Related
I know that Android based phones have applications where you can track your phone through GPS software should it ever get lost. Is there such an application for our phones? I'd hate to lose my phone that has GPS capability and not be able to find it. And the thought of losing it and someone else finding it, hack it, and use it for their own personal use would be very more irritating.
And I know that the Motorola CLIQ even has the capability to erase all your stored information on the phone should you lose it to prevent someone from hacking into the phone and retrieving your sensitive information. Again, is there any software for our phones also?
Im Packing said:
I know that Android based phones have applications where you can track your phone through GPS software should it ever get lost. Is there such an application for our phones? I'd hate to lose my phone that has GPS capability and not be able to find it. And the thought of losing it and someone else finding it, hack it, and use it for their own personal use would be very more irritating.
And I know that the Motorola CLIQ even has the capability to erase all your stored information on the phone should you lose it to prevent someone from hacking into the phone and retrieving your sensitive information. Again, is there any software for our phones also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprite Terminator:
http://store.spritesoftware.com/?page_id=280
Search the forum, there are already two threads on this subject:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=479257
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=469415&highlight=anti+theft
i personally prefer remotetracker.
i lost my phone b4. n it works fine. i able to track bak my phone.
[email protected] said:
Search the forum, there are already two threads on this subject:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=479257
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=469415&highlight=anti+theft
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always do use the "Search" function, but even with sifting through posts I didn't come across the two you listed. Thank you. Maybe I'm trying to be too technical with my searches...
Free web services (and Beta), with "Find" and "Erase" functions, among others:
www.flexilis.com
www.mobiwee.com
I just tried the Maspware GuardsMobile and ended up locking my phone up. It recommended disabling balloon pop-ups and a soft-restart. I allowed that then it gave me errors loading some related tracking.exe file. I tried to enter the default pin and it didn't work. Gave me 3 attempts. After the 3rd attempt the phone was locked! Searched around and came up with nothing. There's not even a guide explaining what happens.
So now I'm forced to reflash the phone and restore my PIM. I do not recommend this program for anyone with cooked ROMs.
I'm going to now play with Ultimate Theft Alert.
Can't find any command lines for Ultimate Theft Alert V35. I don't think I really like it a whole lot as some of the others...think I'll try my luck at Maspware GuardMobile again.
Ok, reinstalled GuardMobile. Activated it (fingers crossed). It recommended disabling the SMS bubbles again and a soft-reset. I let it and amazingly my phone didnt lock up this time when entering the demo password "1234".
I feel much more comfortable trialing this program than Ultimate Theft Alert as they list the commands on their website, and you don't get ANY commands list until you've purchased UTA. So without having any commands to trial the program I will not be purchasing UTA.
Time to play around with MaspWare GuardMobile now...
Ok, just tried to exit GuardMobile and I got the freaking error again!
"An unexpected error has occurred in GuardMobile_TS.exe.
Select Quit and them restart this program, or select Details for more information.
Luckily this time I didn't leave it active while testing. Reset phone and it works. But everytime I try and test the locate or monitor it fails to send SMS. Then I exit the program and it crashes. I'm going to uninstall and forget this program...AGAIN!
Sprite Terminator seems to work so far. Only exception is that I can't use the "Alternate GPS" It doesn't give me a lock on my position and comes up with all ZEROS. Going to keep playing with this.
Had you tried any of the web services I've posted?
They both work fine for me. And they are both free (at least, for now, at Beta stage...).
there's a program called WIMP, i havent tried it yet though
Sprite Terminator works, BUT when it intercepts the SMS code it doesn't text back.
vmiguel said:
Had you tried any of the web services I've posted?
They both work fine for me. And they are both free (at least, for now, at Beta stage...).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haven't tried them...yet, but I've already downloaded the programs and thank you for the suggestions.
moukun said:
there's a program called WIMP, i havent tried it yet though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wimp didn't work receiving SMS codes.
Do any of these programs have a "explode and burn the face off the thief who stole my phone" option?
illmurs said:
Do any of these programs have a "explode and burn the face off the thief who stole my phone" option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only in the professional edition.
illmurs said:
Do any of these programs have a "explode and burn the face off the thief who stole my phone" option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, Flexilis have a "Scream" command, that will make the phone starts playing a rather anoying horn sound, for 30 seconds.
