Database Users

Rooted Dream's enormous security hole

This actually applies to most HTC handsets, heck, maybe most phones, but this is the Dream forum and I wanted to talk about the Dream (since I own one). I actually had realized this the day I first rooted my phone, but it had been on the back of my mind until today when I ported MCR 2.6 for the Dream and saw the laughable WaveSecure app. I then thought about posting this general warning for Dream users and hopefully we can brainstorm and bring this big security hole to an end.
WaveSecure is an app that runs as a high priority process in your phone and it can do silly things such as disallow the usage of the device or access to the data on it by placing a locking screen on your phone. To enable your phone back, you enter a pin. Does that sound familiar? Ofcourse, your phone already has a lockscreen. The app also has a few backup and restore features, but nothing that hasn't been done before. Probably the only worthwhile feature is the ability to lock your phone remotely (but then the lockscreen was already active anyway).
Our rooted phones are different than stock ones, though. If you lose your phone and a knowledgeable person gets a hold of it, all they have to do is reset the phone, hold Home and Red, and voila, they have access to ALL your personal data inside your phone. I'm not only talking about the SDCard here, because accessing that data is so stupidly simple, but your phone writes enormous amounts of personal data to /data. There you can find account logins for all your installed apps, contacts info, you can find browser cache info and if you do your banking on your phone's Browser and have cookies set, well, they're all there. I've looked through several of the files in /data and most things there are dumped in human readable format, so a crook wouldn't even have to try very hard. I found my home's wifi hidden SSID AND 22 character lenght alphanumerical WAP2 encryption key in a file, and both were labeled as such .
One solution I see is easy, modify recovery to give you an option to prompt for password on start. But there's still the fact that, with the device on, we can still adb remount and then adb pull /data, so the adb binary would also have to be re-written for this purpose.
There's still yet another problem, though. Fastboot... Most of us are running a flavor of an Engineering SPL (either Death SPL or Hard SPL), and even if we block /recovery and /system, a crook can still fastboot flash boot and fastboot flash system and with a minimal booting image (no android runtime, only enough in /bin to boot a linux system) he can still get adb pull /data access.
That's where I'm at a loss, though. How do we patch SPL to prevent unauthorized usage? Are there any other security gaps I might have missed?
Comment, discuss, develop.

I'm confused. Wiping clears out the /data partition. Where are you getting all this data from post-wipe?

And that's exactly why I carry my important data safely with me. Wipe clears out the /data partition as much as "Emptying the Recycle Bin" erases deleted data in Windows.... meaning, it's still there. Although flash memory is better at deleting data, it can still be easily recovered, but then again, how are you supposed to wipe if you don't have the phone with you. I didn't see anything about remote wipe. Also, any person with two neurons firing would think right away about removing the battery and SIM before attempting anything.
Also, so let's say a wipe did clear /data entirely and you were able to remotely wipe EVERY SINGLE TIME the phone was lost or stolen (I once went a week without realizing I had lost my phone, paying that kind of bill and talking to Customer Service for hours on end is no fun), it still doesn't mean that the security gaps are not there. I still think they should be fixed, even if to foil people not interested in the data at all but on using the phone for their own. Don't you hate it when people find phones on the street, and instead of trying to return it they take it to their nearest mom & pop phone shop and have it unlocked, etc?

Oh, I see what you meant XD. Edited my post.

I've noticed this too, but the safest way to secure it is to have android encrypt the files as they are put on the data partition. Even then, that data is still unsecure. We should file an issue with the google code page for android and have them worry about it

Well, this has actually been considered...
For 'droid 1.6: From the home screen, Menu --> Settings --> Security --> "Use secure credentials". It is, of course, up to the application to make use of secure credentials. This is something that you should question the developers of secure applications about.
Other times, you may note that applications like "Password safe" will password protect and encrypt their data sets.
So it is definitely up to you to ensure that the applications that you use are written with security in mind.
Now for your home wifi password... does that really matter that much? They have to actually be IN (or very near to) your home to make use of it.

