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hey guys,
I lost my Hero yesterday.
Is there any way to turn on the GPS from any computer, and see where it is?
lj
I think there are plenty of possibilities to track your phone over the internet, but you needed to install these apps on your phone before you lost it.
I'm not sure but I think you'll have to find your phone without GPS-features ...
Good luck!
iirc only apps that are installed in the /system partition can activate the gps. not sure if that is correct though... nevertheless podb's statement is correct, anything that hasn't been installed before losing your phone won't help now.
It's a little too late for this but... WaveSecure could have done the trick..
I'm loking for something where I can find it by IMEI number.
its imposible dude.
sensorama said:
its imposible dude.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... the IMEI number is the phones ID on the network. The many cell towers stores this number whenever your phone boots up and stays connected. The different operators can easily check this information. But YOU won't ever get hold of it... unless you're the police doing a crime investigation.
I'm thinking about asking them to do something.
I'll see.
Thiesen said:
Well... the IMEI number is the phones ID on the network. The many cell towers stores this number whenever your phone boots up and stays connected. The different operators can easily check this information. But YOU won't ever get hold of it... unless you're the police doing a crime investigation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the IMEI number is the phone's id, that is correct. the network doesn't care too much for the phone, it cares for the subscriber, which is identified by the IMSI. from what i know no operator will look for your phone based on IMEI and the fact that you lost it. if your country's operators use the EIR feature they can block the phone out of their networks, but that is about as far as it will go.
My friend lost his HTC-Wildfire ( India, Bangalore).
There was no tracker enabled, is it possible to request HTC to block the device based on IMEI number? I read somewhere, it is not yet possible in India ( the blog-post was about a year old).
Any other suggestions?
HTC will not do it. Your mobile operator will do it, but, it needs a FIR from your local police station, and, as expected, it is a process full of hassle, unless you have 'contacts'.
And I heard, mobile operator keep asking to go back to device manufacturer. ( we work at SIM level, and not device, unless it is locked).
Then perhaps I should let the 'finder' enjoy his luck for now.
As I said, its a hassle filled process. From what I read and heard, it is the mobile operator who should do it, because, all of them have access to a global database of stolen phones. All they need to do is simply add your IMEI to this global list, and it is locked for use with any sim - any network. Obviously, its a process filled with legal red tape, which is why they are uncooperative.
I think when we are using android market, Google will be having our imei/serial number. Don't know if that helps to track the phone ( maybe not ). But I think everyone with android phone must be using market.
And if the person who got the phone wants to use wildfire without a sim or any other internet networks, then u can do really really nothing. All we should do is to protect our phone from being lost.
You could also try Plan B,if it works in your country.It`s an app that installs itself when the device connects to the market and then sends you the location of the phone.
Hope it will work for you^^
Haska said:
You could also try Plan B,if it works in your country.It`s an app that installs itself when the device connects to the market and then sends you the location of the phone.
Hope it will work for you^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was the first thing I did, but I think I was late by hours. By that time the device was offline.
ALso, there was a 'pattern' based unlock password. So, if the person goes about reflashing the ROM (himself, or whoever he sells to).. then that wont work.
Haska said:
You could also try Plan B,if it works in your country.It`s an app that installs itself when the device connects to the market and then sends you the location of the phone.
Hope it will work for you^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's already lost unfortunately.
Besides, atleast as far as I know, mobile thieves are today much more intelligent. They will first flash and format your phone before even attempting to use it (They switch off your phone immediately after picking it - happened to me once). Also, another aspect is that it is hardly ever the thief who will use it. He will sell it at first opportunity.
^@3xeno
Exactly.
I had no hope from planB, but I still did it - just in case.
Even if it works, the accuracy of location would be very important.
I can be evil and go all-out to get IMEI blocked. But just thinking whether its worth the hassle ( its more of a revenge), as they say, it wont help to get the device back.
Or should I let the 'receiver' enjoy his luck.
As i can remember there is a app in the market called 'plan B' which helps to track your phone even after it is lost. Log in to the market with your pc and search for it.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA Premium App
shiranmotha said:
As i can remember there is a app in the market called 'plan B' which helps to track your phone even after it is lost. Log in to the market with your pc and search for it.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course he can install "Plan B" remotely in his device from PC android market without any confirmational messages (but provided only if his gmail account is still associated with his phone. This happens only if his sim card was unchanged and i dont think that is the case).
