Well I had a recent brush with "oh no, someone swiped my phone," luckily a friend mistakingly put it in their purse. Any how, the motorola data wipe did not work. So after some research and reading reviews/features I found these items on the market. Don't want anything to kill the battery, but also budget conscious. From the features alone Lookout looks the best but a close alternative is Phone Locator Pro. Two lightweight contenders are also listed. Who has had any experience with these, currently on Lookout trial.
Lookout Mobile Security
$30 a year for lockout/wipe service, otherwise free version is for locate (GPS switch), backup, and antivirus. all done through site access at mylookout.com. plan B can be installed after it has been lost for locate. 1.2mb
Where's my droid
free, ringer, locate only works if GPS is on but rave reviews otherwise? done through text or email. 108k
Phone Locator Pro
$2.83 USD, ringer, GPS switch, sim lock, call/text log, remote wipe. all of these activated through text. can be installed after it has been lost. 914k
Lost Phone
free, lock, locate, ringer, sim lock. done via text. 68k
Have I overlooked anything else promising in the market? - tia
Norton mobile security - beta
It's free
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
I have always used lookout. I don't know how the others work. Thankfully I have never needed the locate phone feature
sent from my gingerblur 3.1 atrix. with 1% mod & clock delete
The Atrix has phone location built into it, you know. It worked for me when I had Gladiatrix and still does now on rooted stock. You just go to the motorola blur portal website (actual website, not the usb/lan tunnel to your phone) and log in with your blur account. I tried it once, it's accurate and easy to use.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Very cool have to give that a go
sent from my gingerblur 3.1 atrix. with 1% mod & clock delete
Related
i am currently searching some apps to help you locate your phone.
both ios and blackberry have free apps that lets you ring, wipe, send message, lock and locate via gps your phone. even blackberry has the added feature that will backup your data, and can even be configured to do it automatically or just over wifi.
what options do we have on android? for what i have searched there is "where's my droid" that has some basic features with sms but due to a recent android restriction it cannot turn on gps
Lookout Mobile Security
Motoblur actually has a device locator and remote wipe built in.
https://portal-blur.svcmot.com/blur-web-portal/
My only issue with that is if someone gets ahold of your phone they can wipe it really fast and than your sol. With lookout you can at least lock the phone so no one can use it
LancerV said:
My only issue with that is if someone gets ahold of your phone they can wipe it really fast and than your sol. With lookout you can at least lock the phone so no one can use it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not if you already have a lock on your phone via fingerprint scanner or pin
Wavesecure also works good.
http://preyproject.com/
Prey works quite well.
Prey..
but a very lightweight one..
TheftAlarm... is a pretty small one lol. not a lot of functions but.. it checks on anyone who puts a random sim on your phone.
Someone else mention Motoblur and I have to say this is the best option.
Combined with any type of screen lock, fingerprint scanner or the standard locks, you would be safe and sound. If someone tries and switches out the sim card, the phone goes into lockdown until your motoblur account name and password are entered.
You can track the phone and remote wipe it all from their website similar to apple's mobile me.
Prey is a good option, but not as reliable on the tracking portion I think. It does have however a nice lockdown feature.
I've always used MobileDefense but I noticed no one here even mentioned that so perhaps it's really not all that great?
MotoBLUR's tracking with Autowipe (free) from the Market is winning in my book.
Motoblur couldn't locate my phone. Just kept searching for a while and then it just stopped.
Is gps on?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
this is a cool feature.
motoblur would be perfect if it could turn on gps. Pretty sure lookout has the ability to turn on gps for you. Also has a pretty neat tool called plan b that can install and report location after your device goes missing.
As of right now I have my gps on at all times. If I eventually turn it off I will switch from motoblur to lookout.
tonman23 said:
motoblur would be perfect if it could turn on gps. Pretty sure lookout has the ability to turn on gps for you. Also has a pretty neat tool called plan b that can install and report location after your device goes missing.
As of right now I have my gps on at all times. If I eventually turn it off I will switch from motoblur to lookout.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could also use androids web store to push programs, but not sure if it would auto work or not
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
it will def. work with the "plan b" application because it is designed to be pushed out through the web store after the fact. It installs remotely and even enables gps for you. Within 10 minutes it emails your google address with the location of the phone. If it doesn't work after ten minutes you can send a text to your phone with the word "locate" to force it.
haven't tried it but I like the idea
Thanks to xda main page I download this free app and was shocked to find that most apps wanted to know my location my imei and have access to my contacts.
This app is like uac for windows but better. Give it a try on the market
Sent from my Dell Streak
Does this mean most devs have a big brother fetish?
I downloaded LBE this morning. I'm surprised at just how many apps have phone state and identity as one of the permissions. Question is however whether the apps will update properly without this permission.
