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Hi Guys,
I wanted to know what any of you find to be the best app to find a lost phone. I wanted to know what the best app is to date since things can change over time, and I havent used this type of service for over a year. Some features I'd like are GPS tracking but little to no battery drain, and the ability to sound an alert even when the phone is silent or on vibrate. Thanks for any and all input.
Just me but I use the one that comes with 'Kaprasky Security', it is very accurate in my country of Canada so just try that or wait for other responses
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using xda premium
Cerberus is by far the best.
This is what I use and is the best and has lots features highly recommend.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.myboyfriendisageek.gotya
Sent from my GNex {GSM} T-Mobile
RogerPodacter said:
Cerberus is by far the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second this. No monthly or annual fees. Just pay $4 one time and it covers up to 5 devices.
Here's some of the features:
It has three ways to protect your device:
- Remote control through the website www.cerberusapp.com
- Remote control via text messages
- SIM Checker (for devices that have a SIM card): you will automatically receive alerts if someone uses your phone with an unauthorized SIM card
Remote control allows you to perform many operations on your device, like:
- Locate and track it
- Start a loud alarm, even if the device is set to silent mode
- Wipe the internal memory and the SD card
- Hide Cerberus from the app drawer
- Lock the device with a code
- Record audio from the microphone
- Get a list of last calls sent and received
- Get information about network and operator the device is connected to
- And much more!
Cerberus automatically enables GPS if it is off when you try to localize your device (only on Android < 2.3.3) and you can protect it from unauthorized uninstalling - more info in the app configuration.
The app works even if the device does not have an internet connection thanks to remote control by sms messages. Also, the SIM Checker feature allows you to know the new number to send texts to, if the SIM card is changed. Texts received and sent for Cerberus remote control will not start any notification and will not appear in the Messages application.
Cerberus does not drain the battery because there is no background service running: it will activate only if there is a remote control request and will stop afterwards.
More features for rooted devices: complete uninstall protection (a thief will be able to delete Cerberus only by flashing another ROM), GPS auto-enabling even on Android > 2.3.3. More info on the website in the Help section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check it out.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5sc2Ryb2lkLmNlcmJlcnVzIl0.
ddpacino said:
Hi Guys,
I wanted to know what any of you find to be the best app to find a lost phone. I wanted to know what the best app is to date since things can change over time, and I havent used this type of service for over a year. Some features I'd like are GPS tracking but little to no battery drain, and the ability to sound an alert even when the phone is silent or on vibrate. Thanks for any and all input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Lost can do everything you want and more. Best of all, no fees!
GreatBigDog said:
Android Lost can do everything you want and more. Best of all, no fees!
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Click to collapse
I used that to find my wife's phone. Did a remote install too as I didn't have it on the device. .. Amazing.
I've heard a lot about Cerberus, but it needs to always be running on your device from what I can see. Can you remote install and configure it only when you need it? If not, that's a pretty dangerous app to allow basically all functions of your phone to be accessed online...
I use avast! Mobile Security. You can install the application and then enable Anti-Theft. Once it's set-up and installed, you can uninstall avast! Mobile Security. (I'm unable to provide links, but they have a webpage that describes the necessary steps better.)
You can then use a bunch of different commands via text message to locate/lock/unlock/etc. your phone. You can specify two phone numbers to be the only phones that can communicate with your device, or you can leave it open. (Commands sent to your device must contain your pin code and then the command.)
The FAQ for the app says it does not run in the background and is only activated when a text command is sent to the phone. (I think this program only works if you're able to receive text messages to your actual number. Not via Google Voice.)
avast mobile security is awesome!
I use cerberus...they have features such a remote recording of video and audio which I don't think is available on SeekDroid which I was on before
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
I've tried Lookout mobile security, but like Prey a bit better
Another vote for androidlost here!
Phonelocator pro hands down beats them all - check it out
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rvo.plpro
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
ddpacino said:
Hi Guys,
I wanted to know what any of you find to be the best app to find a lost phone. I wanted to know what the best app is to date since things can change over time, and I havent used this type of service for over a year. Some features I'd like are GPS tracking but little to no battery drain, and the ability to sound an alert even when the phone is silent or on vibrate. Thanks for any and all input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy a ball of yarn at the hardware store for a few cents. Tie one end to the phone, one end to your wrist.
Never lose the phone.
Avast can get location even if GPS, wifi, mobile data and location service are turned off, if you are rooted. Cerberus can't.
B1ny said:
Avast can get location even if GPS, wifi, mobile data and location service are turned off, if you are rooted. Cerberus can't.
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Click to collapse
Pretty sure if you allow Cerberus administrator privileges, it can turn on GPS/Wifi/Data on by command...
Pretty sure it can't.
anton2009 said:
Pretty sure if you allow Cerberus administrator privileges, it can turn on GPS/Wifi/Data on by command...
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Click to collapse
B1ny said:
Pretty sure it can't.
