I work for a company doing tech support and one of the problems we've ran into is that our employees are sending their old GS3 devices back to us after we upgrade them and we cannot get into them. When we get the phones back they are locked, encrypted, and off. Our policy is that we never ask employees for passwords so that if our employees get someone asking for a password, their natural response is to take a step back and refuse to share passwords.
So now we have probably 10+ USCellular GS3 devices that are locked and encrypted. Does anyone know a way to wipe these to factory settings w/o knowing the password?
Thanks!
12059350 said:
I work for a company doing tech support and one of the problems we've ran into is that our employees are sending their old GS3 devices back to us after we upgrade them and we cannot get into them. When we get the phones back they are locked, encrypted, and off. Our policy is that we never ask employees for passwords so that if our employees get someone asking for a password, their natural response is to take a step back and refuse to share passwords.
So now we have probably 10+ USCellular GS3 devices that are locked and encrypted. Does anyone know a way to wipe these to factory settings w/o knowing the password?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if somebody knows how to I don't thing anybody in there right mind would post a solution here! (1) XDA would not allow it (2) It is illegal (3) Anybody who lets say uses a stolen phone would know exactly where to look to reset the phone!
Why didn't you just suggest for your "employees" to just factory reset their phones and unlock before sending them to you?..
WRONG
tallman43 said:
Even if somebody knows how to I don't thing anybody in there right mind would post a solution here! (1) XDA would not allow it (2) It is illegal (3) Anybody who lets say uses a stolen phone would know exactly where to look to reset the phone!
Why didn't you just suggest for your "employees" to just factory reset their phones and unlock before sending them to you?..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok (1)If anyone DIDN'T think this post was anything sinister, they sure as hell do now. Thanks man. (2) It makes no difference whether it is encrypted or not, i don't want the data off of it and that is the soul reason to encrypt a phone, to keep the data inside protected. (3) WE RIGHTFULLY OWN ALL OF THESE DEVICES but just cannot unlock them (4)Even if they were stolen, their MEID would be blacklisted and they would just be a glorified mp3 player that cannot be hooked up to a network.
This is not illegal, not even a little bit. Prove me wrong with data to support it buddy.....
12059350 said:
Ok (1)If anyone DIDN'T think this post was anything sinister, they sure as hell do now. Thanks man. (2) It makes no difference whether it is encrypted or not, i don't want the data off of it and that is the soul reason to encrypt a phone, to keep the data inside protected. (3) WE RIGHTFULLY OWN ALL OF THESE DEVICES but just cannot unlock them (4)Even if they were stolen, their MEID would be blacklisted and they would just be a glorified mp3 player that cannot be hooked up to a network.
This is not illegal, not even a little bit. Prove me wrong with data to support it buddy.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny how u work for a company tat does tech but dun know tat it is IMEI instead of MEID.
(1)He was saying tat xda does not allow anyone to make use of the info to do illegal things. So if anyone got a stolen phone, they can use the info here and xda will be partially responsible.
(2)no idea wat u are saying
(3)Wat I said in '(1)'
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
80% Right
12059350 said:
Ok (1)If anyone DIDN'T think this post was anything sinister, they sure as hell do now. Thanks man. (2) It makes no difference whether it is encrypted or not, i don't want the data off of it and that is the soul reason to encrypt a phone, to keep the data inside protected. (3) WE RIGHTFULLY OWN ALL OF THESE DEVICES but just cannot unlock them (4)Even if they were stolen, their MEID would be blacklisted and they would just be a glorified mp3 player that cannot be hooked up to a network.
This is not illegal, not even a little bit. Prove me wrong with data to support it buddy.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To say my post was WRONG is inaccurate (partially wrong maybe)
My original answers:
(1) XDA would not allow it (RIGHT THEY WOULD NOT!:good
(2) Illegal (Maybe not..my mistake )
(3) Anybody who lets say uses a stolen phone would know exactly where to look to reset the phone! (OBVIOUSLY RIGHT!:good
Your answers:
(1) People may think it was sinister because of the nature of the question wiping a locked phone! (not that I think you personally have anything to hide)
(2) I know what encrypting a phone is
(3) I NEVER SAID YOU DID NOT OWN THE DEVICES!