It would be nice if google gives some more security to keep the gmail account attached to the phone.
bharatgaddameedi said:
It would be nice if google gives some more security to keep the gmail account attached to the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had that feeling almost two months afther buying it: you can simply pull out the sim card of the device and start it up, resulting in having access to the persons mails and contacts. You can even send mails if you enable wifi.
Solution for that: the pattern unlock. Most of the time annoying, but thiefs will have to hard reset the phone to get past it, loosing all the contact with my mail and google contacts.
EDIT: or at least I hope so, never really tried to see if there was a way to get past the unlock code (accept when you get called, but I really hope that the thief is not someone who has my number )
ErwinP said:
I had that feeling almost two months afther buying it: you can simply pull out the sim card of the device and start it up, resulting in having access to the persons mails and contacts. You can even send mails if you enable wifi.
Solution for that: the pattern unlock. Most of the time annoying, but thiefs will have to hard reset the phone to get past it, loosing all the contact with my mail and google contacts.
EDIT: or at least I hope so, never really tried to see if there was a way to get past the unlock code (accept when you get called, but I really hope that the thief is not someone who has my number )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A typical thief wont be able to get past 'pattern-unlock'. However, in hands of a hacker, with adb - everything is possible with sufficient time and motivation.
Typical thief would either sell it, or try to use it using different sim ( your best hope for any post-theft-tracking possibility).
Irony is that, pattern lock saves you from un-educated 'thief' misusing your data. But, on the other hand it motivates them to reflash the ROM, thus eliminating any chance of u tracking it.
In hands of even bigger experts, even IMEI-lock wont stay for long. I am sure there are people who know how to spoof IMEI. But I would imagine that is very small community.
Yes it all depends on the person that finds/steals the phone but better to try and fail than not try at all.And yes the Plan B requirement is that the person that has your phone uses your gmail account login on the market.With pattern lock the one that finds it would have to flash it as akshayxyz said so it all depends on the settings/luck or whatever ,but still there is no harm in trying.
After all what are the chances that someone with knowledge about these things finds your lost phone,and if that was the case then your friend has really bad luck.
I lost my phone and i used it just in case,I even kept the same password in the hope that one would log in with it.It didn`t help me since as i found out later my lcd cracked when it fell out of my pocket ,but after i got it back(the person that found it came into the store i work at and asked how much would the replacement cost) and loged in the market the app installed itself,so try it.
No harm done and its just a few clicks on the net^^.
does anyone know how this feature works, can be found in the settings under Location and Security. Called 'Find My Mobile'
Particularly insterested in how 'Remote Functions' works as it allows the phone to be locked, tracked and data to be wiped remotely.
www.samsungdive.com
I'm in the US.. I tried it, and but after 30 minutes of attempting to find my phone, and I canceled and gave up.
ronj1986 said:
I'm in the US.. I tried it, and but after 30 minutes of attempting to find my phone, and I canceled and gave up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had similar experience here in Canada. Has anyone actually got this to work?
np231 said:
I had similar experience here in Canada. Has anyone actually got this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried it and it worked nice for me...I kept my Net connection on (background Data on too in Accounts and Sync) ..it won't work if your net is off on mobile
I'm in the U.S. and it works fine. I actually used "ring my phone" yesterday because I lost it in the house. I think I registered here first...
http://www.samsungapps.com/mobile/main.as?LANG_CODE=ENG&COUNTRY_CODE=GBR
Once you've registered, your user ID is good across all the different Samsung feature sites. Except for Social Hub which doesn't recognize the IMEI of the phone.
np231 said:
I had similar experience here in Canada. Has anyone actually got this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works great here, takes around 15-20 seconds to get a location and a little less to lock/ring phone.
np231 said:
I had similar experience here in Canada. Has anyone actually got this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certainly you'll need to have GPS signal where you are (in your room, office, etc.) or at least allow it use wireless networks to determine its position.