B-man007 said:
I've noticed this too, but the safest way to secure it is to have android encrypt the files as they are put on the data partition. Even then, that data is still unsecure. We should file an issue with the google code page for android and have them worry about it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No device can be more secure than being encrypted (assuming use of strong encryption). There is most definitely NO WAY EXCEPT encryption to secure your data.
I guarantee that EVEN WITH a no-root recovery partition and a no-fastboot bootloader that enforces system image signatures, that the data on the device *CAN STILL* be read off it.
It is definitely impossible to secure these devices against being read through something like jtag. And if it is read through jtag, the only thing that can possibly protect your data is encryption.

is it possible to do a complete wipe of the device? i know its not permanent but i figure if i quit banking online after i wipe the phone then i am no longer succeptible to that form of theft

I bet this is making some people that sold their rooted G1's nervous right now lol

this is the same issue blackberry users have, , even with a remote wipe ,there was concern that data can still be retrieved. That's also why the secret service is so concerned about the president having and using one daily, if its ever lost or stolen, ,,well you know, ,,
So rooted or not android is not the only platform with this issue. .

I would like to address this
"Don't you hate it when people find phones on the street, and instead of trying to return it they take it to their nearest mom & pop phone shop and have it unlocked, etc?"
Did you know if you called any cellphone carrier that you have and told them your phone was lost/stolen they will put the IMEI or ESN on the lost/stolen list, and then it can no longer be active on their network and from what I hear any other networks.

card13 said:
I would like to address this
"Don't you hate it when people find phones on the street, and instead of trying to return it they take it to their nearest mom & pop phone shop and have it unlocked, etc?"
Did you know if you called any cellphone carrier that you have and told them your phone was lost/stolen they will put the IMEI or ESN on the lost/stolen list, and then it can no longer be active on their network and from what I hear any other networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on where you are, here in Canada, if it gets blacklisted by Rogers, it will still work on Fido (which happens to be owned by rogers).
There is also the possibility of rewriting the IMEI. Not exactly a major difficulty.

I have an idea. Since that, if someone gets hold of your phone physically, there's no way that he/she will be restricted from accessing the data, unless it's encrypted properly.
Therefore, to enhance the security, the data (or at least, /data) should be encrypted all time. I'm not familiar with Linux so I have no idea if it's doable or not, but that's a start.
That way, even if someone gets hold of your phone, and flash/hack/cheat all kinds of things, fastboot, recovery, adb... He/she will still be unable to access your data.
To do this, the bootloader (or the init script?) needs to implement a way to unlock the data.
To further increase the security, remote shutdown and wipe should be implemented as well.
Remote lock will NOT work because, while a phone is locked, it means it's running, and the data is already unencrypted at that point, and while I don't have much knowledge in hacking. I think a serious-enough person can hack the phone and get the data.
Of course, this still doesn't solve the problem that, if you, or your family member, is being held at gunpoint.
Just my 2 cents.

1) No changes to bootloader. Bootloader is not relevant to encrypted /data. The changes would be to add in the appropriate encryption scheme to the kernel. Also, to mount the /data partition using the selected encryption method, and to prompt at the appropriate time (mount time) for password. This would be DURING BOOT.
2) The reason you don't want to do this is that d/encryption eats CPU and memory.
bug666 said:
I have an idea. Since that, if someone gets hold of your phone physically, there's no way that he/she will be restricted from accessing the data, unless it's encrypted properly.
Therefore, to enhance the security, the data (or at least, /data) should be encrypted all time. I'm not familiar with Linux so I have no idea if it's doable or not, but that's a start.
That way, even if someone gets hold of your phone, and flash/hack/cheat all kinds of things, fastboot, recovery, adb... He/she will still be unable to access your data.
To do this, the bootloader (or the init script?) needs to implement a way to unlock the data.
To further increase the security, remote shutdown and wipe should be implemented as well.
Remote lock will NOT work because, while a phone is locked, it means it's running, and the data is already unencrypted at that point, and while I don't have much knowledge in hacking. I think a serious-enough person can hack the phone and get the data.
Of course, this still doesn't solve the problem that, if you, or your family member, is being held at gunpoint.
Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

lbcoder said:
1) No changes to bootloader. Bootloader is not relevant to encrypted /data. The changes would be to add in the appropriate encryption scheme to the kernel. Also, to mount the /data partition using the selected encryption method, and to prompt at the appropriate time (mount time) for password. This would be DURING BOOT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that's the init scripts?
lbcoder said:
2) The reason you don't want to do this is that d/encryption eats CPU and memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And battery, may I add?
To what extent is the question, I don't think it's a must-have feature for everybody, but think some may be willing to put up with the trade off...?