(4) I never said anything about the imei ..(and they would make good mp3 players )
My point was to say you would not get any answer on here on how to wipe the phones!
But you still did not answer my question why did you not just ask the employees to just unlock and factory reset before returning to you (would have saved you alot of trouble)
I was not saying the your phones where stolen but posting any information on here about wiping locked phones would not be allowed and would be a haven for people who are not entirely honest..
Thanks
JellyYogurt said:
Funny how u work for a company tat does tech but dun know tat it is IMEI instead of MEID.
(1)He was saying tat xda does not allow anyone to make use of the info to do illegal things. So if anyone got a stolen phone, they can use the info here and xda will be partially responsible.
(2)no idea wat u are saying
(3)Wat I said in '(1)'
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok ass hat, 1st, the IMEI contains the MEID (at least on my devices it does) so ease up and 2nd, forgive me if i use the wrong acronym, it's not like IT Professionals have that many to remember.... (sarcasm since we are spelling it out) and 3rd, you spelled "that" wrong so i don't feel bad for making a small mistake.
12059350 said:
Ok ass hat, 1st, the IMEI contains the MEID (at least on my devices it does) so ease up and 2nd, forgive me if i use the wrong acronym, it's not like IT Professionals have that many to remember.... (sarcasm since we are spelling it out) and 3rd, you spelled "that" wrong so i don't feel bad for making a small mistake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh well u are just angry tat my form of typing is too fab.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
similar situation..
hi all.. ive posted this in another forum but havent seen a reply yet. i thought i'd try my luck in this thread as it's kinda relevant to my situation. obviously im not fluent in cellphone tech but at the recommendation of a member here i went to root my gs3 (gt-i9300) using kingo. i should have stuck to the old adage, "if it seems to good to be true, then it probably is.." but thought safe in the recommendation of others... the idea of rooting my phone in a single click process seemed wonderful. so, i now have a hardbricked phone.
after whipping up a usb jig following various youtube guides i was able to get it back to download mode. so, my primary question is, "because my phone was encrypted before becoming a brick, am i able to restore it using odin?" or will it keep taking me back to the encryption password screen with no hope to restore the phone?
ok, what the problem is, is this: i've tried to re-flash firmware from sammobile relevant to my country and model with odin(v3.07), it completes successfully, reboots, then takes me back to the encrypt screen. the prob is, when i enter the password the phone just turns off and i have to take the battery out to get back to download mode through the usb jig. also, after trying to flash with an earlier firmware, it just keeps saying "try again" without turning off, still no joy but atleast with that firmware it didn't turn off.
any help or guidance would be very welcome, as i'm willing to keep working if i can restore my phone, if it's beyond hope then i will just dump it.
Related
Ok, I'm a Samsung Captivate guy, but my buddy found a Droid Eris, and I have a couple questions.
The phone wasn't stolen by my buddy, just found by him after a college party at his house, and nobody every came back to claim it. My buddy even tried to contact people on the phone to return it to them, with no luck. So it's not like you'd be helping a criminal. Some dumb drunk college kid that's spoiled enough to not even look for their phone just left it at a house, that's all.
That being said, the phone is locked down, and I'm trying to find a way to possibly flash back to stock software and unlock the phone for him. I haven't seen the phone yet, so I don't exactly know how it it's locked down, or if you can help at all. He said the phone does turn on still. Also, I'm on AT&T, so I don't know if this is even possible with verizon, because I know you have to activate the device with them, not just pop in a sim card.
I know that for my captivate I could just use a program to flash back to stock software so long as I could get into download mode, and that removes locks on my device. I'm wondering if any of you could point me in the right direction with a link to a thread or something that could help me get the phone up and running for my friend.