If even doing this you can't find it, then it definitely doesn't work...
np231 said:
I had similar experience here in Canada. Has anyone actually got this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried it here in Denmark. Worked flawlessly. Found my phone almost immediately.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Works for me in Canada, using KG3, and a different SIM card than the one I was using when I setup my Samsung account. Even told me the SIM had changed.
I've got it to work also. Could have been an error with the firmware I was using before...I can't remember which version it was. I'm on KG3 now though
Works good here in the USA for me too. Had to login directly into Samsung DIVE though. Was able to lock my phone and make it ring. Very cool.
Actually, as i see it this app is just for fun. If your phone is stolen, it's unlikely you can do anything in SamsungDive, since it requires an active data connection and even so, it doesn't seem to work if you don't accept google to collect data when prompted. What person would accept that when having a stolen phone ? Btw, does your SamsungDive account show your number ? Mine doesn't, but all features can be used.
Sp1tfire said:
Actually, as i see it this app is just for fun. If your phone is stolen, it's unlikely you can do anything in SamsungDive, since it requires an active data connection and even so, it doesn't seem to work if you don't accept google to collect data when prompted. What person would accept that when having a stolen phone ? Btw, does your SamsungDive account show your number ? Mine doesn't, but all features can be used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with that. Samsungdive is pretty limited. You're better off with an app that uses sms messages to the phone to lock, locate, wipe, etc. At least it's more likely that a stolen phone will be on and connected to a cell network than have data on.
sunseaker said:
I agree with that. Samsungdive is pretty limited. You're better off with an app that uses sms messages to the phone to lock, locate, wipe, etc. At least it's more likely that a stolen phone will be on and connected to a cell network than have data on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its working as described in the UK.
even what u say is not enough, because in both instances ur relying on the SIM card and/or ur login details, which i expect to change immediately by a phone thieve
however the best tracking service would be by tracking the hardware ID or IMEI of the device, but unfortunately this is restricted to network providers only
Sp1tfire said:
Actually, as i see it this app is just for fun. If your phone is stolen, it's unlikely you can do anything in SamsungDive, since it requires an active data connection and even so, it doesn't seem to work if you don't accept google to collect data when prompted. What person would accept that when having a stolen phone ? Btw, does your SamsungDive account show your number ? Mine doesn't, but all features can be used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it shows my number but not in the spot I was expecting it. It was near the bottom of the page. I had to click on it to get any of the functions.
Sent from my GT-I9100
drreality said:
its working as described in the UK.
even what u say is not enough, because in both instances ur relying on the SIM card and/or ur login details, which i expect to change immediately by a phone thieve
however the best tracking service would be by tracking the hardware ID or IMEI of the device, but unfortunately this is restricted to network providers only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ultimately no system is 100%. I just think the system that uses sms is more reliable, even if the sim card is changed it will send the number of the new sim card to a mobile number you have configured in the app so you can still send commands (turn on background gps tracking and data , remote lock, remote wipe, etc) to the new number. No radio data or sync services are required to be on initially.
All this assumes of course that the thief hasn't found the app and tried to un-install it (although it shouldn't allow un-installing without a password) or just factory reset the phone.
Best thing is not to loose your phone
iam here in austria.
on the first day, where i get my sgs2, i tried samsungdive. it doesnt worked.
but on the next day i tried again, and it worked perfectly.
tracking, writing message, call protocol and ringing worked finde. the last one (erase data) i dont tried out
cheers
hello all
bought the second hand phone with this network issue.
after trying some roms, wifi fixes, network fixes, root settings, finally stopped on pyrana rom but during all those, couldnt find out what could be the reason for the mobile network.
and also realized that the imei number is not same as behind, could that be the reason? any chance to change that? or any tips to get 3G?
using tele2 in Holland, used my sim in another phone, 3G working
also used another sim from Tmobile in this phone, again only G no 3G.
thanks from now
link for the screenshot (coudlnt put the full link bcoz of being new here)
i.imgur.com/TIeKTbF.jpg
difficult question?
Vedaturka said:
difficult question?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Goto Settings, tap the Connections tab, goto More Networks, then tap on Mobile Networks. What does your Network Mode say?
Are you on GSM only or are you on either LTE/WCDMA/GSN (Auto connect) or WCDMA/GSM (Auto connect)?