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Click to collapse
Okay... I just tested it now with Cerberus dashboard (online website where you can send commands from) with my phone unlocked right in front of me. Sent command "start tracking" and saw with my own eyes the WIFI and GPS toggles go from OFF to ON. Wifi and GPS still on... Sent command "stop tracking" and WIFI and GPS toggles went from ON to OFF.
---Edit---
Sorry, I was wrong about the administrator privileges, by enabling that, it will allow you to erase your data/sd card remotely. To get WIFI and GPS to turn on when you send the tracking command, you have to push Cerberus to /system/app
I see a flaw in all of this:
Factory reset = GG
convolution said:
I see a flaw in all of this:
Factory reset = GG
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cerberus help page, and I quote:
"I have a rooted device. Can I get additional features?
Yes! If you have rooted your device you can integrate Cerberus into your ROM and get two additional features: complete uninstall protection (Cerberus will even survive a wipe/factory reset) and GPS auto-enabling even on Android 2.3.3 and later. To have these features uninstall Cerberus, then download cerberus.zip, put it on the sd card and install it from recovery. Cerberus is also available on ROM Manager."
Taken from avast! Mobile Security app page, and I quote:
"Self-Protection
Extremely difficult for thieves to remove (especially on rooted phones), Anti-Theft protects itself from uninstall by disguising its components with various self-preservation techniques. On rooted phones it is able to survive hard-resets and can even disable the phone’s USB port."
Last night I noticed Play asking me to update an app called Smart Device Manager. Having no idea what the app was, or why it was on my phone, I read the description:
OVERVIEW
Smart Device Manager is an app that runs on the “child” phone in order to power two family safety services on the Sprint Network, Drive First and Mobile Controls. These services allow parents to automatically lock a phone when driving or to prevent phone usage during school hours.
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With a bit more searching, it looks like it's a background utility that comes preinstalled on our phones. It's a helper for parental controls to manage what your children (or employees, I suppose) are doing, as well as lock your phone when you're driving to discourage talking or texting while driving. Accomplishing this requires some pretty nasty permissions. Granted, it's obviously not CIQ, and it shouldn't be doing anything at all unless you activate and pay for the appropriate services, but I still don't want it on my phone, if for no other reason than it may be using up some juice.
It appears there was some sort of bug with the change to Google Play that prompted many (everyone?) with the app to update it, even though you have no reason to update it unless you're actually using the service(s) (Source). As it's a system app, you can uninstall it with Titanium if you are rooted. I've done so and it hasn't hurt anything thus far.
Just figured I'd let a few people know what was up, in case they get the notification as well. And if it's already common knowledge, *shrug* I guess I wasted a few minutes of my life
interesting...
Just read about this.
http://phandroid.com/2012/03/28/spr...are-to-android-devices-heres-how-to-avoid-it/
Thank goodness for custom roms and their bloatware removal.
What's weird is that I'm running Blazer Rom, have never installed this service and google play is reminding me every day that I need to "upgrade it."
Somehow must have been left in Blazer.....
wotan2525 said:
What's weird is that I'm running Blazer Rom, have never installed this service and google play is reminding me every day that I need to "upgrade it."
Somehow must have been left in Blazer.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's a Sprint/Google agreement that is going to show up in our market suggestions no matter what ROM we run, the key is just ignore the suggestion and don't install.
Thanks for the info. I missed this one when I was getting rid of the bloatware. Even if it's not activated on my end, I'd rather not give them one more route of easy access to controlling my device. I suppose it's a good feature for parents/employers, but can you imagine if service providers started shutting down your phone (essentially airplane mode) if your were traveling over a certain speed?
You can delete this from system/app and it will stop alerting you in the market. Its actually labelled smartdevicemamager.apk in system/app.
Edit: Pointless post. Sorry.
When i had this app on it would give me slow data then i disable it and now i have full speeds
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Sycobob said:
Last night I noticed Play asking me to update an app called Smart Device Manager. Having no idea what the app was, or why it was on my phone, I read the description:
With a bit more searching, it looks like it's a background utility that comes preinstalled on our phones. It's a helper for parental controls to manage what your children (or employees, I suppose) are doing, as well as lock your phone when you're driving to discourage talking or texting while driving. Accomplishing this requires some pretty nasty permissions. Granted, it's obviously not CIQ, and it shouldn't be doing anything at all unless you activate and pay for the appropriate services, but I still don't want it on my phone, if for no other reason than it may be using up some juice.
It appears there was some sort of bug with the change to Google Play that prompted many (everyone?) with the app to update it, even though you have no reason to update it unless you're actually using the service(s) (Source). As it's a system app, you can uninstall it with Titanium if you are rooted. I've done so and it hasn't hurt anything thus far.
Just figured I'd let a few people know what was up, in case they get the notification as well. And if it's already common knowledge, *shrug* I guess I wasted a few minutes of my life
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
updated it last night as well running blazer 4.0, didn't know what it was just don't like "updates available" popping up on boot
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
I just deleted it through titanium backup
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Codename havent ever seen it lol
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
More info here:
http://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/87271?start=0&tstart=0
Sprint reps said the service has always been on the phone but the recent Google Play Store update caused the update to show up. Supposedly Location Labs (the company created the software) is looking into why it is showing up as an update....