Sent from my gingerbread chomping Captivate running Mosaic III Diet using XDA Premium App
welchertc said:
The phone wasn't stolen by my buddy, just found by him after a college party at his house, and nobody every came back to claim it. My buddy even tried to contact people on the phone to return it to them, with no luck. So it's not like you'd be helping a criminal. Some dumb drunk college kid that's spoiled enough to not even look for their phone just left it at a house, that's all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He should bring the phone to the police department, or perhaps return it to Verizon Wireless. You'd think that they would be able to determine the previous owner based on the MEID.
doogald said:
He should bring the phone to the police department, or perhaps return it to Verizon Wireless. You'd think that they would be able to determine the previous owner based on the MEID.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd have to agree with that. Funny story is this... I was talking to an trooper today on my way home and he was telling me about a Verizon phone that was brought to the barracks earlier this week and they've been calling the numbers in the phone to let the owner know where the phone is and no one returned their calls. So today they called Verizon and said they have a phone that was found and delivered to their barracks and wanted to get in contact with the owner. Verizon will not give them any of the owners information which is fine IMO due to privacy policies and it's not something that was involved in a crime. What DOES kinda bother me and I don't understand is this.... Not only will they not release anything to the police about who the owner of the phone is... They also will not take any information from the police and contact the owner themselves to let the owner know where their phone is..
How did you call the numbers on the phone if it is locked down?
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
AfroFire said:
How did you call the numbers on the phone if it is locked down?
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol! I didn't even think of that until I read your post but that's a very good point.
To the op your friend should take the phone to a corporate Verizon store or the police (I recommend the police personally.) Even if he didn't "steal" the phone it is still stolen property. If you find a wallet you don't have the right to keep it just because someone else lost it, by law you have to turn it in with all of the contents in place. Besides, it was probably reported lost/stolen which means it can't even be activated.
Sent from my GSB Eris
You could just run the phone off wifi so the phone could essentially work (texting and calling can now be made over wifi using certain apps) Im going to be the bad person here, if its locked down by a password or pattern lock or an app, boot into recovery and wipe data, will factory reset the phone. I cant remember if the Eris has Recovery mode stock, try it. Press and hold Volume down and end button, youll go to a white screen, press volume up to boot into "recovery." Once it boots into recovery, (black screen with green lettering) use the trackball to go to the "wipe" option-select with trackball. Select "Wipe data". then press volume down to return to the main menu, reboot phone. If it doesnt have recovery, search around here for a way to flash recovery onto it, should be as simple as downloading the correct file, place on sd card (using computer) and booting phone by pressing volume down+end key, the phone should automatically find the file and run it.
For the record I agree with everyone else. Find a way to return the phone. Give it to the police or Verizon. Im just answering your question cause I need a 10th post to post in the dev area
what kind of lock down is the phone in?
So I found a GSII on the train today, Nobody to been seen so I picked it up and took it with me, Got home to discover a lock screen, No smudges on the screen to guess the lock. Look at the SD Card there's a few images of a kid and some toys but that is all, Im guess everything else is on the internal memory.
Anyway to unlock this device and get any info to contact the owner, Tried the networks, they said it has not been reported as lost or stolen.
Not the kind of guy to keep this. I have a Galaxy Nexus
Could you try to set your phone like it doesn't ask for pin and then insert the sim card from that sgs2 to look for numbers like mom
Sent from my sgs2 running cm9 using xda app
There was no sim in the phone when I found it, Which I though was bizzare.
Bouncer5 said:
So I found a GSII on the train today, Nobody to been seen so I picked it up and took it with me, Got home to discover a lock screen, No smudges on the screen to guess the lock. Look at the SD Card there's a few images of a kid and some toys but that is all, Im guess everything else is on the internal memory.
Anyway to unlock this device and get any info to contact the owner, Tried the networks, they said it has not been reported as lost or stolen.
Not the kind of guy to keep this. I have a Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that's quite polite of you.
You're the reason I keep an "Owner's Info" message on my lockscreen (and other people are the reason that I use a 9-digit PIN).
I commend you for your honesty, but unfortunately I can't provide assistance.
It could have been stolen, which would explain the absence of a SIM. Maybe the previous 'owner' couldn't do anything with it either and gave up.
You might be able to flash a new ROM, but everything would be deleted...and you'd still not have the owner's info.
