Stolen phone security? - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hey guys, my question here is that I rooted my phone, got a custom recovery, running a custom ROM and I'm using a pin code request at the lock screen. The thing is if someone stole my phone.... They can delete the data on the phone from the recovery by turning it off and pressing down + power to enter recovery and viola! They have a new phone.... How can I prevent this from happening and make sure the pin stays no matter what?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Write down your imei code in a safe place so that you can give it to the police and your phone company if your phone is stolen. In some countries the service providers will ban phones with imei registered as stolen. However, this only work for the country you live in. In other words, if the thief sells your phone oversea it can still be used.
Regarding factory restore and deleting all your data, I am afraid there is very little you can do to stop the thief. You can use a boot up password, but there are probably ways to circumvent it, especially on a rooted and bootloader unlocked phone. Most security measures are aimed at stopping thieves from accessing your personal data stored on the phone, so they are not too concerned about thieves wiping the phone data. In fact, most security services offer ways to remotely wipe your phone.

Once they have your phone, your only concern is keeping your personal info secure. You're not getting the phone back either way.
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True true thank you for trying to help but my point was for thieves not to have that enjoyment that they stole a phone and its useable..... So I can't put a lock for the bootloader menu... Thanx again for your help guys
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In future get "trickster mod donate" you can lock the bootloader with it, without wiping the phone and unlock it. If the phones locked with a pin they can't get to your information and you could put other measures on
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howard bamber said:
In future get "trickster mod donate" you can lock the bootloader with it, without wiping the phone and unlock it. If the phones locked with a pin they can't get to your information and you could put other measures on
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Thanx dude!!!
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Related

Broken phone

Dropped my phone this week, and even though I have a flip case it landed open and face down (sods law), resulting in the screen being smashed and completely unresponsive.
Kind of hoping that the insurer can repair it. Not a big deal as 99% of data on the phone is held in the cloud. The big annoyance for me is if I have to get a new phone I have to start all of my games again from the start. I wish Google would fix this where all app data is genuinely backed up to the cloud, but they don't seem to be in a hurry to do this.
Without rooting are there any apps out there that can do this? Think I know the answer already but just thought I would put it out here.
In the mean time I'm rocking a Nokia 1650
Sent from my MZ604 using xda app-developers app
wilfmoralee said:
Dropped my phone this week, and even though I have a flip case it landed open and face down (sods law), resulting in the screen being smashed and completely unresponsive.
Kind of hoping that the insurer can repair it. Not a big deal as 99% of data on the phone is held in the cloud. The big annoyance for me is if I have to get a new phone I have to start all of my games again from the start. I wish Google would fix this where all app data is genuinely backed up to the cloud, but they don't seem to be in a hurry to do this.
Without rooting are there any apps out there that can do this? Think I know the answer already but just thought I would put it out here.
In the mean time I'm rocking a Nokia 1650
Sent from my MZ604 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
You need it rooted to gain access to the root partition of the phone, where all the app data is stored. I do not think you can backup any app data without root. You could unlock the bootloader and root it, backup the app data you need, then un-root and re-lock the loader if you're that much against rooting it.
wilfmoralee said:
Dropped my phone this week, and even though I have a flip case it landed open and face down (sods law), resulting in the screen being smashed and completely unresponsive.
Kind of hoping that the insurer can repair it. Not a big deal as 99% of data on the phone is held in the cloud. The big annoyance for me is if I have to get a new phone I have to start all of my games again from the start. I wish Google would fix this where all app data is genuinely backed up to the cloud, but they don't seem to be in a hurry to do this.
Without rooting are there any apps out there that can do this? Think I know the answer already but just thought I would put it out here.
In the mean time I'm rocking a Nokia 1650
Sent from my MZ604 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root makes life so much easier and pleasant mate
You can read data without root, I think?
Sent from my Nexus 4 @1.67 GHz on Stock 4.2.2
I think you can use carbon back up by koush without being rooted. It basically does an adb backup which you can do with out being rooted
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Will give carbon a look when I get my nexus 4 back.
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Left my Note 2 in a taxi, bye bye $700