bug666 said:
So that's the init scripts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mainly kernel, but yes, some adjustment would have to be made to the init.
And battery, may I add?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certainly. Anything that eats CPU eats batter.
To what extent is the question, I don't think it's a must-have feature for everybody, but think some may be willing to put up with the trade off...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A better implementation would be to encrypt *some* data, i.e. application home directories, but specifically NOT the ~/lib directory. Because really, do you CARE if your APK's or dalvik cache are encrypted or not? This would minimize the performance impact (to negligible) while providing the desired data security.
Also, encryption on a per-application basis would allow this to be done withOUT having to pause bootup to ask for a password... it could be done more intelligently on first-access-attempt.

Anybody tried using Walkie Vault (http://www.walkie-vault.com/)...? Can it encrypt the data/home folder...?
A system-wide usable encryption system that different apps may make use of is a good idea, but is it on Android's agenda yet...?

It hasn't quite entered the collective consciousness that the connected smartphone, as configured today and if logged into online services, is the ultimate personal identity device. Unlike other personal effects we keep on us at all times (id cards, keys), a Google login gives a thief potentially a treasure trove of data to exploit without requiring any further identification to the phone other than the lock screen (assuming the user has set one). Once it becomes a big enough issue we may see solutions such as:
- Built in biometric identification (fingerprint scan, iris scan) replaces lock screen.
- OS framework requires apps storing sensitive user data to store into encrypted databases, authenticated from above biometric keys.
- Carriers, digital identity providers (e.g. Google, MSN) providing remote wipe as free standard services and accessible over the phone, not just a web page.

No computer is 100% secure.
Biometrics are often easy to fool.
3 of the fingerprint scanners I have encountered were easily by-passed with a pencil, and a rubber glove. Not to say they are all like that, but some are super simple to get around. Myth busters bypassed one with a photo copier and a sharpie. My buddy bought one super cheap, and put it on his wife's computer to make her feel safer. We bypassed it by breathing on it. (it was super cheap)
The current "Lock" on the G1 is like that super cheap biometric scanner. Your fingers leave behind oils. Oils are what leave the marks on the screen. Breathe hot air on the screen and you can see the pattern of the lock sequence. Some lock.
Note to self: remember to wipe off screen everytime you unlock phone.
I think that the best way around this is to remove all the data from the phone in the first place. For several years now I have been telling my friends that google's ultimate goal will be server side data storage that you log into to use.
The world of cell phones is headed this direction as well.
Google voice, Google Chrome, Google Docs, Cloud....all operate under the idea that you connect to the data, manipulate it, save it, then (ideally) your device forgets it was there.
If you want to stop cell phone theft, you have to hard code the phone to accept only one set of data, and any attempt to change that data in a way not prescribed by the phone will result in the destruction of the data and the usability of the phone. Not real cost effective for a device that lasts on the average of 18 months.
Another option is to make a daily use phone. Only good for 24 hours. Then you have to get a new one. Make them cheap, and disposable.
Common users would freak out over having to back up the data all the time, or you would need a uplink storage location like...oh say Google voice, Google Chrome, Google Docs, Cloud.
The average consumer has no clue what that thing in their hand is capable of doing, storing, or tracking. The techno geek is the problem and much like ROM's, what stops a Techno geek today, won't necessarily stop him tomorrow.
In the mean time, wave secure at least offers you the satisfaction of telling you when someone has put a different sim in your phone.
And it will scare the crap out of someone when they pull out the sim card. it is very loud!
But I agree the android system needs a better lock.

Maybe a mod could be prepared to separate /data into a cryptfs system, only trouble is that to make it secure a start/unlock password would need to be entered.