Good luck, sir and thank you for your honesty!
No phone numbers??? Try syncing with google... see if there are any email addresses or ANYTHING on the phone... Very honest though hats off...
I once found a phone like you did but found loads of pics of him cheating on his wife :S there was a message with HER address on so I delivered it.... I wonder what did happen to them lol
Just hand it into a cop shop or train station that you found it at...
Why all the drama?
Nyssa1104 said:
Just hand it into a cop shop or train station that you found it at...
Why all the drama?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For something like this I'd exhaust all possibilities to find the owner personally first, otherwise the Lost 'n Found will "lose" it, even PD's "lose" stuff. The owner is lucky that someone whom doesn't want to keep it, or sell it, has found it.
Edit: although without a sim card it's probably a drug mule's phone and you should bring a gun to the meet just in case.
Done a factory reset, Which says it will wipe data. It failed, Now I can look at teh pictures and try figure out who they are. More childrens movies on the internal stornage
Woah, how kind of you wanting to return the phone.. Only one thing comes to my mind - all phones should be trackable by their IMEI - perhaps try flashing a full wipe base ROM via ODIN (maybe pulling all the data you can thru adb first?), and perhaps try contacting samsung officials in your country about a found phone?? That is if the guy was fortunate enough to create a samsung account or something that could identify him..
EDIT: Okay I found a thread, perhaps you can try running an ADB command like this to get the contacts database??
http://www.droidxforums.com/forum/droid-x-rescue-squad/30987-acquire-contacts-via-adb.html
Pulling the contacts database is good but if adb wasn't already enabled you would have to root it with cf-root then boot into recovery and run the adb commands from it since adb is enabled in recovery by default *may have to mount data partition*
Pin is stored in the EFS folder, and no factory reset or firmware flash will touch that. Messing with EFS can have dire consequences if corrupted (no IMEI = no network connection).
But if no choice, take a look at Hellcatdroid's solution with
ADB here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1476634
Edit as previous poster, maybe even flash a Chainfire CF-Root kernel, and then boot into CWM recovery. Mount partitions, and use windows program "Android Commander" to file explore any system partition for more info. The EFS could backed upped and even deleted. But risks outlined earlier.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Wipe the thing and enjoy your new phone
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
borolo222 said:
Wipe the thing and enjoy your new phone
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should really grow up and also learn something about a thing called reading
Sent from my sgs2 running cm9 using xda app
You need to hand the phone to the police.
CrashUK said:
You need to hand the phone to the police.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^
+ lots this. Let's face it, putting two and two together with the other thread where you seem desperate to transfer an IMEI from one phone to another (illegal), something doesn't sound right here.
MistahBungle said:
^^
+ lots this. Let's face it, putting two and two together with the other thread where you seem desperate to transfer an IMEI from one phone to another (illegal), something doesn't sound right here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you "clamped" him ...
Not been clamped on anything, On the phone there were several named files of a child (baby xxxx and little zzz stuck the names together then I looked on facebook the woman had made the boy a facebook and from there I checked her pictures, Same person and told them about there phone.
She said it was nice of me to do so, Told to me to keep it as it had been replaced, But she would be greatful if she could get the pictures so On to a flashdrive and in the post they went.
So I now have a large MP3 Player.
So congragulations on 2+2 together and getting 5.
We are not all a-holes. Despite what you think.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Too be fair, i did see that thread, what were we suppose to assume lol??
But fairplay... i would miss my pics more than anything
Bouncer5 said:
Not been clamped on anything, On the phone there were several named files of a child (baby xxxx and little zzz stuck the names together then I looked on facebook the woman had made the boy a facebook and from there I checked her pictures, Same person and told them about there phone.
She said it was nice of me to do so, Told to me to keep it as it had been replaced, But she would be greatful if she could get the pictures so On to a flashdrive and in the post they went.
So I now have a large MP3 Player.
So congragulations on 2+2 together and getting 5.
We are not all a-holes. Despite what you think.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give you €100 for it. ;-) But no seriously. I would.