I don't normally screw up but a few days ago I did it big time. Long story short, I left my Note 2 in a taxi and I have no ability of getting a hold of the driver since I cannot recollect what company I used or what his licence plate was (you guessed it, I was intoxicated).
I did have Samsung Remote Controls installed on my phone but unfortunately I wasn't online when I left it. I had both wifi and data turned off. I also had a screen lock so the would-be thief would not be able to activate internet without first factory resetting everything.
I also tried calling the phone multiple times to no avail because it has been turned off. Is there any way for me to recover the phone or at least wipe it completely? I had an SD card on there with mildly sensitive information, I should have encrypted but did not.
Any ideas for how to wipe/find/recover/block/brick/self-detonate the phone would be greatly appreciated!
Im affraid its gone
as you say it would be factory reset so you cant even remotely install anything. its a real shame.
Google also dont track anything so best you can hope is IMEI to network and police. but chances are it will go abroad
I'm in Thailand and my carrier doesn't block IMEI's for some reason. I also had a 32 gig SD card in there from Sandisk, epic fail!!!! :crying:
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is so great that you should pass the greatness of it forward.
did you set up your samsung account on it? the chances are bad but you should try locating it from here
Even though its too late now. Few things You Can learn from this . 1. Use the Cerbus APP its Much better than and theft APP as it Can survive A full Wipe . Also, always Keep your internet on
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
^^ With Cerbrus you could actually turn on your data remotly via SMS.
MohJee said:
^^ With Cerbrus you could actually turn on your data remotly via SMS.
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Wow ! Didnt know that good to know
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
Android Lost is the best app I have found for the purposes you need...
Sorry ....! For ur loss wish u got avast antivirus would had tracked last location...with antitheft ...I track my girls phone in india....if guy nt that smart for g note 2 ..after reset its imbeded
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
What a bummer... maybe it might be returned to you ?
Not sure if that will help but on the GN2 under settings > security you have an option called find my mobile Web page. If you login with ur samsung acc, you would be able to locate ur phone and do few other stuff.
GL :thumbup:
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda app-developers app
Sorry for the loss
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lookout.labs.planb
Have you tried plan b from lookout labs? If he hasn't wiped your phone you should be able to relocate the phone regardless if gps or wifi is off.
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App recommendations for tracking and remote wipe

I ran into a problem last week where my girlfriend got her phone stolen. We promptly called AT&T and had them shut it off but it got me thinking about security and recovery apps. The problem was, she didn't have any screen lock set and now whoever had the phone had full access to her private photos and text messages.
I had played around with some "track your phone" apps a few years ago but it was mostly for the fun factor. Now I'm looking for some recommendations from you guys. I know there are a million apps out there that do what I'm trying to do but I want to know what you guys use and trust.
I need the following features.
1. Phone tracking - I'd like to be able to get on either a website or another Android phone (my phone) and pinpoint where the phone currently is. This is important for lost phones and stolen phones.
2. Remote Wipe - If the phone is stolen or unrecoverable, I want the ability to remotely wipe the phone or factory reset it. I don't want anyone getting my personal stuff.
I've heard Lookout a good program but the price is a little high and I believe it's a yearly charge.
3CX has a device manager that looks promising and it's free for up to 5 phones.
Please respond and let me know what your personal experience has been with any of these programs. Hopefully I'll never have to use it but I'd like to have something just in case.
Ceberus is great. Check it out on Google pay. Free for 7 days then a one time fee of around 4 bucks. You can use it on any of your devices without paying again. Also if you have root you can prevent it from being uninstalled with a factory reset.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-GS4 using xda app-developers app
another vote for Cerberus here.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda app-developers app
3thd recommendation here, Cerberus
Cerberus or AndroidLost. Both are great. Personally I prefer AL though.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
AndroidLost (Also free)
Cerberus all the way.
Sent from my I337~SGS 4 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
Lookout Mobile Security.
Cerebrus ftw
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda premium
Seekdroid?
Cerberus app using since 2 year very use full easy to use.
i use avast and love it
cerebus had free sign ups. best app so far.

How do they get these?

So, like a lot of people, I keep my passwords, I.e. bank account, credit card, etc... on my phone in Keeper. I installed androidlost to wipe my phone clean if I ever lose it or it gets stolen. But here's my question: if my phone gets stolen, chances are that the average Joe will find it and try to access the information on the device itself. So, how does the average person get around the keypad lock pin and access the password protected Keeper app? I know there are different ways to access info like through email. But I don't understand how they crack the N4.
I heard by laying it for some minutes in the freezer then they can read it out with a device.
And yes I'm serious .
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failly said:
I heard by laying it for some minutes in the freezer then they can read it out with a device.
And yes I'm serious .
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
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That is how you do investigations in case you have to access an encrypted environment and you suppose the keys are stored in ram.
I do not know about keeper, but if you use Keepassdroid or similar apps just make sure they auto unmount after a short delay so people without che correct passphrase and encryption keys are unable to access thir content
Easy! Don't put important information in your phone. Put it in SD card; cut small part of your body; hide the SD card in it ?
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sold phone without wipiing

hey guys so as the title says, i sold my phone without wiping and left my google logged in. is there a way i can remotely wipe it?
There might be. If you enabled it before you sold it.
Go to google.com and then go to the google play store.
Click the little gear on the upper right side. and then click android management.
When there, there is an option to remotely wipe the phone.
However, you must have enabled it on the phone before you sold it.
This is the only way, unless you physically have the phone or nicely ask the guy. Otherwise, just change your google password.
And hope you did not store pictures and other confidential software on it. Good luck.
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Atrixn00b said:
hey guys so as the title says, i sold my phone without wiping and left my google logged in. is there a way i can remotely wipe it?
Click to expand...
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Android Device Manager
Change your Google password first of all
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If you had a corporate exchange account, then go to the corprorate email client on a laptop adn there under options you will find a way to wipe the entire device. This is if you had a corporate exchange account put in.
My nexus s got stolen a couple of weeks ago. I can't remotely wipe it but device manager let's me ring it. Especially in the middle of the night
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pepdavies said:
My nexus s got stolen a couple of weeks ago. I can't remotely wipe it but device manager let's me ring it. Especially in the middle of the night
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If you can ring it, then you can locate it via gps.
It says location not available
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