I have fring requesting contact information and access to sms twice an hour.
Sent from my Dell Streak
Well, from my limited research, read phone state and identity permission is related to one of three things:
1. Android 1.5 compatibility.
2. Registration check.
3. App needs to be shoved into the background when a call comes in.
The Amazon Appstore reads the phone number whenever you open it. This is because the Appstore needs to know what phone to sideload the.app to. It's currently the only app I have that does this. All my other.apps are free since I don't have spare cash to spend on the Market. So far none of those apps have triggered this permission.
You load tweetcaster pro from amazon that asks for stuff alot
Sent from my Dell Streak
Amazing how many stupid apps need to access stuff that they probably don't need to access. Blocked a BUNCH of garbage today...turned on the phone at 7am, and by 5pm, it had blocked 32 requests.
Lol. Had it installed for an hour, nothing happened until XDA Premium app asked for my IMEI...
sent from XDA Premium app on Streakdroid 1.9.1.4
So with the new Touchwiz Update, why would someone need or want to root their SGT10.1? Before my only big reason was for screen shots and some apps that offer shutdown option softbuttons. But with Touchwiz you get a screen shot function. What functions would you want that would require rooting?
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
easy, I want the bar at the bottom to be black again and the settings panel (wi-fi toggle, airplane mode toggle to be blue not green) to name a few.
i think installing LBE Privacy Guard is an excellent reason to root.
Does that app keep apps from trolling your data and selling it? I've used lookout before. It works pretty well but who knows if its working. Lol
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
djchad72 said:
Does that app keep apps from trolling your data and selling it? I've used lookout before. It works pretty well but who knows if its working. Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LBE actually monitors your data and presents you with an alert every time an app tries to access it. The alert allows you to approve or deny the access. That way if a video player app randomly starts trying to access your contacts you a) know about it and b) can deny it.
I haven't rooted my GT yet but I've used LBE on a Transformer when I had it. It was great because i could deny apps accessing my data when they had no reason to do so. If I root, LBE and AdFree would be the two of the main reasons for doing so.
Adfree and Titanium Backup are my main reasons.
I have not looked at the steps in a while. But seems like my biggest obstacle is I have nothing but Mac OS so I cant use most of the tethered and app centric methods. Wish there was an app in the market to help you root without being tethered. That would be worth some bucks! Lol
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
Disabling ads, removing bloatware and wifi tethering with my OG droid.
Does anyone have a good phone locator app that utilizes root?
bigupurself7 said:
Does anyone have a good phone locator app that utilizes root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well HTC Sense has a built in locator, just sign into your Sense account and it was auto update your phones location. Just go to HTCsense.com and you can see it on a map.
RE
bigupurself7 said:
Does anyone have a good phone locator app that utilizes root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try "Wheres my droid" from the market place, it doesn't utilize root but it will locate your you phone by sounding your ringtone or white noise, or even send you gps co-ordinates if lost or stolen.
Just txt your own number "GPS my Droid" to recieve gps co-ordinates or "Wheres my droid" turns up the volume if on silent and makes it ring for a set ammount of time, hopes this helps
Try "pintail"
I use Seekdroid to turn on gps remotely (requires access to the internet) and Wheresmydroid as backup just in case I can't access the internet.
It doesn't use root though and works well.
You can also push the app to system with root explorer I would use Droid lost. It's a good one. You grant it admin rights and control many many features from a website. It works real well. And by pushing to system most people would have a hard time unistalling it.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Before purchasing the S3 I read up about it and found one called "Pray anti-theft" which was supposed to be pretty good.
I installed it onto my S3 and it seems in order to track it my phone needs to be connected to the internet with the SIM card in tact..
Who is going to find a phone and leave the SIM card in?
Can anybody recommend a better one?
There is no "anti-theft" thing.
Anyone with good knowledge of android can easily flash a new ROM in your stolen phone and factory reset it which will remove whatever you have installed there.
Avast is imo the best, it can track with gps and when the sim gets replaced you get the simcard number send to a chosen number.
Also with root they can't remove the app, go into settings, and with a factory reset it keeps active.
you can also give commands via sms to your phone.
Send from my GT-I9300 with Tapatalk
Avast antivirus integrates a module that used to be a standalone app called Theft Aware. This installs as a system app (if rooted), hides itself from the app drawer and you can only show it by dialling a PIN in the dialer. It can be set up so it will send an SMS to a trusted number when the SIM card is swapped, and from there you can control the phone by SMS commands. You can request GPS updates, make the phone call you, wipe remotely, turn on a siren... This all works through SMS - no mobile data or wifi necessary, and it works if they ditch your SIM. The recent version also added web-based tracking and control. And it's free! But of course if the thief does a firmware flash you're out of luck. The thing is, I think most petty thieves aren't android experts.