I was nice enongh to not only try to get the phone back to the owner and data instead of being lost in the lost and found, People really shouldnt assume the worst.
Im still left with a GSII that was crushed by a bus but has a valid IMEI a GSII thats barred from network best I can do with it is use it like a iPod Touch. Or pull the battery for a spare in my Nexus.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
They control my phone completely. A factory reset from the phone, a hard reset by holding the buttons and a reset done by typing in the number code all dont erase the hackers stuff. Its like they took over the stock firmware of my phone or something. How can I completely erase everything from this phone? Or do I just have to throw this thing away now? They've also similarly took over my Asus Transformer tablet.
Can anyone help me?
You're done for. Stupid hackers got you too, huh? You should mail both to me.
Anthony820 said:
You're done for. Stupid hackers got you too, huh? You should mail both to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you not believe me?
lw99 said:
They control my phone completely. A factory reset from the phone, a hard reset by holding the buttons and a reset done by typing in the number code all dont erase the hackers stuff. Its like they took over the stock firmware of my phone or something. How can I completely erase everything from this phone? Or do I just have to throw this thing away now? They've also similarly took over my Asus Transformer tablet.
Can anyone help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, if you're serious, the perfect solution would be to flash a stock firmware over the existing one.
Sent from my GT-P6200 using xda app-developers app
First off, what's hacked and how do you know you've been hacked? Then you have to find out how they hacked you. Was it thru an app? Thru Wi-Fi? Did you login on a false webpage like the common Facebook hack?
If you believe you've been hacked change ALL your passwords to EVERYthing. Even Wi-Fi passwords. Make sure you do it from a different device or pc. preferably using https. Then wipe everything possible. Internal, external storage, cookies etc.....
king_below_my_lord said:
Lol, if you're serious, the perfect solution would be to flash a stock firmware over the existing one.
Sent from my GT-P6200 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you flash the stock firmware? I dont know anything about this stuff..
An example of how they control my phone is if I download an anti-virus app, they turn off it's monitoring and give it permissions to send texts, access my personal data, make phone calls, etc.
lw99 said:
do you not believe me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe you even own a Note. But props for trolling an otherwise untrolled forum. I'm sure many people will try to talk you through your problem.
Iw99 we need more info if you are not a troll please provide phone model, operating system where you are located when this problem started apps you are using are you using any bootleg apps the more info you provide the better.
Sent from my SGH-I717 using xda premium
First, you're going to have to prepare a tinfoil lined room to work in. . .
rangercaptain said:
First, you're going to have to prepare a tinfoil lined room to work in. . .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice.
Download samsung kies on your computer. Tools_emergency firmaware recovery. Follow the steps.
SENT FROM MY I717
Made in China:{
Bull****
lw99 said:
They control my phone completely. A factory reset from the phone, a hard reset by holding the buttons and a reset done by typing in the number code all dont erase the hackers stuff. Its like they took over the stock firmware of my phone or something. How can I completely erase everything from this phone? Or do I just have to throw this thing away now? They've also similarly took over my Asus Transformer tablet.
Can anyone help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't believe a word of this.
zancro said:
Don't believe a word of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He might be saying "I have a phone with a lockscreen password I don't know (because it isnt mine) and I want to completely erase everything so I can have a fresh phone".
440 I don't think everyone is a crook but I can usually spot a red herring from a long distance.
I really don't think you have been hacked but you have glitches in your rom
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
What numbers did they call? Can you hear the phone calls? Can you read the texts that they send? Do they send nude pics?
Obvious Troll. Close thread.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Either way
rangercaptain said:
He might be saying "I have a phone with a lockscreen password I don't know (because it isnt mine) and I want to completely erase everything so I can have a fresh phone".
440 I don't think everyone is a crook but I can usually spot a red herring from a long distance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ref 440 - I applaud your faith in your fellow man. That is rare in today's post-naiveté world, and should be treasured. But as far as this story goes, either incredibly incompetence or lying is involved... But NOT hacking. Just not consistent. Hacking can sometimes be hard to spot, and then only through exhaustive analysis. If the OP's story is even half true I suspect the case really involves some really dumb action that does NOT involve hacking.
