I'm looking for recommendations on phone security apps in case my phone gets lost or stolen. Free or paid, I really don't care, I just want to sleep better knowing that if my clumsy self loses the phone I won't be out of 200 dollars. Thanks!
Lookout has been good for me. Does backups, anti-virus (however unnecessary as it may be right now), and phone location. Used it since beta Win Mo days.
-bZj
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-sent from my Samsung Vibrant via XDApp
down8 said:
Lookout has been good for me. Does backups, anti-virus (however unnecessary as it may be right now), and phone location. Used it since beta Win Mo days.
-bZj
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-sent from my Samsung Vibrant via XDApp
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Thanks for the help! I tried the app and it works out well. Everything works well on it. I had to do the GPS fix on my phone to test out the Locate Device function, and good thing I did too! I would've been so mad if I used lookout and then realize the GPS on my phone didn't work, lol. Again, thanks!
I'm a fan of Mobile Defense. You can install as a system app and it will be able to survive a wipe. The only way to remove it would be a flash. It won't show up in app manager either. It can remotely activate the GPS and will notify you automatically of a sim card change via email. It can also remotely lock the phone even if you don't normally use a lock pattern. It can also display messages on the screen that won't go away without entering a code. So you can have the screen have a message telling the person to return the phone and the message won't go away until the code is entered.
The only downside is that I think the beta program is closed to new people right now. I'm not sure as I joined a while ago.
I demoed Wave Secure and liked it so much that I bought the subscription for my G1 and my Mom's My Touch.
Check the features here.
https://www.wavesecure.com/wavesecure/android.aspx
Good Luck!
And I became really a fan of the recently introduced Track and Protect. It's a service that not only allows you to locate your phone on map, lock it, wipe it or let it scream via a personal web panel but also allows you to make photos remotely and send a call back command to listen to your own phone. All this works even after SIM change! It has auto lock function, it reports you the thief's phone number, operator ID and location instantly. Really useful.
MobiJohn said:
And I became really a fan of the recently introduced Track and Protect. It's a service that not only allows you to locate your phone on map, lock it, wipe it or let it scream via a personal web panel but also allows you to make photos remotely and send a call back command to listen to your own phone. All this works even after SIM change! It has auto lock function, it reports you the thief's phone number, operator ID and location instantly. Really useful.
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Do you know any information on there "credit" method that they are using? It seems like a great service to use except that they don't tell you anything about these "credits" on the website without registering first.
Currently I use both Mobile Defense and Lookout. I always feel safe when I have more than one security app just in case. Although, Mobile Defense might also have a paid service in the future, similar to what Trust and Protect is doing. I wouldn't mind paying Mobile Defense since they allow us to install it as a system app, which a previous user explained upon.
Occasionally I leave my phone laying around or let other people play with it, but it's getting very tedious having to lock it all the time. Anyone up for creating a app that will let me lock certain portions/apps on the phone (ie. SMS, gallery, etc.) using the built in finger print scanner?
I will second this. I recall reading that Moto was going to release the APIs for the print scanner. That should make it considerably easier.
just a bump, I know all you great minds out there are capable of this and want this too =)
+1
+1 yes, yes, yes a needed app
Yes, yes, YES! I've been thinking about requesting something like this for a while now!
I emailed the developer of Widget Locker since he seems to be fiddling with the Finger Print Scanner on the Atrix to see if he's interested in making a separate app for this. I wouldn't mind paying something like $1 for it.
How can we get this thread more attention from developers on XDA?
Keep the thread bumped, add some other keywords such a biometric scanner, fingerprints, fingerprint scanner, etc. (I myself didn't find this when searching), post the same on other forums, that's all you can do really!
PiTT said:
I emailed the developer of Widget Locker since he seems to be fiddling with the Finger Print Scanner on the Atrix to see if he's interested in making a separate app for this.
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And here I am! (Sorry for taking some time to get back to this)
What I'm doing from WidgetLocker is piggy backing on the system security, so I don't interface with the fingerprint scanner directly. However I have looked into this as it could be interesting for WidgetLocker to be able to use in more ways, and potentially another separate app like discussed here.
I've seen the other thread about the password keeper and this one about an app-lock type thing. The issue with a password keeper is that the passwords should be stored encrypted, otherwise if someone stole your phone they'd just need to root if (if it's not already) and they'd be able to get all your password. But encrypting the passwords with a key that's stored somewhere is really just adding a few extra steps, they're not truly protected. Normally they'd be encrypted with your password, and only decryptable with you typing the password again. But I don't think this could be done for the fingerprint scanner due to what information is available (And how the fingerprint information is stored on disk). I could be wrong however.
