Related
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 ?
Edit: when the device has no internet the email used to unlock the phone is useless. The phone should keep the email and pass locally. So don't forget you pin or let anyone enter the wrong thing. I had to factory reset it however it still retained root. Strange? I wasn't able to obtain any data so far. I may try to dig deeper with a recovery program but right now I no longer need use of the device (my son has a new toy, lol).
This is my phone. Before anyone says it's not trust me it is and I can prove it via old cell bills. And that Google still has it attached to the account.
I need back into it for a few very important photos relating to an accident a few months ago.
This model was on the us cellular network. It is not an active phone. (No data). Here is my problem, not being able to connect to data or wifi networks I am locked out because my son played with the 4 digit pin. The phone now asks for my email and password. Of which I know but the phone will not accept it. Thinking that I might have updated my password since I was on the G3 last I have tried all passwords that I know I have used and still nothing. This phone is also rooted. With stock jellybean.
Any help would be appreciated.
combatarms said:
This is my phone. Before anyone says it's not trust me it is and I can prove it via old cell bills. And that Google still has it attached to the account.
I need back into it for a few very important photos relating to an accident a few months ago.
This model was on the us cellular network. It is not an active phone. (No data). Here is my problem, not being able to connect to data or wifi networks I am locked out because my son played with the 4 digit pin. The phone now asks for my email and password. Of which I know but the phone will not accept it. Thinking that I might have updated my password since I was on the G3 last I have tried all passwords that I know I have used and still nothing. This phone is also rooted. With stock jellybean.
Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could go back to stock using KDZ. It will reset everything
dcop7 said:
You could go back to stock using KDZ. It will reset everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying to avoid data loss. As I need the few images off the phone. After I get them off I really don't care what happens to the device.
march 16 per google was the last active date. From then till now it's only been a paperweight because I thought google backed up my images which isn't the case.
Does google keep passwords in a viewable manner in case I forgot one I used?
Edit: google doesn't save passes for viewing unless in your browser saved password section, however I wonder how it knows of a duplicate pass when changing the current one.
A little while ago my brother had his iphone6 snatched. Now with Iphone, I know cannot be mounted to usb directly or even via recovery.
I know pin, fingerprint etc block access to the phone. I want to understand about other ways to access internal storage to gain access to photos and any other documents
That makes me ask - What security options we have for android - in particular OP3 (have 2 of them) and how can we make it more secure. ? Both my phones have Blu_spark TWRP + Freedom OS 2.10, if that matters.
Just to share, I found following to be foolproof
- Setup Pin + Fingerpints
- Setup Pin / Password for phone startup
This
- Keeps the device encrypted
- Unable to boot without pin
- Unable to access TWRP without pin
- Doesn't auto-mount on USB connect
Still, it would be interesting to hear about any cons of the above setup.
hyperorb said:
A little while ago my brother had his iphone6 snatched. Now with Iphone, I know cannot be mounted to usb directly or even via recovery.
I know pin, fingerprint etc block access to the phone. I want to understand about other ways to access internal storage to gain access to photos and any other documents
That makes me ask - What security options we have for android - in particular OP3 (have 2 of them) and how can we make it more secure. ? Both my phones have Blu_spark TWRP + Freedom OS 2.10, if that matters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The easiest is to not get it snatched. Or if it does you chase them down and get your phone back. But barring that not alot you can really do and ill explain why.
When someone steals a phone, they dont care about the data on it. They are either gonna sell it or use it. Either way The device has the sim removed with in sec of it being taken and then it is reset or flashed to stock to remove any and all locks. This normally happens within minutes if not seconds of a device being stolen.
zelendel said:
The easiest is to not get it snatched. Or if it does you chase them down and get your phone back. But barring that not alot you can really do and ill explain why.
When someone steals a phone, they dont care about the data on it. They are either gonna sell it or use it. Either way The device has the sim removed with in sec of it being taken and then it is reset or flashed to stock to remove any and all locks. This normally happens within minutes if not seconds of a device being stolen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interestingly that was not the case. They remained in contact and kept on asking for phone passcode; which we did not give.
