Hi all,
I just bought a DHD secondhand and the previous owner seems to be tracking me. A joke maybe, maybe not. In any case, is there a way to stop him from keeping tabs on where I shop and more importantly, live. I've done a hard reset, will that do the trick?
jhudzina said:
Hi all,
I just bought a DHD secondhand and the previous owner seems to be tracking me. A joke maybe, maybe not. In any case, is there a way to stop him from keeping tabs on where I shop and more importantly, live. I've done a hard reset, will that do the trick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont know what application he is using to track you, but if its installed in /system a hard reset wont remove it.. your best bet is to root and install a custom recovery, you can them format the /system partiton, after that you are free to install a stock or custom rom of your choosing
jhudzina said:
Hi all,
I just bought a DHD secondhand and the previous owner seems to be tracking me. A joke maybe, maybe not. In any case, is there a way to stop him from keeping tabs on where I shop and more importantly, live. I've done a hard reset, will that do the trick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure your being tracked? (paranoia?)
But if you want to be sure then formatting fully and reinstalling a ROM is the way to go. Over in the Development Section you'll find all the information/guides/apps/ROMS you need.
May i ask how do you know that he is tracking you?
Anyways, programs like Theft Aware survive factory resets and so on. They can also activate gps without the symbol in the notification bar and the previous owner is able to remote control your device with sms commands and you wouldn't notice it because the pogram hides it. He can also request your exact position, even you have a new sim card in your phone.
Try to go to the settings->applications and look for some apps with names you haven't installed. Can be something like 'Beatbox Machine' or even something with HTC in its name.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
jhudzina said:
Hi all,
I just bought a DHD secondhand and the previous owner seems to be tracking me. A joke maybe, maybe not. In any case, is there a way to stop him from keeping tabs on where I shop and more importantly, live. I've done a hard reset, will that do the trick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe he/she using htcsense.com
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
kuklux said:
Maybe he/she using htcsense.com
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think Htcsense.com would work because the email address and password for the account have to be put in the phone.
Flussen said:
May i ask how do you know that he is tracking you?
Anyways, programs like Theft Aware survive factory resets and so on. They can also activate gps without the symbol in the notification bar and the previous owner is able to remote control your device with sms commands and you wouldn't notice it because the pogram hides it. He can also request your exact position, even you have a new sim card in your phone.
Try to go to the settings->applications and look for some apps with names you haven't installed. Can be something like 'Beatbox Machine' or even something with HTC in its name.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might survive a full wipe, but what about flashing a new RUU?
Flashing a RUU will get rid of all tracking software.
Related
Just done a hard reset after I had upgraded to 2.2 a few weeks back and discovered that nothing is backed up anymore!! Now whilst this has been spoken about on a few threads already, I did find a few things new that was a nice bonus.
1) News sync appears in the accounts & sync options. Now I can truly disable the news app thats pre installed in the rom.
2) Finally the location based sense weather works!!! I could never get my local area to display any weather, this has now been fixed but only after hard resetting! It never worked on 2.1 or 2.2 before.
Will let you know if I find anything else. Does make you wonder what else had been fixed but only after a HR.
Does compass work correctly?
News sync appears, but does it sync? When I tap on it nothing happens, no green icon appears on Accounts & Sync
Yes it does sync if you select it. I could never add news sync before, it was always as option but now it appears in the selected list, like googlemail and stocks. To be honest I don't use it and was never able to turn it off, it would always appear running in the services list but now I can turn it off and it's not running in the services list.
sudkcoce said:
Does compass work correctly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know therenwas a problem with the compass, but therm again I never used it. What was wrong with it and I will check.
Hey,
The current location weather also never worked on my desire, and after upgrading to froyo a couple of weeks ago I looked to see if it had been fixed but it still didn't work.
However, after reading this thread, I decided to check again and now it works for some reason! I haven't done a hard reset so I dont know why it has started to work but I am happy that it has!