But frankly, I got bigger problems. After the upgrade to stock 4.1.2 I'm getting a series of "No SIM card" errors, even after a SIM replacement. Now going to Google....
The way many have overcome the no sim card error has been to return the phone to stock ICS and the modem to the LF6, then go on to the rom, kernel, and modem of choice.
Using the emergancy firmware installation option of Kies has also been used.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40942237
This link is to a guide to fix that error
Hacked seriously doubt it ... give me all your accounts and passwords and i can fix this lol
zancro said:
Don't believe a word of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think, maybe a little too much on the ole glass pipe????
sent from my GalaxySuperNote runnin paranoidKANGdroid 4.2.2
Don't feed the troll. Stop replying to this thread. Hopefully mine will be the last.
Okay, so it's a bit of a long story but there's a woman I work with who had her virtually-new Samsung Galaxy S3 stolen by her recently-split husband last year. We all knew it was him, but we had virtually no evidence, other than it's disappearance. Anyway, so this woman recently was in his now-separated husband's flat & was rooting around. She found a Samsung Galaxy S3, smartly took a picture of the IMEI & left it. She knew it was hers, but wanted to be 100% sure. She went home, checked the box, & of course they did match. The next day, she went back to his house & manipulated the situation so that she could find enough time on her own to go take the phone back without him knowing. So she brings it into work with her the next day. The problem is, the phone now has a password lock on it. She then spent the night trying to guess the password, but to no success.
So, me being the tech guy that I am, she asked me to try to get into it. I said, the easiest way would be for me to wipe it & factory reset it, but that she would lose all of her information. She doesn't want me to do that. She wants to get pictures & stuff of her / their kids off the phone, as well as look into who her ex-husband had been talking to / see who knew about him stealing the phone. So, I said it should be possible. However, I'm not a hugely great phone guy. I'm good with computers, but not so much phones.
So, we spent the day trying various exploits found on Google or YouTube but to no success. There was one method where we had a little success where we turned the phone on > Emergency Call > Emergency Contact > Press Home > Press Power > Unlocked home screen in then meant to appear. It never did. Although we could get it to quickly flash whatever was on the home screen (which was a picture of her / their kids, which she'd set to the phone before it was taken).
So without any of those methods working, I'm tasked with now getting into the phone at home. I have no idea whether USB debugging is enabled, I would assume not. We are unable to reset the password via Google Recovery or anything because we're never offered the option. As I say, she doesn't want me to wipe the phone. But there has to be a way to get into it otherwise, either through brute force, or one of those other password cracking methods possibly?
There was a technique I found on Google at work, something about connecting the phone to your computer via USB then trying to do some stuff from command line or through a Linux distro, which I need to re-find & try.
But alas, does anyone here have any methods or know any ways that I could get around this password lock?
I have to say though, I'm glad it's not that simple (atleast it appears so, anyway) to get around one of these passwords. Makes me feel a little safer for my own Galaxy S3! haha
Hey
You said u tried the Google account method right?
If that's not working try to flash philz recovery and from that you can access the contents of the internal SD card..
U can also TRY to use the custom back up option offered by his recovery and then custom restore the data..
I can't assure you that it will work but you can try it..
Best of Luck
-tchindalia
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
We did not try a Google account method, I don't think? Think we tried to log in to the ex-husband's Google account on my iPad for some reason (can't remember why now tbh) but we could not guess his password. He's apparently changed it since they split.
Won't flashing the phone wipe everything that's on it?
Hey
Not if your just flashing a recovery..
Just youtube for some videos on this...
I had see one some time back..
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Benaholic said:
Okay, so it's a bit of a long story but there's a woman I work with who had her virtually-new Samsung Galaxy S3 stolen by her recently-split husband last year. We all knew it was him, but we had virtually no evidence, other than it's disappearance. Anyway, so this woman recently was in his now-separated husband's flat & was rooting around. She found a Samsung Galaxy S3, smartly took a picture of the IMEI & left it. She knew it was hers, but wanted to be 100% sure. She went home, checked the box, & of course they did match. The next day, she went back to his house & manipulated the situation so that she could find enough time on her own to go take the phone back without him knowing. So she brings it into work with her the next day. The problem is, the phone now has a password lock on it. She then spent the night trying to guess the password, but to no success.