I'm not aware if its equally east in iPhone to enter into (kind of) fastboot mode and erase entire storage. In such case the loss remains of the phone and nothing else ; specially when we may have financial apps too on the phone.
hyperorb said:
Interestingly that was not the case. They remained in contact and kept on asking for phone passcode; which we did not give.
I'm not aware if its equally east in iPhone to enter into (kind of) fastboot mode and erase entire storage. In such case the loss remains of the phone and nothing else ; specially when we may have financial apps too on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No apple doesn't have the option. Main reason the fbi had to pay to have an iPhone unlocked not to long ago.
Part of the reason I never advise doing any sort of banking on a device as there is just too many security risks. I, mean even android keyboards monitor what you type.
hyperorb said:
A little while ago my brother had his iphone6 snatched. Now with Iphone, I know cannot be mounted to usb directly or even via recovery.
I know pin, fingerprint etc block access to the phone. I want to understand about other ways to access internal storage to gain access to photos and any other documents
That makes me ask - What security options we have for android - in particular OP3 (have 2 of them) and how can we make it more secure. ? Both my phones have Blu_spark TWRP + Freedom OS 2.10, if that matters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cerberus is a really nice app... You have alot of options sadly it isn't free! But heyy, it's cheap and it's functional! Other then that keep your device encrypted and a boot password should do.
As long as you're not rooted and unlocked, it will be a bit hard for an thieve to have access to your phone. Leaving ADB on, might as well decrease the overall security of the phone.
I for example was given a tablet which had a Google account synced with it, and resetting from recovery only made me renter the credidentials previously used to be able to pass the setup.
My luck was that the guy left ADB on and with a simple command I bypassed the setup screen.
hyperorb said:
Interestingly that was not the case. They remained in contact and kept on asking for phone passcode; which we did not give.
I'm not aware if its equally east in iPhone to enter into (kind of) fastboot mode and erase entire storage. In such case the loss remains of the phone and nothing else ; specially when we may have financial apps too on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure about iPhone's but for newer Android phones as long as you are encrypted and have a pin/password set for boot, a thief would just wipe the phone return to stock and sell or use it. 99.9% of the time they just want money so the likely reason they wanted your pass code is they couldn't sell it cause they were blocked from resetting it temporarily. As long they have a physical device and unlimited time they will eventually reset it and get rid of it.
Renosh said:
Not sure about iPhone's but for newer Android phones as long as you are encrypted and have a pin/password set for boot, a thief would just wipe the phone return to stock and sell or use it. 99.9% of the time they just want money so the likely reason they wanted your pass code is they couldn't sell it cause they were blocked from resetting it temporarily. As long they have a physical device and unlimited time they will eventually reset it and get rid of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. If someone steals your device 99.98% of the time it is too use it or sell it. With way your data is meaningless.
As for them wanting your pass code the above is right. But as they couldn't reset it you could have reported it stolen and the police may be able to find it but most of the time they have better things to do then recover a lost cell phone.
I used to work with people that felt with stolen cell phones. I can say the normally. Withing 30 min of a device being stolen the data is gone. And when I say that I mean a complete DOJ style wipe, format and imei change.
zelendel said:
No apple doesn't have the option. Main reason the fbi had to pay to have an iPhone unlocked not to long ago.
Part of the reason I never advise doing any sort of banking on a device as there is just too many security risks. I, mean even android keyboards monitor what you type.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
....so do all iOS keyboards, both first and third party. it's required for them to function
---------- Post added at 09:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 AM ----------
zelendel said:
Exactly. If someone steals your device 99.98% of the time it is too use it or sell it. With way your data is meaningless.
As for them wanting your pass code the above is right. But as they couldn't reset it you could have reported it stolen and the police may be able to find it but most of the time they have better things to do then recover a lost cell phone.
I used to work with people that felt with stolen cell phones. I can say the normally. Withing 30 min of a device being stolen the data is gone. And when I say that I mean a complete DOJ style wipe, format and imei change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is exactly why that semi-recent feature added by google which requires you to log in with the previously added google account in the phone before initial setup following a factory reset is very useful - it makes the phone unusable/unsellable (unless im missing something?)