[Q] encryption...

has anyone done this yet? I noticed it in the settings, but it said it can take up to 1 hour... just wondered if it was worth while.
if you have done it, does it slow anything down, and how long did it take you to run?
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

iamdarren said:
has anyone done this yet? I noticed it in the settings, but it said it can take up to 1 hour... just wondered if it was worth while.
if you have done it, does it slow anything down, and how long did it take you to run?
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried but it appears to not work. You have to be plugged in and fully charged (seems to work from 90% ish), and you have to have unlock PIN set. But once you have selected and confirmed encryption, the screen blanks except for a green line drawing of an Android logo, and then after a minute or so the screen blanks out and then you wait...and wait....and wait...and wait. I gave up after 4 hours.
If at any point you switch screen on, you get the PIN prompt: enter PIN, and you're presented with the blank screen with green line diagram of android logo. I've left it like this for several hours. In the end I reset, and got my device back - but still unencrypted. I've also tried without ever trying to log in until at least 4 hours have elapsed, in case the login attempt disturbed the encryption.
I have logged a defect with Asus for this and a couple of other things, and this morning got a response back saying that "We're still looking into this", which seems to suggest that they agree it is a problem.

Cool in gonna try now, at 95percent battery.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

That didn't seem to do anything.... I saw the green android with cog body, maybe I need to give it more time. I will set out before i go bed.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

I'm wondering how the encryption is handled, is it software or hardware enabled. I have seen with PC's that use software encryption that there is a performance hit and if the encryption is handled by hardware, like a hardware enabled HDD encryption, there is little to no performance hit. The PC I tested the software encryption on took forever to boot vs the hardware enabled one.

Havoc6266 said:
I'm wondering how the encryption is handled, is it software or hardware enabled. I have seen with PC's that use software encryption that there is a performance hit and if the encryption is handled by hardware, like a hardware enabled HDD encryption, there is little to no performance hit. The PC I tested the software encryption on took forever to boot vs the hardware enabled one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must have used some strange encryption application or had an old computer.
Try truecrypt - on modern (2 core) computer there is practically no performance hit whatsoever (decrypting and even encrypting on the fly is faster than hard drives - on SSD it could be too slow though). The same goes for standard encryption used by Ubuntu (it's very probable that Android tablets use the same method).
Truecrypt (and probably most other full-disk encryptions too) work like that:
- all the data on hard drive is encrypted (edit: it's encrypted all the time, never, ever is decrypted data written to disk),
- when system reads data - it's decrypted before being send to applications,
- when system writes data - it's encrypted before it's saved to the disk.
Also - Tegra2 should have a part handling encryption and decryption so it could be at least partially hardware encryption.

Your right, it has been a while since I have used encryption due to a bad experience early on. I'll give Truecyrpt a try. The software I used before was Safeguard Easy.

iamdarren said:
That didn't seem to do anything.... I saw the green android with cog body, maybe I need to give it more time. I will set out before i go bed.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I left mine overnight, and it still was not encrypted. I had even done a factory reset beforehand to minimize the amount of data to encrypt.
I'm pretty sure this doesn't work. I'll post as soon as I get a reply from Asus.

It did not work, maybe this feature isn't ready yet?
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

As a feature, it's not ready for prime time. I have it working on the xoom, but every reset it erases my timezone and sets it to GMT. Also, it uses the same PIN as your lock screen, so if you have a numeric pin for easy access, anyone who sees it now knows your encryption password as well. It really should be two different passwords. I intend this weekend to reset my machine and remove the encryption, because it doesn't serve the purpose it was supposed to serve.

Bump. Any info from Asus? I started it at ~7pm. It's midnight, and on the last few power-ups I get nothing except the green android logo after I enter the PIN. So it seems it's still not doing anything? Gonna reset now I guess.

Same problem here with a Transformer TF-101 Build number HRI66.TW_epad-8.2.3.8-20110423
See nothing but a android robot after enter the PIN. 7 hrs later I manually shutdown the machine.

Same here on the Modaco ROM.
Left it on the android pic for 9 hours... it didn't lock the screen or anything, and at the end, the accelerometer still worked when I rotated the screen, but I had to power off and on to get it back.
What does the encryption do, anyway? Does it stop you being able to load files on from the PC? Does it ask for the password when you plug it into the PC?