Handy to find a lost device, at least. And to get some atention on a stolen one, but the thief can just turn it off...
Kaspersky Mobile Security 8
Looks like no one has mentioned or tried this software yet.
I've already tried the 1 month trial version and then purchased a 1 year plan which I believe is worth every penny.
It's an anti virus, anti spam, sms and phone blocker and phone locater.
link:
http://www.kaspersky.com/kaspersky_mobile_security?thru=reseller=kmssidebanner3
Features:
Block access to contacts, photos or files on your phone if it is lost or stolen
Get the GPS location of a lost or stolen phone
Encrypt sensitive personal and business data
Remotely wipe your smartphone if necessary
Block unwanted calls and SMSs
Cybercrime and your smartphone
Stop cybercriminals hijacking your smartphone to make money
Block the sending of data to third parties
Prevent corruption of personal data
Hope this helps!
jpijper said:
Only in the professional edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
vmiguel said:
Well, Flexilis have a "Scream" command, that will make the phone starts playing a rather anoying horn sound, for 30 seconds.
Handy to find a lost device, at least. And to get some atention on a stolen one, but the thief can just turn it off...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm might be at least a bit useful like you say - maybe a password to turn off sound will be better?
Well, they are in Beta, so accepting ideas and feature requests... why don't you send them an e-mail?
I'm going to give kaspersky a run, it sounds good.
Hi everyone. I recently got a T989 from Telus, to which I used an Ebay unlocked. Now first things first....I have never had my email account or any account hacked. My computers in my home are virus free, so I have eliminated them. Within a week of using my T989 with Mobilicity, my gmail account (which my phone knows the password to) was hacked and logged in by someone in the U.S (Gmail shows IP logins) and they spammed my entire contact list. Now I am trying to think of ways this could have happened, but I honestly think the phone may have a keylogger or something on it.
Here are the steps they had me carry out (and it did unlock the phone immediately).
Download and install necessary files
http://www.UnlockClient.com/SAMSUNG_USB_Driver.exe
http://www.UnlockClient.com/dotNetFx40_Full_setup.exe
Very simple procedure:
1. Enter your paypal email or start in demo mode
2. Type *#7284# and select USB - Modem
3. Type *#9090# and select [1] USB
4. Exit service menu and reboot the phone
5. Once phone rebooted connect the phone and computer
6. Wait until all drivers are installed
7. Click "Unlock" button
8. Enter 00000000
Here is the auction for this unlock I got. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/280852210909?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Is there anything there that I should worry about? Or is there any possibility they have someone routed everything I do on my phone through them? I am seriously worried about my online banking information and such. Thank you very much in advance.
not sure if serious?
- taz b.
Why wouldn't I be serious? Isn't this a legitimate conclusion? I don't have a lot of posts but I have been lurking for years. I am serious however.
Unlocking phone is really a matter of entering a simple code in one step. All your steps there including entering your PayPal account, connecting USB?? and installing drivers are unneccesary and sketchy at best.
I've seen some reputable phone unlocking sites but definitely never seen something like that from eBay.
If I were you I would try a darkside full wipe and go back to whatever was at a safe state before.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using XDA
Oh I have wiped many times. The problem is that I don't think any of that wipe stuff will go back to factory settings in those *# menus or for the modem settings etc.
I know an unlock code is all that is needed, but I bought from a website that couldn't find the code. This one offered and instant unlock by a program (like the ones shops use) to unlock.
I am also not dumb, the paypal account doesn't require a password or anything it is just a way to identify your keys.
wy2sl0 said:
Oh I have wiped many times. The problem is that I don't think any of that wipe stuff will go back to factory settings in those *# menus or for the modem settings etc.
I know an unlock code is all that is needed, but I bought from a website that couldn't find the code. This one offered and instant unlock by a program (like the ones shops use) to unlock.
I am also not dumb, the paypal account doesn't require a password or anything it is just a way to identify your keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And did you test your phone with a different sim card? Everything is functional?
