Hey there, I want to secure myself in case I get robbed, so that I can get back my phone.
What are the best apps out there? Preferably something free, and for non-root phones (which is my case)...
Also, is any app able to track where my phone is with it turned off for example? Because if the thief's smart enough, I think the first thing he will do will be to turn it off...
The one I've always gone with is Lookout Security & Antivirus. No Root Required. A lot of features even on the free app. Has the MISSING Device Locator.
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
A few weeks ago, my banks decided to introduce a "pushTAN" option for their online banking interfaces where you have to install an app on your phone - both use the same one, developed by some software company - and TANs are then sent to the phone as a push notification. Sounds nice, but the app obviously wants to "protect" me and closes every time I launch it because it detected "suspicious screen reading activity" - of course, because I got the great AutoInput and AutoVoice Tasker plugins installed which need to be granted screen reading permissions in the accessibility settings.
This is bad because I really need to use the pushTAN apps (one bank only has the old-fashioned TAN list which I want to get rid of and the other one decided to charge money for their smsTAN option) and I don't want to be required to change the permissions every time I need to receive a TAN on the phone.
My question: Is there a way to hide screen reading rights (and maybe root because I think about rooting my phone and I'm pretty sure the app will detect that, too) from a specific app?
Or is it possible to set up a Tasker action which toggles the rights when I launch the app and toggles them back when I quit it?
Does anybody have an advice for me?
I would be interested, too.
Access Lock is basically a lite version of App Ops, which has existed since Android 4.4.2. It allows you to restrict an app from using some permissions, such as contacts, call log, camera, audio, sms/mms, location, etc. I say lite because it doesn't ask for permissions in real time, but requires that you install an app, open Access lock, and customize permissions before use.
To use Access Lock, you'll need a way to make a shortcut to it's hidden menu. Many alternate Launchers can do this. I used this method:
Install QuickShortcutMaker from Play Store (doesn't require any special permissions)
Top left: change "Incremental search" to "Normal search"
Search for "Access"
Open Settings; look for "Access lock"
Click it, name it, create the shortcut
Open your new shortcut to Access lock and manage your phone
I hear that also works on the G4 and G3, but I can't personally verify that.
Credit: forums.androidcentral.com/lg-g4/544464-app-ops-access-lock-works-g4.html
<rant>
One of the big reasons I'd like root is for Xposed and XPrivacy. I don't like the idea of giving carte blanche to sleazy companies to scrape all my data and sell it to advertisers. If we ever get Marshmallow, it has app permissions management (thanks Google; took you long enough), which should do the trick. Of course the problem with that plan is it hinges on Verizon not being a bunch of goddamn bastards and delaying the update under our Sun consumes this tiny blue dot we call home.
</rant>
I like the idea of using a firewall with root too. I used to do that with my Galaxy Note 2. That phone kicked ass with root!!
Sweet thanks!
Verizon LG V10
Hello again!
Wow, three threads in two days, prolific times.
Well, I hope that they all will get answers.
So, here it is about the QMemo+ App in LG phones (in my case, LG G8 with Android 10).
I had it not installed because I do not like all these memo apps which needs 10000 permissions, and because there is no way to disable the data usage in the settings. The option is missing. It is also not possible to deselect the given permission.
It is basically a mafia.
But I need scrolling screenshots and the Android native option (vol- with power button) only gives me normal screenshot. I have found a post in google claiming that after taking the screenshot I should see an option to make it scroll, but I do not have it.
LG Capture+ has it. But it needs the QMemo+.
So... I have debloated my phone with ADB and the "disable user 0" command. Amazing.
Is there maybe a similar command which I can use to disable the data usage (completely preventing an app from accessing the internet and therefore uploading stolen data), without root?
I would much prefer such ADB commands to installing another app, firewall etc.
If the only option is a firewall or another app, please suggest one which is 100% safe and reliable, and needs no root.
Thanks!