So no one has been able to get encryption working? I was just going to test this out and saw this thread. Thanks.

I've seen someone talking about some minor issues when running with encryption, so someone got it working.
That MIGHT have been on xoom, but I think it was the transformer.

Just thought I would share my experience with the encryption feature in Honeycomb since some people can't get it working:
At first I couldn't get it working like some people on this thread, I too was stuck on the green wireframe Android for hours on end until I discovered I could still exit back to the homescreen by pressing the home key on the keyboard dock. This happened on both the stock Asus 3.1 ROM and v1.4 of the PRIME! ROM (installed via nvflash).
I then updated recently to v1.5 of PRIME! via CWM and I can report that I was able to encrypt my Transformer after this update. It displayed the green Android wireframe logo for a few seconds, then rebooted and went into the encryption progress page. I had not really done much with the ROM other than change a few small settings and add my Google account, so the encryption was complete in less than an hour. I think the 'hour or more' estimate Google gives within the encryption description text is probably more accurate if you've installed a few more apps afterwards, but of course your timing will vary.
Furthermore I think that the encryption is likely only partial, because I was then able to flash one of the zip files from this thread via CWM without any issues or prompts. Otherwise I'm sure it would've thrown some kind of error such as not being able to mount the system partition or something of that ilk.
Finally (lol ) I also found this page on the Android source website outlining the details of the encyption implementation in Android Honeycomb for anyone interested. There is a mention somewhere of the 128-bit flavour of the AES algorithm being used to encrypt the master key.
Hope this helps anyone trying to get encryption working on their Transformer .

yet another absolutely useless feature, besides bricking the thing for whoever tries to steal it. keeps your data safe.. even from yourself.
i noticed a problem when inserting a microsd (into the pad itself) that it would not be able to boot as long as this is inserted. i am guessing this is because it tries to decrypt the microsd (that is not encrypted) and therefore is stuck in boot.
This is another aspect one should expect if this was a pre-release software. I am extremely disappointed with this product so far, mostly because of the software. most of (not any of the cameras) the hardware (including the keyboard) is pretty good

I did it 2 days ago, and it worked flawless. It tooks about an hour. I use it since and I have no problems at all.
The only thing is that I have to insert the SD card again each time I power on the transformer. Any idea how to change rhat?

fjoesne said:
yet another absolutely useless feature, besides bricking the thing for whoever tries to steal it. keeps your data safe.. even from yourself.
i noticed a problem when inserting a microsd (into the pad itself) that it would not be able to boot as long as this is inserted. i am guessing this is because it tries to decrypt the microsd (that is not encrypted) and therefore is stuck in boot.
This is another aspect one should expect if this was a pre-release software. I am extremely disappointed with this product so far, mostly because of the software. most of (not any of the cameras) the hardware (including the keyboard) is pretty good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You likely have ASUS to blame for this, as my understanding is that the Thinkpad tablet deals properly (from the spec anyway) with SD cards attached to the device even to the point it can additionally encrypt them. Again we are all early adopters, Honeycomb was sort of an experiment for Google, and Ice Cream Sandwich is the real next version of the andoid platform.
And encryption is hardly a useless feature, it means Google is finally trying to consider enterprise usage of their products which is very important to the further growth of the platform.

Encypted Nexus 4 Slow and Laggy

I am certainly no James Bond but my company policy is that we encrypt and password the phones we are using for BYO
Since doing this the battery is awful (I am running 2 exhchange accounts)
Also very laggy when unlocking my phone using a 6 didgit pin
Anybody else getting this?

Because the device has to un-encrypt and re-encrypt every time essentially.

Maybe try resetting to factory and trying again? Could be some bad code
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app

infrared90 said:
Because the device has to un-encrypt and re-encrypt every time essentially.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely once the handset is on the encryption process is over and the phone is decrypted and just like any other N4 until it is turned off again.

So I guess the question is... is the encryption done at "power down" or "lock screen"? I would guess it is lock screen as having to power down in order to secure the phone seems a little silly.