As far as I know, the legitimate way and the only way to unlock a phone is through the codes generated by the datebase. All the reputable sites that unlock phones that I know of, all use codes to unlock. When I had bought my telus g2sx the store unlocked it using the code.
Something like a keylogger would be app level, not modem info or hardware level. Also, something transmitting every keystroke would use a LOT of data and battery.
First thing I would do, personally, is check my battery stats to see if any app was using a suspicious amount of battery.
In my opinion, it wouldn't make sense for a company who already got your money for an unlock service to install a key logger to spam your Gmail contacts.
Just my two cents. It would take a tremendous amount of technology to track everyone who used the service. Not to mention man hours in sifting through collected data.
Check the battery stats. Settings>About Phone>Battery Use.
Hope this helps in any way. Hacked accounts are always a bummer man.
Wierd, I used that site a week or two ago and nothing like that happened to me. Makes me worried now.
I didn't use ebay though, I did it directly from the site. You could always re-flash your phone to stock then update it, that would eliminate any possibility of odd software.
In step 1, did you run a program on your computer, on the phone or both?
anomy13 said:
Unlocking phone is really a matter of entering a simple code in one step. All your steps there including entering your PayPal account, connecting USB?? and installing drivers are unneccesary and sketchy at best.
I've seen some reputable phone unlocking sites but definitely never seen something like that from eBay.
If I were you I would try a darkside full wipe and go back to whatever was at a safe state before.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want your phone as clean as possible then do this in recovery
go to mounts and storage format /data format /system format /cache format/emmc. Then flash the super wipe followed by the rom but remember doing it this way deletes everything from your phone.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
probably had nothing to do with the unlock, but more likely you had soem one arp attack your wifi on an open hotspot and they just nabbed your password.
I fiddle with this in coffee shops all the time and i always leave with a list of facebook, youtube, gmail hotmail and other passwords.
I'm not a spammer, i just like to see how insecure things are and if any one is intelligent to use ssl... even though ssl can be stripped from a packet now lol
-Mr. X- said:
probably had nothing to do with the unlock, but more likely you had soem one arp attack your wifi on an open hotspot and they just nabbed your password.
I fiddle with this in coffee shops all the time and i always leave with a list of facebook, youtube, gmail hotmail and other passwords.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't GMail SSL now?
Joe USer said:
Isn't GMail SSL now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and ssl can be stripped from packets now. Intercept the packet and then use it to sign in. then profit.
an app to play with if you want to try it out for your self is faceniff for andorid.
-Mr. X- said:
probably had nothing to do with the unlock, but more likely you had soem one arp attack your wifi on an open hotspot and they just nabbed your password.
I fiddle with this in coffee shops all the time and i always leave with a list of facebook, youtube, gmail hotmail and other passwords.
I'm not a spammer, i just like to see how insecure things are and if any one is intelligent to use ssl... even though ssl can be stripped from a packet now lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any recommendations to protect yourself then?
sent from the darkside of the galaxy
Z-Man™ said:
Any recommendations to protect yourself then?
sent from the darkside of the galaxy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dont use open hotspots at coffee shops and stuff like that. look for the shady nerd in the corner, and i think there is an app that can detect if your wifi is being arp spoofed.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gurkedev.wifiprotector&hl=en
i think there may be free ones too, i dont know. but that app will detect if your being attack by a man in the middle/arp spoofing
I don't use Wi-Fi hotspots since I have unlimited data on my phone. I really don't understand how this could've happened.
wy2sl0 said:
I don't use Wi-Fi hotspots since I have unlimited data on my phone. I really don't understand how this could've happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not just your phone that is at risk for these attacks. anything you sign on with is if some one does the man in the middle attack, among other attacks.
Other reasons besides your phone unlocking are the root cause of your issue. It's unfortunate none the less but man in the middle password sniffing and fishing are the leading causes i see at work for your spamming hijacking. i work with this stuff daily.
wy2sl0 said:
I don't use Wi-Fi hotspots since I have unlimited data on my phone. I really don't understand how this could've happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever figured out if unlockclient.com had injected some malware in your device.