2x4 said:
....so do all iOS keyboards, both first and third party. it's required for them to function
---------- Post added at 09:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 AM ----------
this is exactly why that semi-recent feature added by google which requires you to log in with the previously added google account in the phone before initial setup following a factory reset is very useful - it makes the phone unusable/unsellable (unless im missing something?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That can easily be bypassed by wiping the data off the device and flash a stock rom to it. The only the the FRP does is prevent them from getting at the data.
No its not really. It's so they can send relevant ads. Those that remember smartphones before Apple or Android knows that it is not really needed.
zelendel said:
That can easily be bypassed by wiping the data off the device and flash a stock rom to it. The only the the FRP does is prevent them from getting at the data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but how can they flash a stock ROM onto the device if the "require PIN before startup" option is selected? how can they flash if recovery has a PIN on it?
2x4 said:
but how can they flash a stock ROM onto the device if the "require PIN before startup" option is selected? how can they flash if recovery has a PIN on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because that is before startup and not the bootloader, even with those set up they normally dont cover download mode or what ever mode that particular OEM uses (not all use the same). In extreme cases with some apps that make it a bit harder or people just dont want to be bothered to mess with things too deeply there are tools available that Will push the update right to the board bypassing all security. Sure its a little extra work but it is a sure bet when you cant get into a device and cant be bothered hunting down getting around it.
Also for the passwords on startup. any password cracker would take out the average password in a matter of min.
This has been very interesting and so much to learn. Thank you all for great inputs.
zelendel said:
I never advise doing any sort of banking on a device as there is just too many security risks. I, mean even android keyboards monitor what you type.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. But then Microsoft too is not clean. Browser , Windows.... That way we can never work.
Puddi_Puddin said:
Cerberus is a really nice app...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have it in all my Androids Very helpful at times, even for non theft purpose..
XDRdaniel said:
Leaving ADB on, might as well decrease the overall security of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Will read more on this.
Renosh said:
for newer Android phones as long as you are encrypted and have a pin/password set for boot, a thief would just wipe the phone return to stock and sell or use it. 99.9% of the time they just want money so the likely reason they wanted your pass code is they couldn't sell it cause they were blocked from resetting it temporarily. As long they have a physical device and unlimited time they will eventually reset it and get rid of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once a phone is lost, there's little chance to get it back. Device loss is one thing and data loss (or rather data access) is another. The later at times can have more problems.
I used to keep my id papers (for ease of printing anywhere as needed) on phone (Nokia N5). Lost that phone .. and till date I hope no one used those to buy services, do illegal stuff. That was a lesson learnt hard way
zelendel said:
With way your data is meaningless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends where you are. There are places where one can avail services in other's name using fake ids or stolen data etc.
2x4 said:
. this is exactly why that semi-recent feature added by google which requires you to log in with the previously added google account in the phone before initial setup following a factory reset is very useful - it makes the phone unusable/unsellable (unless im missing something?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. I think I came across that in OP3. Didn't pay attention though.
zelendel said:
Because that is before startup and not the bootloader,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is better to loose one than two. Phone is anyways lost .. so at least we can try secure data. Let them wipe and then get nothing in hand.
hyperorb said:
This has been very interesting and so much to learn. Thank you all for great inputs.
Yes. But then Microsoft too is not clean. Browser , Windows.... That way we can never work.
Have it in all my Androids Very helpful at times, even for non theft purpose..
Thanks. Will read more on this.
Once a phone is lost, there's little chance to get it back. Device loss is one thing and data loss (or rather data access) is another. The later at times can have more problems.
I used to keep my id papers (for ease of printing anywhere as needed) on phone (Nokia N5). Lost that phone .. and till date I hope no one used those to buy services, do illegal stuff. That was a lesson learnt hard way
Depends where you are. There are places where one can avail services in other's name using fake ids or stolen data etc.