Not a solution to your problem, but an alternative:
My company has the same policy on encryption too, and I didn't want to encrypt my device because I wanted to run CM10 and use a custom recovery. So I went for Touchdown HD instead of Google's Built-in Exchange client. It runs in a sandbox and doesn't affect the rest of the device, so still meets all my company's security requirements. Touchdown used to be a bit lacking in the GUI department, but recent versions are working towards a standard Android 4 look and feel. You can trial it fully-featured for 30 days.

Device encryption

Was curious about this feature of the phone. ...I know what encryption is. ... but, in regards to phones, I do not. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Like, what it does exactly, how it works, does implementing it in my device effect it on an os level or kernel?...any other general information about it is very appreciated. ..... tried google, but it just kept bringing up "15 things you must know about your s5" articles and the like.
beav3r

Skynyrd420 said:
Was curious about this feature of the phone. ...I know what encryption is. ... but, in regards to phones, I do not. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Like, what it does exactly, how it works, does implementing it in my device effect it on an os level or kernel?...any other general information about it is very appreciated. ..... tried google, but it just kept bringing up "15 things you must know about your s5" articles and the like.
beav3r
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can encrypt the device (Settings > Security >Encrypt). However, you will NOT be able to use the fingerprint scanner if you do this. This process takes around one hour and scrambles all the data. Every time you turn on the device you need to enter a passcode before it boots. This helps to provide an extra layer of security on top of the regular PIN or password.
Read more: http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/22034/samsung-galaxy-s5-top-15-tips-and-tricks#ixzz319NY0W4G

kprice8 said:
You can encrypt the device (Settings > Security >Encrypt). However, you will NOT be able to use the fingerprint scanner if you do this. This process takes around one hour and scrambles all the data. Every time you turn on the device you need to enter a passcode before it boots. This helps to provide an extra layer of security on top of the regular PIN or password.
Read more: http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/22034/samsung-galaxy-s5-top-15-tips-and-tricks#ixzz319NY0W4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also recovering data off a damaged phone is impossible.
Unless you require your data to be fully encrypted and don't care if you lose it, because it is backed up; do not encrypt.

Thanks guys. Does anyone know the processes the phone goes through while encrypting? Or decrypting. ... just wondering if it would be beneficial at all If someone did a log cat while doing both, just to see if there is a hole that could have an exploit vulnerability. ... and, would dalvik vs ART during the process change that answer, since you're running "custom"while ART is on. ... I'm 99% sure it isn't going to help s#!%, but, never know, little things usually get overlooked.
beav3r

Anti Theft Measures you guys have taken

So I got this phone for my lil sister and I want to make it sure the phone is anti-theft bust proof as possible.
She doesn't use Mobile Data as much because using Wifi is more convenient at places. Not having Mobile Data running makes Android Device Manager useless so does Xperia.
Is there a way to using SMS to lock the phone, or make it turn on the GPS which automatically forwards me the coordinates, or uses the SMS to send command to connect to the mobile internet which makes Android Device Manager/Xperia bultin in anti theft work?

I just play music and put my earphones behind or in my ears.
There is 0 reason why my music should stop when im walking around and about.

wrong thread

y300owner said:
wrong thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actualy it isnt because if my music stops there are only few reasons
I forgot to put repeat on
Headphones pulled out
Someone took my phone

Oh my bad, thats really clever. What about the software side of tracking the device. Do you have any?

Since I started buying unlocked phones, I can no longer insure it. 500 USD It is A LOT in Mexican pesos, like 2 months of hard work at a sweatshop. So this are the security measures I've taken:
1-SIM lock
2-Pattern lock
3-As device administrators: my xperia, android device manager and the most powerful of all: CERBERUS
How It is configured:
I cannot live without a rooted phone. The main reason I got into the modding forums was to install Cerberus, that was way back in 2011. Now that we have the Xposed framework we can keep our phones a little more secure.
With the Advanced Power Menu (APM) module, you can configure what options are available on the lockscreen. If you steal my phone, you WILL NOT BE ABLE to:
-turn it off
-put it on silence
-set the airplane mode
The only option available on the lockscreen is the screenshot and LED light. And cerberus will take a photo of your ugly face and send me your location. Even if the phone is about to get lost forever, I can perform a factory reset and delete all the data on the external microSD.
Root is absoultely needed for the xposed and cerberus to work!