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Maybe a dumb question but what do you guys mean with hard reset? Is that simply just to make a reset to back to the factory settings? Anything special?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
ok, so it looks like they changed something their end and has nothing to do with resetting (re weather location). Yes hard reset = Restore to factory (im an old old win mo user so still call it hard reset.
flashflash said:
Didn't know therenwas a problem with the compass, but therm again I never used it. What was wrong with it and I will check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any compass application from the market. I find snaptic compass app the best.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Can you guys just confirm my thoughts.I noticed that my camera didn't change, except the 720p under the camera options, but i'm missing new camera outfit, you'll find it under camera enhancements--> /2010/05/27/android-2-2-os-preview-is-froyo-all-that-its-cracked-up-to-be
PLEASE GO TO INTOMOBILE dot com and copy after intomobile dot comthe upper end of the link, i'm a new user and don't have approvement for adding link.
Complicating i know
Thanks for reporting, wouldn't be surprised if HTC didn't import this for us....
Just did it laboriously in order to get the news sync to work. Real pain to have to re-install all the apps, put them on the homescreens, sign in to accounts again, etc. But done and it does work.
Hi guys..
I just buy a Desire 2 weeks ago and upgraded from official 2.1 to official 2.2. My question is: If I make a hard reset ( factory reset ) my Desire will go back to 2.1 or will remain to 2.2?? Maybe is a silly question, but I am a very new guy on Android forum. Thank you in advance.
Will stay with 2.2.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
adjei7 said:
Will stay with 2.2.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for answer. That is what I hoped to hear...
In my previous Samsung Galaxy S phone, there was a great feature where you can enable mobile tracking so if your phone gets stolen, it can track the location of the phone and I think locks it/wipes it/etc
Unfortunately, this galaxy nexus doesn't seem to have that option (though its by samsung!).
I know of a few mobile tracking app, but anyone recommend a good one? preferably something that a simple wiping of the phone won't stop it (not hopeful on that one, but thought I ask!)
Thanks
SeekDroid is what I have installed and it works quite well. It's not going to survive a hard reset (there seems to be a way mentioned around to change it to a system app, and it might survive the factory restore, but I've not tried it), and it certainly won't survive if someone flashes a new ROM. I'd say give it a shot though, it's worked well from my admittedly limited testing.
I use prey on all my devices. Simple and easy
http://preyproject.com/
jvvpc said:
I use prey on all my devices. Simple and easy
http://preyproject.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
10 chars
Sorry for the shameless self promotion. But my Security app Root Defense has been thoroughly tested on the Nexus 7 and unlike any other security app out there, it will allow you to continue to track your phone even if it gets wiped or a hard-reset by a thief.
It's almost impossible to lose your phone and it's completely free.
It requires that your phone be rooted (as most peoples are on XDA)
Please try it out and rate and comment on Google Play if you like it.
The Google Play page can be found here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unfairware.rootdefense&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS51bmZhaXJ3YXJlLnJvb3RkZWZlbnNlIl0.
The XDA homepage can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1775488
chetstriker said:
Sorry for the shameless self promotion. But my Security app Root Defense has been thoroughly tested on the Nexus 7 and unlike any other security app out there, it will allow you to continue to track your phone even if it gets wiped or a hard-reset by a thief.
It's almost impossible to lose your phone and it's completely free.
It requires that your phone be rooted (as most peoples are on XDA)
Please try it out and rate and comment on Google Play if you like it.
The Google Play page can be found here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unfairware.rootdefense&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS51bmZhaXJ3YXJlLnJvb3RkZWZlbnNlIl0.
The XDA homepage can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1775488
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it try to connect to every available wifi network around it? Like if it's not connected after being stolen and detects a wifi network will it connect to it and send data?
atticusmas said:
Does it try to connect to every available wifi network around it? Like if it's not connected after being stolen and detects a wifi network will it connect to it and send data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but thanks for the suggestion. It currently caches data offline and as soon as a WiFi or cellular connection is made, the application uploads the data.
This is fantastic
Would it be possible to log which apps are used on the device?
I'm currently trialling Airwatch for a project I'm working on for a fleet of phones and tablets. From what I've tested so far, I'd like to recommend a switch to your solution.
Looks pretty cool. I just bought Cerberus, but would give this a go if I hadn't done that.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I'm still a fan of lookout
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
This looks very impressive!
What I want to know is HOW does it work??
Billy
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
looks like a good product. Will give it a try. Contrary to what you have said, other apps CAN survive a system reset or wipe of the phone. you can also embed Cerberus in the rom so that it survives a system reset and you can also hide it and make it look like a system app in the tasks list.
