informing but let's hope for some miracle . Well, am I doing what's called clogging up the thread by saying Thanks? I wonder. Correct me if there's some XDA etiquette to follow.

Thanks for informing us Here. I am so glad that you are talking about this topic. Last year also lost my phone in which I captured lots of moments with my grandparents and that phone was Very important to me. I was depressed when I lost but because of my uncle who was on the cybercrime team, I got it back within 10 days. thanks to him and He also suggested FOUND ME tags, airtags, Gps trackers, and many more to protect my phone from being lost. I only use some of them and its also works & now I am happy with the memory of what I captured with my grandparents. I miss them so much.

Danielthomas0308 said:
Thanks for informing us Here. I am so glad that you are talking about this topic. Last year also lost my phone in which I captured lots of moments with my grandparents and that phone was Very important to me. I was depressed when I lost but because of my uncle who was on the cybercrime team, I got it back within 10 days. thanks to him and He also suggested FOUND ME tags, airtags, Gps trackers, and many more to protect my phone from being lost. I only use some of them and its also works & now I am happy with the memory of what I captured with my grandparents. I miss them so much.
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Click to collapse
I feel immensely happy for you since I am in the very same boat. Thanks for sharing your experience. If you have any inside information about how your uncle tracked down your phone, can you please elaborate on that? Was the phone IMEI changed by the thief? Did your uncle use some kind of location tracking (like triangulation or GPS) or found his information from SIM he had inserted in the phone? What was the condition of the phone when you found it? It would help me or anyone judge their scenario and accordingly decide what to do.