cachanilla86 said:
Since I started buying unlocked phones, I can no longer insure it. 500 USD It is A LOT in Mexican pesos, like 2 months of hard work at a sweatshop. So this are the security measures I've taken:
1-SIM lock
2-Pattern lock
3-As device administrators: my xperia, android device manager and the most powerful of all: CERBERUS
How It is configured:
I cannot live without a rooted phone. The main reason I got into the modding forums was to install Cerberus, that was way back in 2011. Now that we have the Xposed framework we can keep our phones a little more secure.
With the Advanced Power Menu (APM) module, you can configure what options are available on the lockscreen. If you steal my phone, you WILL NOT BE ABLE to:
-turn it off
-put it on silence
-set the airplane mode
The only option available on the lockscreen is the screenshot and LED light. And cerberus will take a photo of your ugly face and send me your location. Even if the phone is about to get lost forever, I can perform a factory reset and delete all the data on the external microSD.
Root is absoultely needed for the xposed and cerberus to work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow thanks for detailed reply. You have convinced me to root the phone only to get anti theft program running and not for custom Roms etc. Phone is not cheap by any standard and anti theft measures must be taken.
The advance power menu look very awesome and just the thing. I need.
I have some questions. With your device, is your location and Mobile Data always on? Doesn't this the drain the battery ? Can the thief steal your phone and replace the Sim gain access to the device? Can you still connect with the phone? Is it possible to gain control of the new sim card installed to connect to mobile interner and upload pictures and coordinates?
Sent from my HUAWEI Y300-0100

y300owner said:
Oh my bad, thats really clever. What about the software side of tracking the device. Do you have any?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Android Device Manager and a small apk my freind wrote
(the apk enables GPS when the phone recievss a text with a code word, its pretty much what tasker can do)

y300owner said:
Is your location and Mobile Data always on?
Doesn't this the drain the battery ?
Can the thief steal your phone and replace the Sim gain access to the device?
Can you still connect with the phone?
Is it possible to gain control of the new sim card installed to connect to mobile interner and upload pictures and coordinates?
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Click to collapse
Yes, My Z2 is always online
Battery drain is normal for me. I charge it at every chance I have. I'm OCD when it comes to battery level.
If the SIM is replaced the phone is still locked by the pattern
But if the SIM is replaced with another carrier's SIM, this will f*ck up the internet connection. No data and no WiFi means no easy way for the phone to get access to mobile data or WiFi...but if the thief can unlock and does a factory reset, Cerberus survives and will still protect the phone after a factory reset. Unfortunately, Flashtool o PC Companion will erase everything (except for the external microSD).
Remember to keep the box or the phone's IMEI number and get as fast as possible to a police station or a carrier's customer center to lock the phone.

OK. Do you think the carrier's can track the location of the mobile if I give them the IMEI number? Or does this depend carrier to carrier?
Also if I want Ceberus to really effective, I would need to root the phone?

My suggestion would be to use pattern lock or even better a number lock.. And also encrypt the phone.. That way if stolen, thy wil reboot the phone sometime and it gets locked @boot itself if i am not wrong. BTW use theftie app if u r rooted and also switch on "location services" only.. It wont drain much like gps..

tOrNadO™ said:
My suggestion would be to use pattern lock or even better a number lock.. And also encrypt the phone.. That way if stolen, thy wil reboot the phone sometime and it gets locked @boot itself if i am not wrong. BTW use theftie app if u r rooted and also switch on "location services" only.. It wont drain much like gps..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you mean the Avast anti theft app? It's shows up in the top when I search theftie

y300owner said:
OK. Do you think the carrier's can track the location of the mobile if I give them the IMEI number? Or does this depend carrier to carrier?
Also if I want Ceberus to really effective, I would need to root the phone?
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Click to collapse
AFAIK the IMEI only bans the phone from mobile networks. No way of getting it back and yes, Cerberus needs root to be a powerful device manager.