So, me being the tech guy that I am, she asked me to try to get into it. I said, the easiest way would be for me to wipe it & factory reset it, but that she would lose all of her information. She doesn't want me to do that. She wants to get pictures & stuff of her / their kids off the phone, as well as look into who her ex-husband had been talking to / see who knew about him stealing the phone. So, I said it should be possible. However, I'm not a hugely great phone guy. I'm good with computers, but not so much phones.
So, we spent the day trying various exploits found on Google or YouTube but to no success. There was one method where we had a little success where we turned the phone on > Emergency Call > Emergency Contact > Press Home > Press Power > Unlocked home screen in then meant to appear. It never did. Although we could get it to quickly flash whatever was on the home screen (which was a picture of her / their kids, which she'd set to the phone before it was taken).
So without any of those methods working, I'm tasked with now getting into the phone at home. I have no idea whether USB debugging is enabled, I would assume not. We are unable to reset the password via Google Recovery or anything because we're never offered the option. As I say, she doesn't want me to wipe the phone. But there has to be a way to get into it otherwise, either through brute force, or one of those other password cracking methods possibly?
There was a technique I found on Google at work, something about connecting the phone to your computer via USB then trying to do some stuff from command line or through a Linux distro, which I need to re-find & try.
But alas, does anyone here have any methods or know any ways that I could get around this password lock?
I have to say though, I'm glad it's not that simple (atleast it appears so, anyway) to get around one of these passwords. Makes me feel a little safer for my own Galaxy S3! haha
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If he lets her into the house so easily then:
1- HE didn't steal the phone because he felt no need to hide it
2- The "woman" is invading the guy's privacy and checking personal info without consent
3- Seeing who he talked to is a typical behaviour pattern of someone who is invading someone's privacy for ill intentions
4- the "woman" can always request for the guy to share the kid's photos and other stuff. No need to snoop around
To the OP:
If you do help this person break into the phone and turns out it wasn't hers, then you are aiding in a possibly criminal activity.
If he did steal, then all the best to you. Otherwise; Beware of the LAW.
~ RazorMC
RazorMC said:
If he lets her into the house so easily then:
1- HE didn't steal the phone because he felt no need to hide it
2- The "woman" is invading the guy's privacy and checking personal info without consent
3- Seeing who he talked to is a typical behaviour pattern of someone who is invading someone's privacy for ill intentions
4- the "woman" can always request for the guy to share the kid's photos and other stuff. No need to snoop around
To the OP:
If you do help this person break into the phone and turns out it wasn't hers, then you are aiding in a possibly criminal activity.
If he did steal, then all the best to you. Otherwise; Beware of the LAW.
~ RazorMC
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Click to collapse
OP alr said the imei matched so the phone is the woman's. Unless tat was a lie.
To the OP, have u tried samsung's "find my mobile"?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
JellyYogurt said:
OP alr said the imei matched so the phone is the woman's. Unless tat was a lie.
To the OP, have u tried samsung's "find my mobile"?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Like I said, if it was indeed stolen, then I wish the OP luck.
I'm just curious why the person never approached the police with proof of ownership instead of trying to bypass the security.
Cheers :good:
~ RazorMC
RazorMC said:
Like I said, if it was indeed stolen, then I wish the OP luck.
I'm just curious why the person never approached the police with proof of ownership instead of trying to bypass the security.
Cheers :good:
~ RazorMC
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I can't remember the reason she believed the phone was stolen, to be honest. The reason she had access to his house, was because they have kids together. She had gone to go drop the kids off, or pick them up. For some bizarre reason, I don't know why, he left her in the house alone after he went to take them to school (telling her to lock the door when she leaves). She took that opportunity to look around the house for the phone, as he'd never previously admitted to taking it but she was sure he did.