Has anyone on this site had problem with them or any developper had a chance to check what they are doing ?
Im using a HTC 10 (EU variant). Today i was scrolling through "Netguard" (if you dont know it, its an app to prevent other apps from internet access), since i configured it to show system apps it displays way more apps than the normal app overview in the settings. In there i found an app called "RootPA" and one called "root", which seems strange since i didnt unlock the bootloader or root on my own. The details in the RootPA entry say "com.gd.mobicore.pa", no idea if thats helpfull to determine the origin of this mysterious app.
Can you help me with this?
Did you Google it?
I did, but the results were not realy usefull. I found someone with a modded Galaxy S3 who deleted a RootPA on accident and broke stuff, but that ssems unrelated. Are there any things i could do to find out more about the app installed on my phone without root?
I cant say its something I've ever seen. If this person in the past removed it, and it broke stuff, that would suggest that it may have been a system app and he was rooted. From what I managed to find on google, it is part of a security suite (mobicore) used by networks to monitor what the state of the phone is, presumably incase something happens, and it was the user fault, and they know for a fact because they have logs of what the phone has done.
[ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE] Allows applications to access information about networks
[INTERNET] Allows applications to open network sockets. (i.e send information)
[READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE] Allows an application to read from external storage.
[READ_PHONE_STATE] Allows read only access to phone state.
A friend of mine got his HTC 10 2 days ago, ill ask him to look for this app. Its unlikely we would have the same virus/whatever installed.
Edit: He just reseted his 10 (due to missing language options, but thats another topic), but still found "root" and "rootPA" on his phone, so its preinstalled (although i still dont understand whats its purpose).
RootPA is provides service for provisioning secure applications that run on ARM trustzone and t-base OS (formerly mobicore). It is preinstalled in some vendors Android devices (search for this string on the internet: htc-devices-to-incorporate-trustonic-t-base-tee), but mostly unused as far as I know. The source code of some versions is available on the Internet (e.g. on github /Faryaab/android_hardware_samsung_slsi_exynos5410/tree/master/mobicore/rootpa).
It has nothing to to with rooting or unrooting the device.
PA route is very dangerous I had some I have somebody who has hacked into my phone through this particular program so to speak I have a lot of issues right now with my phone trying to get them off of my phone and this seems to be the root cause or the start of it have anybody knows how I can clear my phone and my Ram from the Vicious hacker I appreciate it I'm tired of being watched and recorded everything I do
Illfidusoon12 said:
PA route is very dangerous I had some I have somebody who has hacked into my phone through this particular program so to speak I have a lot of issues right now with my phone trying to get them off of my phone and this seems to be the root cause or the start of it have anybody knows how I can clear my phone and my Ram from the Vicious hacker I appreciate it I'm tired of being watched and recorded everything I do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PA route..... .rootPA ......2 different things. Hacked ? Unlikely, I think some OCD is kicking in. Want to be clean? RUU the device and do not restore anything
I need help identifying what app or setting got me into this mess.
I think the hacker has adb access.
He shuts down apps.. etc
He is messing with the notifications.. i get ony a few. Sometimes they come in late.
I have made reset from samsung setting and the boot menu, AND I INSTALLED A NEW ROM (the one for my phone) WITH ODIN. Still the issue resurfaces.
I think my roomate installed smthg in it. He is on the house wifi and he is got a degree in networking (i think thats what it's called, we study in french in my country)
Please i need help.
If someone needs any further details, please ask.
Avoid the wifi network you suspect your hacker friend is on, reinstall the rom downloaded on another network and stay on 4G and see if it still happens? Also suspect your PC to be hacked...
Thx for replying,
I did format my pc but i have connected it to house wifi.. didn't notice anything out of order though.
I found out about the "Revoke USB debugging authorisations" option in Developer Options. I think it is working.
Today, since i made a new instagram account, i added a mutual friend. Turns out it was an old and lost account, and thats when i got the error from the video.
Fortunately, i fixed it by un.following the account and clearing the app storage.
I need to know what access does he have?
Can't upload the video, here's some shots.