What i like about this product though is how it can track calls, and sms etc. Though this does obviously raise some privacy concerns with all this info being stored on a third party server.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 11:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 AM ----------
Jeepfreak, It embeds itself in the system so that it is treated as if it is a program that came with the phone or tablet. In effect, it injects itself into the rom of the phone (hence the need do root to install). this way out will still be they if you reset the phone.it will not survive the rom being replaced though i assume, which is the same limitation on other apps of this type.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Im a fan of lookout, had no problems but my trial is running out and not sure how good the free version is.
uberNoobZA said:
does obviously raise some privacy concerns with all this info being stored on a third party server
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd rather have my device stolen and wiped than trust a third party.
At £200 the N7 is almost disposable.
Looked at the title and thought... Avast... happy with it, and have no plans on losing something this big. I have mine in an auto on/off case. If the secret code isn't entered in 15 seconds, my N7 starts smoking and disintegrates.
New version just released, check our main thread for details.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1775488
Version 3.1 released!
Change log includes:
* Fix for calls not being recorded bug
* Fix for auto-update can cause auto-uninstall of itself.
* Fix for phones not attaching after install
To ensure your auto-updater is working probably and you weren't affected by the auto-uninstall of program from update bug, please download the latest version from our first post or directly from the market.
Cerberus does the same and has longer history.....so many features....
maysider said:
Cerberus does the same and has longer history.....so many features....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it doesn't, Cerberus tries to save money by not having a database store your information. This is one of the major differences.
What this means to the end user is the following:
If your battery is dead or the phone is off, you cannot see where your phone was a little while ago or see any of your logs. The map will show the location of the last time you manually told it to check and logs will only pull if the device is on.
Root Defense Keeps a copy online and automatically updates background info. This means you'll be able to see where it was right before the battery died or was turned off. Also, all the logs would still be available to look at.
Another major difference is that Cerberus only sends a copy of your SMS or calls logs where Root Defense records them in real time. This is pretty major because if I have Cerberus on my kids phone and they call or text someone they shouldn't, they just have to delete the message of call log and Cerberus would never know. With Root Defense logs can't be wiped.
This is useless, unless your N7 is taken back to a wifi hotspot you have previously allowed it's not going to report back.
Nice idea but only useful for phones
If I stole a N7 the first thing I would do is wipe the rom.
This will only catch a complete idiot and you would be one too for letting your N7 out of your sight.
No security software of this type will be any good unless CWM finally gets password locking.
Shame on the OP for spamming his app when he's already got a dedicated thread for it.
hoosbude said:
This is useless, unless your N7 is taken back to a wifi hotspot you have previously allowed it's not going to report back.
Nice idea but only useful for phones
If I stole a N7 the first thing I would do is wipe the rom.
This will only catch a complete idiot and you would be one too for letting your N7 out of your sight.
No security software of this type will be any good unless CWM finally gets password locking.
Shame on the OP for spamming his app when he's already got a dedicated thread for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is pretty harsh, the OP can post anywhere it is appropriate.. and this is one of those places. Also, you overestimate the intelligence of criminals- half of the people on XDA can't flash a rom, why would a random criminal know how? How to go into settings and perform a full wipe maybe.. but that would leave the software on the device.
Eventually they will connect to internet.
Cerberus and avast (and other apps I am sure) can also survive wipe / hard reset. As long as the rom is not flashed, the app stays installed. Cerberus stores very little data which is why it has a once off cost only.
Different pricing models provide different services. At their core, all of these types of apps do pretty much the same thing, but let's try and stick to the facts when saying which can and which can't do things.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
So I left the office to walk to the train station, with my phone in my pocket. The phone is completely stock, unrooted, with a pin lock screen, per corporate IT standards.
I pull out my phone at the train station, and notice it is rebooting. Weird, I think, but it's happened before so I didn't think much of it. But when it finishes booting up, I notice that the lock screen is different with no pin pad. I unlock, and see that the phone has done a hard reset, and wiped everything. I have now lost a bunch of important text messages and call logs, as well as all my settings.
I am beyond livid right now, and honestly feel like ripping someone at Samsung and/or Sprint's head off.
That being said, I am afraid to touch anything, in case there is a way to undo this. I tried doing some searching, but couldn't come up with anyone with the same issue on this phone.