She found the phone, took a picture of the IMEI, went home to match to the IMEI on her box & it saw that they were the same. She's shown me the picture as well. confirming that it was indeed her phone, she then went back to her ex's flat the next day (because he was going to come along to their daughter's birthday). Just as they were about to leave, she says she needs the toilet. So, she runs back upstairs & grabs the phone without him knowing.
I think the reason why she never went to the police about it is because he was trying to get citizenship to remain here in the country, & she didn't want something like this to jeopardize whether she's in a relationship with him or not; they do still have kids together. Sending him back to Kenya over a phone wouldn't do anyone any good.
JellyYogurt said:
OP alr said the imei matched so the phone is the woman's. Unless tat was a lie.
To the OP, have u tried samsung's "find my mobile"?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Which "Find my mobile" thing are you on about?
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I appear to have found a way to bypass the lock screen via the ADB, but I think it only works for a lock pattern. Anyone know or have any ideas what to do for a password?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2237382
For hours now I've been trying alsorts of stuff, from doing things via terminal, trying to do things through recovery, & alsorts to no success. However, I did find one solution that worked:
http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/f77...-pin-reset-no-root-no-usb-debug-free-1722271/
Was posted here on XDA Developers as well, but the thread was closed. Many virus programs do immediately notify that the program contains viruses / trojans, but not sure if they're false positives? Anyway, disabled AVG & it worked like a charm! So, if anyone else needs similar help, maybe try this?
Alas, suppose this thread can be closed now.
^^ That malware had stopped working and that is why it was closed on other site as well.
~ RazorMC
someone has installed user certificates on my phone and changed hardware/software etc.. maybe flashed not sure but i need to get whatever got into my phone out and return it to its Original rom samsung. is there a way to figure out where it came from and can anyone help by chance willing to try anything. i know this much. its some kind of apatche license/certificate as well as several others idk what half of this means i know how to get into download mode for custom os push and how to get the the factory reset page etc but as far as code and things like that my knowledge base just is not there. anyone that can help it would be VERY much appreciated. PS> i think my current wife we are seperated and i think her jealous bf somehow hacked my phone to see our convos etc etc etc. but any help will be very much appreciated and if i can find out who or why and its him i will **** his **** too with community help nof course. been dealing with this going on 3 months now with my phone so to the forums i turn !!!!
If it is simply certificates, then follow the screenshots.
If you think the phone has been tempered, or rooted to gain unauthorised access to you, you'll have to boot into Download Mode and check KNOX status. If it contains 1, then you're screwed, and I advise you to go to the police.
If it is 0x0, then you're fine, but you must wipe/format the phone, just to make sure nothing is left that may track you. Unless your wife's boyfriend works at Samsung or your carrier's company. Haha. Then you're totally done for.
I thought people lost hope in marriage in Western Communities. Nothing is the same it was back then.
Mohamedkam000 said:
If it is simply certificates, then follow the screenshots.
If you think the phone has been tempered, or rooted to gain unauthorised access to you, you'll have to boot into Download Mode and check KNOX status. If it contains 1, then you're screwed, and I advise you to go to the police.
If it is 0x0, then you're fine, but you must wipe/format the phone, just to make sure nothing is left that may track you. Unless your wife's boyfriend works at Samsung or your carrier's company. Haha. Then you're totally done for.
I thought people lost hope in marriage in Western Communities. Nothing is the same it was back then.
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my storage type says backed up to hardware for credential wise i think it. ill chex with the knox thing but i believe they have disabled it and police im not sure what good they would do at this point any suggestions?
Chrisih12 said:
my storage type says backed up to hardware for credential wise i think it. ill chex with the knox thing but i believe they have disabled it and police im not sure what good they would do at this point any suggestions?
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KNOX is not something that can be disabled and enabled, it is a Samsung feature, they give it a special treatment that if someone tried to modify the device in an unauthorised way, it'll trip a fuse that cannot be repaired.
So it is simple, either the device is still under KNOX, or it is not, and you're probably being hacked, without you noticing that.
My credentials' storage also says backed up to hardware, it's normal. You simply follow the screenshots to clear any user-added credentials, if there's none, you won't have to worry.