Hmm.. I think I came across that in OP3. Didn't pay attention though.
It is better to loose one than two. Phone is anyways lost .. so at least we can try secure data. Let them wipe and then get nothing in hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to steal someone's phone to get a fake ID with their info. 1500 usd will get you that without it.
As for getting nothing in hand. They got exactly what they wanted. The device. Unless you work for the government in a high place. Then your data is meaningless on your phone. You already put it in enough places on line while using a pc that if they want it they already have it.
I could easily steal someone identity with a little more then what they post on Facebook or other social media outlets.
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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).
My girlfriend can see everything I do on my phone, even listen in to my surroundings and spy on me with my camera. I've looked at all the running processes and I can't find the malware. Any advice besides a system reset? Thanks
She's probably just has your password mate. Change it or factory reset your device. If that doesn't work find a new gf.
tycox93 said:
She's probably just has your password mate. Change it or factory reset your device. If that doesn't work find a new gf.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Believe me it's not just the password. She's installed some kind of parental Spyware like MSpy
If you're sure that's what she has done, and not just a bit paranoid, then you should be able to find it if you got into safe mode. At least I believe so.
tycox93 said:
If you're sure that's what she has done, and not just a bit paranoid, then you should be able to find it if you got into safe mode. At least I believe so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm 100% convinced that's what she's done but I'm not that tech savvy when it comes to phones so I'm not sure which processes are part of the Android OS and which processes are the spy app.
Ditch gf.
Factory reset, will purge anything she loaded. The bootloader is locked so the only thing she could hack is the user data partition, a factory reset clears this.
Delete Google and Samsung accounts in settings>factory reset from settings not recovery menu>don't set up your Google account initially>change Google and Samsung account passwords on another computer (PC or Mac), write down passwords and make them complicated, setup the Google account on phone then.
It is clean. Be careful what you then load and who you give access to your phone if anyone.
I had a phone bought on eBay which I think it was cloned
It was the Xiaomi mi mix fold 2. I kept sending me messages please close the screen mirroring ect..I tried to reset it but nothing worked. Someone cracked the ROM in my opinion. eBay refunded me in full. I think you shall better buy a new phone
If you're paranoid:
reset your computer without a network connection.
reset your phone and don't connect to wifi yet.
reset your home wifi modem/router
connect your devices and use a strong password.
After this only a specialist can hack you.
simrag said:
I had a phone bought on eBay which I think it was cloned
It was the Xiaomi mi mix fold 2. I kept sending me messages please close the screen mirroring ect..I tried to reset it but nothing worked. Someone cracked the ROM in my opinion. eBay refunded me in full. I think you shall better buy a new phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No reason to replace the phone if it's a stock Samsung and it factory resets. As long as Knox isn't tripped it's still running with a stock rom and bootloader that haven't been altered and are still secure.
Odinsinces3 said:
If you're paranoid:
reset your computer without a network connection.
reset your phone and don't connect to wifi yet.
reset your home wifi modem/router
connect your devices and use a strong password.
After this only a specialist can hack you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After reset it can't be accessed until account info is entered. My solution bypasses that entirely.
If he factory resets from recovery without first deleting Google and maybe Samsung accounts from the phone he may get locked out by FRP!
FPR is more wicked than any bad gf...
In Samsung's it's always best to factory reset from Settings rather than the boot menu. I redundantly make sure FRP won't be invoked by also deleting the accounts before the reset whenever possible*
*a boot loop or total system crash trashes this option, better hope the account password works...
How to stay away from Hackers?, How they simply get the access to hack our devices.
Everett34 said:
How to stay away from Hackers?, How they simply get the access to hack our devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They don't; most victims inadvertently install the malware themselves. Social media sites like WhatsApp, Tiktok etc are hunting grounds for hackers. Poor settings and app selection, clumsy browsing habits, side loading, unlocked bootloaders, no firewall in use, being careless what's downloaded, not keeping email in the cloud, allowing others physical access to the device, sharing drives, using unsecured wifi hotspots, not using Android 9 or higher... among others.