Can anyone speak to why this happened and if I'm totally screwed?
sometimes when phones are stolen the original user if they have the right apps installed they can do a remote wipe.... although I have no explanation of what happen to your phone though
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
im0rtalz said:
sometimes when phones are stolen the original user if they have the right apps installed they can do a remote wipe.... although I have no explanation of what happen to your phone though
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I bought this phone directly from a Sprint store, so can't imagine that would be it... I thought maybe for some reason the Good app (what I use for work) could have been used to initiate a remote wipe, but there's no good reason that tech would have done that without consulting me.
Chief85 said:
Well I bought this phone directly from a Sprint store, so can't imagine that would be it... I thought maybe for some reason the Good app (what I use for work) could have been used to initiate a remote wipe, but there's no good reason that tech would have done that without consulting me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check with your IT folks and make you're an isolated case. If you are, then they, or Sprint need to provide an answer.
We set those permissions on personal devices (not company owned) , and if the user agrees to access company resources, and if you haven't subscribed or installed a third party app for your own protection, then it narrows it down.
There are documented restarts on the Sprint active issues page but not seeing any hard resets on its own..
MoHoGalore said:
Check with your IT folks and make you're an isolated case. If you are, then they, or Sprint need to provide an answer.
We set those permissions on personal devices (not company owned) , and if the user agrees to access company resources, and if you haven't subscribed or installed a third party app for your own protection, then it narrows it down.
There are documented restarts on the Sprint active issues page but not seeing any hard resets on its own..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just gave them a ring, and they said that absent me reporting the phone stolen/missing, or termination of employment, they would never initiate a remote wipe without first consulting me. God help the Sprint person that has to deal with me in 5 minutes.
you could have a bug in your software do a factory reset.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 11:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:51 PM ----------
no way you could bring it back unless you had software backuping to your sd card or a server. So start using something like evernote and dropbox and ect..... .
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
actually if your sms were being stored on your internal storage you might be able to retrieve it with sms recovery for windows
Hi guys, not a good day, i really need information.
My phone was stolen yesterday, I had some serious private information on my phone, and im concerned.
Can the thief find a way to use my phone again? It has password to access it, so in theory, he wont use it. But if he find someone that can do something, is there a way?
My phone has cerberus, but aparently the guy turned the device off... or.. the sim card...
well im worried mainly because there was info open in my microsd card
Your phone is safe because he will or already factory reset to prevent tracking and removed the sim. You sd card is definitely in danger though.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Android The Greek said:
Your phone is safe because he will or already factory reset to prevent tracking and removed the sim. You sd card is definitely in danger though.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how the hell will he do it without accessing the phone?
thanks
You do not need a phone to open a micro sd card. Just an adapter
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Android The Greek said:
You do not need a phone to open a micro sd card. Just an adapter
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the factory reset i meant
That does not touch the micro sd
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
you can do that/ factory reset by go to setting and tick factory reset. seriously most every phone has factory reset symbian,brew,android,unown chinese phone. it wipes data and restore the system as if it were new phone
---------- Post added at 08:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:44 PM ----------
and you can go to recovery mode to wipe data and cache. or even install custom rom. in samsung by pressing vol up+power+menu in the same time
edgarzin said:
Hi guys, not a good day, i really need information.
My phone was stolen yesterday, I had some serious private information on my phone, and im concerned.
Can the thief find a way to use my phone again? It has password to access it, so in theory, he wont use it. But if he find someone that can do something, is there a way?
My phone has cerberus, but aparently the guy turned the device off... or.. the sim card...
well im worried mainly because there was info open in my microsd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your data is almost certainly compromised. As for your phone, make sure you report it stolen. Hopefully you live in one of the countries which respect the IMEI blacklist so the phone will be deactivated.
Android The Greek said:
Your phone is safe because he will or already factory reset to prevent tracking and removed the sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you assume a thief or someone that finds a lost Android phone is also an enthusiast and aware of tracking mechanisms and ways to avoid them? I wouldn't make that assumption and would almost guarantee anyone who finds a lost/stolen phone that doesn't plan to return it is going to go through what's on it. Hopefully what's on OP's phone isn't too compromising.
FloatingFatMan said:
Your data is almost certainly compromised.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^^^
This.