DashingGentleman said:
Avast antivirus integrates a module that used to be a standalone app called Theft Aware. This installs as a system app (if rooted), hides itself from the app drawer and you can only show it by dialling a PIN in the dialer. It can be set up so it will send an SMS to a trusted number when the SIM card is swapped, and from there you can control the phone by SMS commands. You can request GPS updates, make the phone call you, wipe remotely, turn on a siren... This all works through SMS - no mobile data or wifi necessary, and it works if they ditch your SIM. The recent version also added web-based tracking and control. And it's free! But of course if the thief does a firmware flash you're out of luck. The thing is, I think most petty thieves aren't android experts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would be very surprised if anybody in my area has even heard of rooting
you think Samsung would have some sort of security feature for the best phone on the market.. (a good one, not the one it comes with)
Thanks guys, so on a rooted device I can just install avast from the google store and it will install as a system app?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus&hl=en
Cerberus. www.cerberusapp.com - you can install the application in the ROM if bootloader is unlocked so it will survive a factory reset (along with it's settings files).
Cerberus can remotely record audio, video and take pictures of the person using it. GPS location, remote lock and wipe. A few euros for a lifetime licence. Cerberus is the plain simple best.
Why not just use Samsung dive that is pre installed. Works perfectly, can track the phone, even on intervals. Can lock the phone, forward calls and texts, and more.
All this works even when the sim is changed.
Sent from my SGS3 on Omega v9.0 using XDA Premium
ticktime said:
There is no "anti-theft" thing.
Anyone with good knowledge of android can easily flash a new ROM in your stolen phone and factory reset it which will remove whatever you have installed there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is there, don't talk about things you don't know about :good:
---------- Post added at 08:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:02 PM ----------
UrbanDesigns said:
I would be very surprised if anybody in my area has even heard of rooting
you think Samsung would have some sort of security feature for the best phone on the market.. (a good one, not the one it comes with)
Thanks guys, so on a rooted device I can just install avast from the google store and it will install as a system app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't install as a system app, but it makes an file that Avast won't be removed when you factory reset the phone, the app will stay installed because of that back-up.
It also blocks usb-debugging, so you can't flash another rom, It will remain protecting your phone whatever they try do delete or modify.
They can't even get into settings
Cerberus doesn't provide that, and needs to be flashed to survive a factory reset, with Avast you aren't even allowed to do actions...
Avast is free, and if rooted it gives you the best protection possible!
I have question , i have rotoped phone and flashed cerberus, if have disabled data connections and phone isnt on wifi . Can i control and track device?
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium
Marwvek said:
I have question , i have rotoped phone and flashed cerberus, if have disabled data connections and phone isnt on wifi . Can i control and track device?
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this for you, which answers many questions and has contact info.
Yes. You can enable Data & Wifi via individual SMS commands.
https://www.cerberusapp.com/help.php
here use "Samsung Dive"
http://www.samsungdive.com/
Actually dont use samsung dive. It pops-out notifications when the device is being tracked, etc., so every thief will know that you are tracking him and will do factory reset.
I'm not saying that you should not set-up this. Do it, but use it as a last resort.
I suggest cerberus, its cheap, easy to hide (however I personally make it a system application using titanium backup, so that it's not shown in normal app managers), and somehow reliable. I miss for it the function to turn on data and wifi automatically after sim-change.
ticktime said:
There is no "anti-theft" thing.
Anyone with good knowledge of android can easily flash a new ROM in your stolen phone and factory reset it which will remove whatever you have installed there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about remapping the phone's physical keys so the thief will have a lot of trouble on entering the recovery mode?
It's not a 100% safe solution, but pretty decent for forcing the thief to use the phone while he can be tracked by an anti-theft app.
I'm not sure if this can be done on my rooted Galaxy Note, but if it would be possible I'd try.
brdeveloper said:
What about remapping the phone's physical keys so the thief will have a lot of trouble on entering the recovery mode?
It's not a 100% safe solution, but pretty decent for forcing the thief to use the phone while he can be tracked by an anti-theft app.
I'm not sure if this can be done on my rooted Galaxy Note, but if it would be possible I'd try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not possible
Judging from this conversation avast seems to be better than all the others. Has anyone tried using avg antivirus?
If it is only anti theft, then, Android Device Tracker Free is better than all apps in its class.
It can be used as a system app (for rooted devices, for non-rooted devices can be used as a normal app) which will not be affected even if thief wipes the data and it will send sms to your configured mobile number when he tries to change the sim.
It doesn't consume battery. Because, it acts only when sim is replaced.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appzdevelopers.androiddevicetrackerf
GotYa best anti theft app ever>>https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myboyfriendisageek.gotya
Take pic and upload on your mail with location and time.
[email protected] when someone geeks with your phone