Look no further than yourself for the cause of this... one way or another.
RX: Factory reset, change Google account password.
Stop with the social media crap and go mingle with real people.
This not about social media, it's about getting my phone back.
With my old account, I couldn't even talk to my messenger friend. Today, thats like having your phone number unreachable all the time, frustrating.
Please if you don't want to help don't, but no need for quick unhelpful replies.
Carch921 said:
This not about social media, it's about getting my phone back.
With my old account, I couldn't even talk to my messenger friend. Today, thats like having your phone number unreachable all the time, frustrating.
Please if you don't want to help don't, but no need for quick unhelpful replies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How was it compromised?
Understand if it was compromised it's more than likely because you left yourself vulnerable to attack.
A compromised OS needs to be cleaned or wiped... I gave you the solution(s).
No need to say thanks but don't give me lip about your screw ups.
Thank you.
I tried factory reset more than 10 times, different ways. No luck.
I think he is got access to one of my friends account but i don't know how he is using this connection with me ( message, notification.. i don't know)
@blackhawk what you said is true, and i didn't mean no offense.
Carch921 said:
Thank you.
I tried factory reset more than 10 times, different ways. No luck.
I think he is got access to one of my friends account but i don't know how he is using this connection with me ( message, notification.. i don't know)
@blackhawk what you said is true, and i didn't mean no offense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reflash the firmware especially if it is Oreo or below.
If it's not embedded in the firmware, it's being added by you albeit inadvertently.
Your Achilles heel is social media... don't be so predictable. Break the link in the chain.
None of the social apps should be running on the device, they are malware. At least keep them in the cloud.
Email must always be kept in the cloud and any attachments downloaded from it scruntinized or preferably not downloaded at all. All downloads are suspect.
At this point your data base is suspect as well.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.
Android 11.
I am trying.
Carch921 said:
Android 11.
I am trying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless someone physically got their hands on it, there's no known way the Android 11 stock factory image can be compromised by a rootkit or virus. A factory reset is all that is needed.
The problem happened after the reset.
blackhawk said:
Unless someone physically got their hands on it, there's no known way the Android 11 stock factory image can be compromised by a rootkit or virus. A factory reset is all that is needed.
The problem happened after the reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is exactly what i suspect did happen. I often leave my phone home and my pattern is known for him.
How can i undo a modification of that level.
(I intend to go to a phone repair shop and install new soft with the "box". Is this recommended or is it a bad idea)
Carch921 said:
That is exactly what i suspect did happen. I often leave my phone home and my pattern is known for him.
How can i undo a modification of that level.
(I intend to go to a phone repair shop and install new soft with the "box". Is this recommended or is it a bad idea)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never leave a phone physically unsecured as that's the only real security there is.
You need to have the firmware reflashed then be careful what you put back on it.
Change all your passwords and use secure passwords.
I ithink i this is the problem.( in the pic below)
There was an app called android device.. don't know if this is normal. So i deleted it and restarted and things are back to normal.
Sorry i can't upload the image, the app closes automatically.
Scan it online with Virustotal.
Sell the phone Facebook
Can anyone help me carrier unlock my Verizon phone? My phone has been hacked and I hope being able to flash it will help me to get rid of whatever they have done to it. Can anyone tell me why I get this message when I reset my phone? Any help would be greatly appreciated
there is no carrier unlock for VZW models. if you can boot into recovery, sideload the OTA version that was last on your device.
What did you do that resulted in the phone being hacked? With the sectors being wiped that are shown in the images, it looks like you have provided total device access to something whilst having an unlocked bootloader or something similar. If you let us know what happened, it might help us to figure out what options you may still have.
But definitely see if you can do what @uicnren mentioned first.
Im not sure who or how they wiped anything. It happened one day after connecting to my girlfriends wifi. I got ahold of Verizon and they sent me a new phone and as soon as I started it the same thing happened to it also
How do I find what OTA version was used on my phone?
Nothing hacked here... this is an error when wiping the Secure Element (the trusted secure module).