Everyone should at a minimum register their Samsung phones with "Find my Mobile" as part of setting them up. If it's out of your possession, even before you decide it's really missing, you can lock it remotely which would prevent it from being hard reset as well as protect your personal information. It also displays a message on the locked home screen which can include a reward and allows the phone to dial out to one number you designate so the person who found it can call you. You can always unlock it if it's returned or do a complete wipe if it's not. Obviously it has to be on a mobile network (not necessarily yours) or Wi-Fi to continue to access it and it has to be charged.
Any data on the sd card will definitely be compromised. What's on the phone is hard to say. If they went into the stock recovery and did a hard reset then it's been wiped. This is the more likely scenario. If they know Android well they can flash a custom recovery and keep the internal data intact while resetting the phone but it's unlikely that a regular thief is going to do that. Most likely they'll just do a normal reset and either sell it or use it.
If you had rooted and installed Cerberus as a system app you'd still have some security under this scenario. It persists over hard resets so you'd still have some control over the device once it gets reconnected to the Internet. They'd have to flash a new firmware or specially delete cerberus from the system directory to get rid of it.
Sent from my GT-N7100
dr.m0x said:
If they know Android well...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What percentage of thieves do you think fall in to that category? I'd guess it's not the majority. We on XDA are kind of jaded when it comes to our views on technology in general. I'd bet less than 10% of my friends and acquaintances have the knowledge to hard reset an iOS or Android device unless told to do so by support staff.
In the U.S., a TV network did an expose on TSA (government airport security) workers stealing iPads from security check points. Even after is was on the national news how they used Apple's mobile tracking s/w to find the stolen iPads TSA workers continued to steal them and get caught exactly the same way. An XDA'r that steals phones has skills and knowledge that I'd bet the masses don't come anywhere close to.
dr.m0x said:
Any data on the sd card will definitely be compromised. What's on the phone is hard to say. If they went into the stock recovery and did a hard reset then it's been wiped. This is the more likely scenario. If they know Android well they can flash a custom recovery and keep the internal data intact while resetting the phone but it's unlikely that a regular thief is going to do that. Most likely they'll just do a normal reset and either sell it or use it.
If you had rooted and installed Cerberus as a system app you'd still have some security under this scenario. It persists over hard resets so you'd still have some control over the device once it gets reconnected to the Internet. They'd have to flash a new firmware or specially delete cerberus from the system directory to get rid of it.
Sent from my GT-N7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are saying that if my device was rooted cerberus would still installed, even after system wipe?
edgarzin said:
You are saying that if my device was rooted cerberus would still installed, even after system wipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it would, provided it is installed to /system/app.
Sent from my GT-N7100
My friend is a police officer and he said that thieves have found a way to change IMEI. Im trying to track my phone by IMEI.. what are the chances these MF change the IMEI??
dr.m0x said:
Yes it would, provided it is installed to /system/app.
Sent from my GT-N7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must read XDA more !
edgarzin said:
I must read XDA more !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Avast Mobile Security is a free alternative.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4
edgarzin said:
Hi guys, not a good day, i really need information.
My phone was stolen yesterday, I had some serious private information on my phone, and im concerned.
Can the thief find a way to use my phone again? It has password to access it, so in theory, he wont use it. But if he find someone that can do something, is there a way?
My phone has cerberus, but aparently the guy turned the device off... or.. the sim card...
well im worried mainly because there was info open in my microsd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have sensitive info on your phone and or sd card theres an option under settings/security to encrypt your device and external sd. The encryption will survive a no wipe flash which means it remains safe. If the scum theif wants to use your device he would have to do full wipe which would erase your sensitive data which means no access. This goes for your sd card aswell. You should also let your provider know your phones been stolen and let them block imei rendering the phone useless until with some slight luck you may get it back.
GT N7105 with XDA Premium......that is all......
amerkiller1995 said:
Avast Mobile Security is a free alternative.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Avast Anti-Theft just got an update. Now it has two versions Premium and Free
Premium version has some mind blowing features
[email protected] said:
Avast Anti-Theft just got an update. Now it has two versions Premium and Free
Premium version has some mind blowing features
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good thing is that the Premium features are new, all the free features remain free. :laugh:
Since the device is off use SMS commands instead of cerberusapp.com. That way if the sim is changed or when the thief starts up the phone you will be notified and/or will be able to wipe the internal and external storages.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app