As for the app-locker thing, there are also security issues here, but I think app-lockers are more used as a deterrent than as real security. To lock out your friend rather than a thief. But there's a fair amount of non-fingerprint related work to be done for this kind of app as well.
If I do end up doing anything with it I'll post back.
I said this in the development section when it was released lol. So....+1 and good idea!
Atrix4G Rooted!
[email protected] said:
And here I am! (Sorry for taking some time to get back to this)
What I'm doing from WidgetLocker is piggy backing on the system security, so I don't interface with the fingerprint scanner directly. However I have looked into this as it could be interesting for WidgetLocker to be able to use in more ways, and potentially another separate app like discussed here.
I've seen the other thread about the password keeper and this one about an app-lock type thing. The issue with a password keeper is that the passwords should be stored encrypted, otherwise if someone stole your phone they'd just need to root if (if it's not already) and they'd be able to get all your password. But encrypting the passwords with a key that's stored somewhere is really just adding a few extra steps, they're not truly protected. Normally they'd be encrypted with your password, and only decryptable with you typing the password again. But I don't think this could be done for the fingerprint scanner due to what information is available (And how the fingerprint information is stored on disk). I could be wrong however.
As for the app-locker thing, there are also security issues here, but I think app-lockers are more used as a deterrent than as real security. To lock out your friend rather than a thief. But there's a fair amount of non-fingerprint related work to be done for this kind of app as well.
If I do end up doing anything with it I'll post back.
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my reasoning behind this type of app as you said isn't for REAL security from a thief, more of a deterrent from people around me....such as a nosy friend or girlfriend =)
"such as a nosy"
Well, of course cell phones have had a way to prevent that for what, 20+ years now? You leave it locked, except for "emergency and speed dial" or other restricted calling. No reason that someone has to borrow my cell phone (and deprive me of my phone!) while they're doing whatever with it.
I don't have any guilt about saying "Sure, you can make a call. But I need my phone with me."
PiTT said:
my reasoning behind this type of app as you said isn't for REAL security from a thief, more of a deterrent from people around me....such as a nosy friend or girlfriend =)
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Well, if you have a friend that would invade your privacy then they are not your friend. And if you have a girlfriend that doesn't trust you enough to respect your privacy then dump her. You can't have a relationship without trust.
There are already apps that let you lock particular applications. I hand my phone over to my 4-year-old all the time so she can play Fruit Ninja, so I keep my work email locked down. I guess it would be kind of cool if the app locking software took advantage of the Atrix's fingerprint scanner.
live4nyy said:
Well, if you have a friend that would invade your privacy then they are not your friend. And if you have a girlfriend that doesn't trust you enough to respect your privacy then dump her. You can't have a relationship without trust.
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lol, I second this... She's obviously insecure.
And why are we assuming that it's the girlfriend that's untrustworthy? PiTT (no offense, all due respect) is the one with dirty little secrets on his phone.
aquariumdrinker said:
And why are we assuming that it's the girlfriend that's untrustworthy? PiTT (no offense, all due respect) is the one with dirty little secrets on his phone.
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Thanks =)
you guys are missing the point, it was just an example. Now back to the topic at hand.
I would love to be able to lock my phone using the finger print swype. This can't be to hard, could it?
jange said:
I would love to be able to lock my phone using the finger print swype. This can't be to hard, could it?
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I don't understand what you are asking here. If you're going to be swiping your finger over the sensor to lock it, wouldn't it be just as simple to just press the button? If you have the sensor lock enabled, it will be locked with access only being granted to your finger swipe.
GEESH!
Clearly some people on this thread don't understand what's going on here. So let me break it down....
It's not about "it's not a real friend if they invade your privacy".
It's not about "why not just lock the phone itself".
Maybe you have a family member, girlfriend, wife, or CHILD you want to be allowed to use your phone. This requires unlocking the phone itself.
Buuuut, you don't want them snooping in your email or for the dense folks who don't get it, you don't want a CHILD deleting your messages accidentally, replying inadvertently to a co-worker via email etc.
Or let's be real, you don't want your GF or wife to see the chic you've been bangin's nude photo in your phone.
So you want to FINGERPRINT LOCK specific apps, like TEXT, EMAIL, SKYPE, TANGO, FRING, ETC! That way your "guest" can use your phone, but can't use any other apps without your finger!
GEESH!
I'd really like to see phones with Windows-like login profiles. So I can have my profile, ADMIN, and my wife can have hers GUEST.