(https://android-review.linaro.org/p...cure_element/1.0/SecureElementHalCallback.cpp line #66)
Are you initiating the wipe from the recovery? If so, that's likely the reason. If there is an account attached to the device, a wipe must first be initiated from within Android (Settings)
Woodruff87 said:
Im not sure who or how they wiped anything. It happened one day after connecting to my girlfriends wifi. I got ahold of Verizon and they sent me a new phone and as soon as I started it the same thing happened to it also
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what symptoms were you seeing that made you think you were hacked?
Those errors are normal in Recovery Mode. I see them all the time, sometimes they don't appear, usually they do.
Did you remove your google accounts from settings, do a factory reset from the reset menu and lastly in recovery mode where you posted the screenshots from.
Your Account might be hacked but the phone is unlikely hacked. You would get a message at boot telling you that the device has been modified. With a locked bootloader its extremely unlikely (unless NSO Group is targeting you).
Woodruff87 said:
Can anyone help me carrier unlock my Verizon phone? My phone has been hacked and I hope being able to flash it will help me to get rid of whatever they have done to it. Can anyone tell me why I get this message when I reset my phone? Any help would be greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you unlock the bootloader? Have custom firmware/kernel installed?
A "hacker" wins nothing by resetting/wiping your phone. They want data, and that only works if the phone can turn on and works. This looks like a wipe/factory reset gone wrong, which spells user error or software error and less likely a "hacker" attack. Most hacks you will never notice. A hacker that makes you notice that something went wrong, is either an amateur or did it on purpose. Ergo, he wants you to know that something went wrong, which usually only happens in order to extort you. If there is no extortion, then an obvious act by a hacker is highly unlikely.
We need some more information. What firmware had you installed? What happened exactly when. Did you install any new apps recently? What did you do prior to something going wrong? All the information that could help us troubleshoot your issue.
You said your phone wiped itself a day after connecting to your girlfriends wifi, and that a replacement device that you got sent by your carrier, did the same. Did you check your Google account? Do you have two factor authentication activated? It sounds like your phone got wiped over wifi, which would require access to your Google account. It's just odd that you get errors, which normally shouldn't happen if someone would use the erase a lost Android device function.
It's also possible that your backup from your GAccount is simply corrupted (many people had issues with random reboots). You should try and set up your (replacement) phone anew without any backup, maybe that can fix your issue.
Beyond that Google account thing-y, anything else is highly unlikely. Even specialized companies have serious issues getting into a modern smartphone, lest alone an Android 12 phone with a Google Server grade Titan m2 chip. The newer the firmware, the less likely the chance that someone from the outside could get in, especially with a phone like a Pixel that isn't very common. Most security firms/govermental agencies can only abuse older, known security loopholes. It's more likely that very popular phones like a Samsung or IPhone are targets from "the bad guys", since there will be bigger payoff for breaking the security of those phones, since there is a greater pool of users to target. Most hacks I've witnessed weren't random, they were targeted. Ask yourself: Am I worth the trouble of getting hacked? Do you have anything of interest on your phone that would warrant an excessive use of resources? Managing to hack a Pixel is not only unlikely in terms of the security you need to breach, but also in terms of the potential payoff in relation to the necessary knowhow and resources. It's just "not worth it".
What you should do immediately, just in case, is secure your Google account. Change your password. Maybe even change your two-factor authentication, if you have one (sms is not secure, use a token generating software/device). Change the wifi password from your girlfriend and check the list of connected devices. make a list of these connected devices + history (find that in the rooter software) and check them against the devices you know of. Also check the list of connected devices to your GAccount. Use the option to log out ALL devices from your Google account, so only your device is connected.
Do any other people have access to your phone? Do any other people know your passwords? Does your girlfriend has access? Do any other people have biometric security saved on your phone? Do you trust your girlfriend completely?
Make sure you use a special, new password for your GAccount, never reuse old ones that you have used somewhere else. Also check your emails on https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Beyond that, if you are not doing already, use a password manager.
Woodruff87 said:
Im not sure who or how they wiped anything. It happened one day after connecting to my girlfriends wifi. I got ahold of Verizon and they sent me a new phone and as soon as I started it the same thing happened to it also
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait a sec. Verizon sent you a new (refurbished probably but new nonetheless) phone and when you turned it on weren't you greeted with the startup menu? Am I missing something?