cachanilla86 said:
3-As device administrators: my xperia, android device manager and the most powerful of all: CERBERUS
How It is configured:
I cannot live without a rooted phone. The main reason I got into the modding forums was to install Cerberus, that was way back in 2011. Now that we have the Xposed framework we can keep our phones a little more secure.
With the Advanced Power Menu (APM) module, you can configure what options are available on the lockscreen. If you steal my phone, you WILL NOT BE ABLE to:
-turn it off
-put it on silence
-set the airplane mode
The only option available on the lockscreen is the screenshot and LED light. And cerberus will take a photo of your ugly face and send me your location. Even if the phone is about to get lost forever, I can perform a factory reset and delete all the data on the external microSD.
Root is absoultely needed for the xposed and cerberus to work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, Cerberus is a great app. Used that for a while when they had their Free App promotion.
There is only one little problem with this
What happens if you steal a phone? You shut it down and flash a clean new rom!
Powerbutton + Volume down for 10 seconds and the Xperia Z2 is offline! Not as easy as pulling out the battery, but if you know how it's as fast.
y300owner said:
OK. Do you think the carrier's can track the location of the mobile if I give them the IMEI number? Or does this depend carrier to carrier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you cannot locate the IMEI. You can only register the IP adress from which this IMEI has accessed the internet.
And i'm not even sure the provider can do this.... google play store can for sure! But is the IMEI also sent when the SIM card is connecting to the network?
Me myself i don't use any theft protection... not even sure if myXPeria is activated atm ^^ Simply for the Reasons:
A: My phone will not get stole! nope it just wont!
B: if i ever lose my phone i trust the finder to bringt it back! I don't even have a number pattern, so the finder could call Australia if he felt like it. I'd rather hope he'd call home and tell me i lost my phone

cachanilla86 said:
AFAIK the IMEI only bans the phone from mobile networks. No way of getting it back and yes, Cerberus needs root to be a powerful device manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. Just found out its a paid app. [emoji20] ... Tried rooting the easy way out by towelroot but it doesn't support the device. Going to be taking the free measures for now.
Sent from my HUAWEI Y300-0100

Haldi4803 said:
Yeah, Cerberus is a great app. Used that for a while when they had their Free App promotion.
There is only one little problem with this
What happens if you steal a phone? You shut it down and flash a clean new rom!
Powerbutton + Volume down for 10 seconds and the Xperia Z2 is offline! Not as easy as pulling out the battery, but if you know how it's as fast.
Nope, you cannot locate the IMEI. You can only register the IP adress from which this IMEI has accessed the internet.
And i'm not even sure the provider can do this.... google play store can for sure! But is the IMEI also sent when the SIM card is connecting to the network?
Me myself i don't use any theft protection... not even sure if myXPeria is activated atm ^^ Simply for the Reasons:
A: My phone will not get stole! nope it just wont!
B: if i ever lose my phone i trust the finder to bringt it back! I don't even have a number pattern, so the finder could call Australia if he felt like it. I'd rather hope he'd call home and tell me i lost my phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, I personally never lost my phone but been very close to it recently. It can just happen without you knowing. Like I was at the gym doing leg workout while laying on a machine.
My phone just slipped out and fortunately while leaving the machine, I found it. Now if I hasn't, lost
Also depends which country you are living, there aren't that many good people walking around these days.

y300owner said:
Did you mean the Avast anti theft app? It's shows up in the top when I search theftie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I forgot to mention it was an xposed module which i mentioned..

tOrNadO™ said:
I forgot to mention it was an xposed module which i mentioned.. [emoji14]
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Click to collapse
Ok... Well can't do it now ... I want to root or but don't want to lose the Sony build of it.
Sent from my HUAWEI Y300-0100

Regardless of the measures people take to protect their phone, couldn't someone just hold the power button for 5 seconds and force shut down the phone? Then flash an ftf file via Flashtool to wipe everything?

bdithug said:
Regardless of the measures people take to protect their phone, couldn't someone just hold the power button for 5 seconds and force shut down the phone? Then flash an ftf file via Flashtool to wipe everything?
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Click to collapse
I don't think most of the thrives are so advance. They just steak and would try to sell it or use it themselves