Anyway...I second/triple/quadruple the idea of a fingerprint reader app lock. Right now I use AppProtector, and I'm looking into a new app called simply LOCK or (App) Lock.
"Clearly some people on this thread don't understand what's going on here. So let me break it down....
........you don't want your GF or wife to see the chic you've been bangin's nude photo in your phone."
*grin* The premise of your post made me laugh hard.
On a real note, I think this kind of application would be awesome. I too use appprotector, and I used to use the fingerprint scanner, but it just became bothersome to use everytime I locked my phone and had to unlock it. I don't have anything to hide on my phone, but I do lock my "SU" folder that contains all of my root tools. I have a 12 yo at home, and she could very easily mess something up without knowing it. I think the idea of locking certains apps with the fingerprint scanner is a fantastic idea, and I'd be willing to pay a few bucks for it for sure.
Actually, a whole utility for the fingerprint scanner on the Atrix that allowed you to do multiple things with it would be great.
Like was posted previously, it would be nice to have guest accounts (for wife and child etc), and with a fingerprint swipe, they wouldn't even have to login..swipe and go.
Hey, I was reading before 'somewhere' here on xda about an app for locating a lost/stolen phone. Does anyone have any recommendations so that I may find that one app. Ty
Android Lost. I personally think it's better than where's my droid simply because it has more options as well as stealth options like, for example, hiding the app on the phone incase someone steals it and wants to delete such a program.
Sent from my T999 T-Mobile GS3
+1 on Android lost
The ability to remotely control the phone is amazing. Make it ring, make it talk, make the front and rear camera shoot and show you what it sees.
I really like how you can set so when the person with your phone hit's the OK button, it takes their photo with the front facing camera.
+2 on that used it to find my kids phone that was took at school worked like a champ for me
Hi everyone.
First of all, I am new and this is my first post so please do not bite my head off... I didn't know where to put this... Be nice
I've been fighting the pesky 'OK Google' not unlocking our phones conundrum tonight and I have a thought that maybe someone with much more knowledge than I can follow up on. I wrote a lengthy note explaining it to google but now I can't copy paste from app store. /Facepalm
Anyways.... It goes a little something like this. On my LG V30+ with Android 8, the newest Google app breaks the ability to unlock the phone with voice... It will wake up however. Rolling back Google app and disabling auto updates in store makes it function again. The same cannot be said for my Mate 20 Pro and my Gfs P20 both running Pie. It will wake the phone but not bypass the lock and goes straight to PIN.
For some reason I was on my V30+ looking at Package Disabler App and while scanning through it found an entry called LG Voice Recognition. One of the permissions there is Android.permission.TRUST_LISTENER. and then I remember seeing on my Mate 20 with Pie that there is a section in settings called Trusted Agents. Under trusted agents I see Huawei's Smart Unlock, which is the only thing that will unlock the phone with a voice command.
I looked at the permissions in the Google app and nowhere do I see the line Android.permission.TRUST_LISTENER....
So now I'm thinking if we could somehow get Google app or Assistant into this Trusted Agents, shouldn't it, then, be able to unlock our phones?
Make any sense or am I just being a spaceman?
I just have this feeling that someone at Google didn't get the memo about the new security layers implementation and totally forgot to code something mundane into the app.
Edit: I am in Canada on Rogers network, phone LYA-L0C. Pie 9.0.0.146
So... Like... No one can look .. or tell me I'm full of ****. I really do believe there is a solution here.
Hey there guys, I have a question first and foremost.
If an app updates daily, is there any way to make an app still be able to be updated online daily, while also having the functions to work while you are offline?
There are many people that travel, and don't have internet or phone service while they are commuting or waiting for someone or something, relaxing at home, at a campground in the wilderness, or underground in the subway, or maybe even up high on a mountain.
If there is a way to make this work, I would like to know what you guys and gals would suggest on what to do to get this started.
Some of the requirements of my hypothetical project would be as follows;
Needs to retain the Daily Update Feature so that the app can withdraw from the Happy Colour Server.
Has to have some working code workaround where a certain allotment of storage space can be used to store the app data (including the scrolling and entering the Picture that you want to color and complete) on a device.
(Currently, you can scroll the app for a little while and the coloring options will appear, but when clicking on a selection, it is not able to load.
That's pretty much the jist of it.. if you guys can give me suggestions or even remark on if this can be done, that would be great. I know that it would take some work, but if it seems like its plausible, we can see where this thing goes as a team and maybe make it a paid project really depends on how much work would need to be done.
Thanks to those of you that have read this and really looking forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts.
-MCrandall