Morgrain said:
Did you unlock the bootloader? Have custom firmware/kernel installed?
A "hacker" wins nothing by resetting/wiping your phone. They want data, and that only works if the phone can turn on and works. This looks like a wipe/factory reset gone wrong, which spells user error or software error and less likely a "hacker" attack. Most hacks you will never notice. A hacker that makes you notice that something went wrong, is either an amateur or did it on purpose. Ergo, he wants you to know that something went wrong, which usually only happens in order to extort you. If there is no extortion, then an obvious act by a hacker is highly unlikely.
We need some more information. What firmware had you installed? What happened exactly when. Did you install any new apps recently? What did you do prior to something going wrong? All the information that could help us troubleshoot your issue.
You said your phone wiped itself a day after connecting to your girlfriends wifi, and that a replacement device that you got sent by your carrier, did the same. Did you check your Google account? Do you have two factor authentication activated? It sounds like your phone got wiped over wifi, which would require access to your Google account. It's just odd that you get errors, which normally shouldn't happen if someone would use the erase a lost Android device function.
It's also possible that your backup from your GAccount is simply corrupted (many people had issues with random reboots). You should try and set up your (replacement) phone anew without any backup, maybe that can fix your issue.
Beyond that Google account thing-y, anything else is highly unlikely. Even specialized companies have serious issues getting into a modern smartphone, lest alone an Android 12 phone with a Google Server grade Titan m2 chip. The newer the firmware, the less likely the chance that someone from the outside could get in, especially with a phone like a Pixel that isn't very common. Most security firms/govermental agencies can only abuse older, known security loopholes. It's more likely that very popular phones like a Samsung or IPhone are targets from "the bad guys", since there will be bigger payoff for breaking the security of those phones, since there is a greater pool of users to target. Most hacks I've witnessed weren't random, they were targeted. Ask yourself: Am I worth the trouble of getting hacked? Do you have anything of interest on your phone that would warrant an excessive use of resources? Managing to hack a Pixel is not only unlikely in terms of the security you need to breach, but also in terms of the potential payoff in relation to the necessary knowhow and resources. It's just "not worth it".
What you should do immediately, just in case, is secure your Google account. Change your password. Maybe even change your two-factor authentication, if you have one (sms is not secure, use a token generating software/device). Change the wifi password from your girlfriend and check the list of connected devices. make a list of these connected devices + history (find that in the rooter software) and check them against the devices you know of. Also check the list of connected devices to your GAccount. Use the option to log out ALL devices from your Google account, so only your device is connected.
Do any other people have access to your phone? Do any other people know your passwords? Does your girlfriend has access? Do any other people have biometric security saved on your phone? Do you trust your girlfriend completely?
Make sure you use a special, new password for your GAccount, never reuse old ones that you have used somewhere else. Also check your emails on https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Beyond that, if you are not doing already, use a password manager.
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Thanks I really appreciate the help and all the advice. I checked https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and my account has been pawned in 1 data breach... I will deactivate the Google account and start over fresh. Thanks again for all the info
bencozzy said:
Two things are they refurbished? And do they work without signing into google?
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The first one was new, but the one I got from Google as a replacement was refurbished. Ill try resetting through the settings and deactivating all my accounts.
Woodruff87 said:
Thanks I really appreciate the help and all the advice. I checked https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and my account has been pawned in 1 data breach... I will deactivate the Google account and start over fresh. Thanks again for all the info
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This, among many other things, is one of the reasons I use GrapheneOS and NO gooble services (despite all the attention they give to sandboxed gooble services).
Woodruff87 said:
Thanks I really appreciate the help and all the advice. I checked https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and my account has been pawned in 1 data breach... I will deactivate the Google account and start over fresh. Thanks again for all the info
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your google address was found on that site for another service and you used the same password for both services, correct?
despite what some believe, your google account will not get hacked unless your password is insecure (ie. leaked or insufficient with 2FA). anything less and your asking for trouble (also using GrapheneOS).