Link is already in the OP
So Samsung seems to advertise everywhere for their Smart Call call ID functionality, but that doesnt appear to be available anywhere on the VZV Note 8. I know Verizon tries to sell you their own garbage Caller ID, but is there anyway to get the official samsung on this by means of an APK or something? And if not, what caller ID do you people recommend?? Having used a Nexus device for years i never needed one of these since Google Dialer did such a fantastic job filtering out spam etc.
Unfortunately Verizon disables it and I have not found any way to enable it. I don't pay for Verizon's Caller ID feature but use an app called Hiya.
Wintrmte said:
Unfortunately Verizon disables it and I have not found any way to enable it. I don't pay for Verizon's Caller ID feature but use an app called Hiya.
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I've used Hiya in the past and it's a cool app. It let's you block calls. Well, not really block them. It auto disconnects them. You can only truly block calls with apps on rooted phones (though I'd love for someone to prove me wrong). My only problem with Hiya is it seems a bit resource heavy on my old Note 4. Haven't installed it on this phone yet.
Also places in contact app is not available too loosk like.
Search locally
http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/smart-call/
So has anyone found a way to get this on our phones? I tried to APKs from apkmirror, one from April, and 1 from August of this year, and they both didn't install
caller id is a flop always has been
Download ShortCut master lite. Search through for phone app, tap it. Scroll down and Inside you will see smart call settings. Tap once, then click launch. Window opens, click to enable.
Note: I haven't had any unidentied callers yet since enabling, but there it is.
Even using shortcut master it doesn't work.. It'll work if you flash the unlocked firmware but then volts and WiFi calling doesn't work.. If you turn them on then smart call gets turned off... Smart call uses the hiya database so I just downloaded the hiya app and it works great.. There's also a Google dialer floating around that works that adds even more features.
anthonykash said:
Even using shortcut master it doesn't work.. It'll work if you flash the unlocked firmware but then volts and WiFi calling doesn't work.. If you turn them on then smart call gets turned off... Smart call uses the hiya database so I just downloaded the hiya app and it works great.. There's also a Google dialer floating around that works that adds even more features.
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Volte does work on the VZW Note 8 with unlocked firmware. I use my Google Voice number (on Hangouts) to make WiFi calls.
Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk
anthonykash said:
Even using shortcut master it doesn't work.. It'll work if you flash the unlocked firmware but then volts and WiFi calling doesn't work.. If you turn them on then smart call gets turned off... Smart call uses the hiya database so I just downloaded the hiya app and it works great.. There's also a Google dialer floating around that works that adds even more features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have a link to the Google dialer? Thanks
Pretty simple question with an answer I can't seem to find. I've scoured through all of my apps but to no avail.
My s8 has the banner ads for the same app. My s20+ shows no banner ads at all. For that app or any app. I'm wondering why this is and how I can turn it on and off. Some apps won't let you fully access everything with them blocked. Hence me wanting to turn them on when I can. And since day 1 last year, I don't remember any ads being shown on the s20+.
Any help towards me solving this is greatly appreciated.
ligament121 said:
Pretty simple question with an answer I can't seem to find. I've scoured through all of my apps but to no avail.
My s8 has the banner ads for the same app. My s20+ shows no banner ads at all. For that app or any app. I'm wondering why this is and how I can turn it on and off. Some apps won't let you fully access everything with them blocked. Hence me wanting to turn them on when I can. And since day 1 last year, I don't remember any ads being shown on the s20+.
Any help towards me solving this is greatly appreciated.
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Click to collapse
Are you using VPN (virtual private network)?
You can check in Settings > Connections.
Many adblocker apps are using VPN connections to "block" ads.
I heard that Samsung intregrated something like "Save" or "Secure" wifi into newer Android devices. Maybe this is enabled on your phone / wifi network, and also using VPN, which blocks some banner ads. AFAIK you can disable this secure wifi option ... or add your wifi network to the list of trusted networks which does not need to be "secured".
I recently switched cell phone providers from T-Mobile to Verizon. The next day, I noticed a ton of crappy apps, mostly dumb games, were installed on my phone, a Samsung Galaxy S22, which I originally bought directly from T-Mobile.
As I already have a lot of problems with bloatware, I uninstalled these apps, and want to ensure that Verizon doesn't install anything else without permission. The idea of a big creepy corporation installing unknown things on my cell phone is unnerving.
My phone's not jailbroken. However, a lot of guides suggest uninstalling the app called "Verizon App Manager", but I didn't even have an app called "Verizon App Manager", just "Verizon Services". Then I uninstalled all the app's updates, and viola, its name reverted to "Verizon App Manager". However, the app can't be uninstalled.
I removed all of its permissions, but as Verizon was able to install this app without permission, I doubt how long that will work.
Is there anything else I can do, or do I just have to live with Verizon reprogramming my phone all the time? Even if I rooted my phone, what could I do?
I've noticed this too. Data wipe on my Pixel 5 somehow includes a bunch of Verizon apps when I restore apps from Play Store. I have a feeling this has more to do with Google than with Verizon...