If you're on WCDMA, it could possibly be an access point problem, or maybe a modem issue?
thanks for trying to help man. im on lte/wcdma/gsm auto...
just flashed to omega v28 4.4.2 but again no luck... still only G
Vedaturka said:
thanks for trying to help man. im on lte/wcdma/gsm auto...
just flashed to omega v28 4.4.2 but again no luck... still only G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you checked your APN? Is it set up correctly?
Where it says More Networks, tap on Access Point Names and check yours is set up correctly.
You should be able to find the APN details online through google
yep.. did that auto, manual, copying from another phone, didnt work. and the imei is still diffrent than the one behind the phone. still thinking that could cause the problem. :/
change device for solving problem
erwinjmalmsteen said:
change device for solving problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wish i could do that just as easy as you say
Looking on Google, it seems some people have had a bit of luck with this issue after doing a Manual Roam.
That involves going into Settings, More Networks, Mobile Networks then tap Network Operators. Wait for it to scan and then choose another network to try and connect too. It'll fail. Then go back and do it again, but this time select your network operator and it'll connect.
It's worth a try?
Brownie2k said:
Looking on Google, it seems some people have had a bit of luck with this issue after doing a Manual Roam.
That involves going into Settings, More Networks, Mobile Networks then tap Network Operators. Wait for it to scan and then choose another network to try and connect too. It'll fail. Then go back and do it again, but this time select your network operator and it'll connect.
It's worth a try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried, found 3 providers network, connected and then returned to mine, didnt work. im still thinking that the imei has something to do with it.
thanks for trying again man. appreciate it
Vedaturka said:
i tried, found 3 providers network, connected and then returned to mine, didnt work. im still thinking that the imei has something to do with it.
thanks for trying again man. appreciate it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you say that the IMEI number shown in Android is different than the one printed behind the battery?
If so, that says to me that the phone was once reported stolen at one point, blacklisted and someone has changed the IMEI number to get it off the blacklist and back on the network.
Brownie2k said:
Did you say that the IMEI number shown in Android is different than the one printed behind the battery?
If so, that says to me that the phone was once reported stolen at one point, blacklisted and someone has changed the IMEI number to get it off the blacklist and back on the network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow never thought that.. so how am i turning it back to the original imei? any idea? i searched for that too, but no luck.. im stucked with this.. paying for 3g but getting only g and its taking ages even to connect to google.com...
Vedaturka said:
wow never thought that.. so how am i turning it back to the original imei? any idea? i searched for that too, but no luck.. im stucked with this.. paying for 3g but getting only g and its taking ages even to connect to google.com...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the IMEI number behind the battery will be the phones proper IMEI number.
I think the only way you'll find out if it's been reported stolen is to contact your network and give them the IMEI on the phone (behind the battery) and ask them. Or you could pay for an online check. I'm sure theres a few companies that offer online checks. Keep in mind if the original IMEI is blacklisted, you won't be able to get it removed. Only the person who reported it stolen, and can provide proof it was theirs when it was reported can get it removed.
I'm not too sure how you'd go about changing it back to it's original IMEI, but if the original IMEI has been blacklisted, then as soon as you do change it back, you won't be able to use your phone at all. All data/voice services will stop working.
Brownie2k said:
Well, the IMEI number behind the battery will be the phones proper IMEI number.
I think the only way you'll find out if it's been reported stolen is to contact your network and give them the IMEI on the phone (behind the battery) and ask them. Or you could pay for an online check. I'm sure theres a few companies that offer online checks. Keep in mind if the original IMEI is blacklisted, you won't be able to get it removed. Only the person who reported it stolen, and can provide proof it was theirs when it was reported can get it removed.
I'm not too sure how you'd go about changing it back to it's original IMEI, but if the original IMEI has been blacklisted, then as soon as you do change it back, you won't be able to use your phone at all. All data/voice services will stop working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i checked the imei writing in the phone, and here is the result
imei.info/phonedatabase/2500-sony-ericsson-k530/ (copy paste pls. i cant send the link because im new here)
i actualy have a sony ericson which i didnt know
maybe the provider is seeing my phone as sony ericson, and that phone doesnt support 3G... hmmm now i have to find a way to change the imei.
if its reported, then i come back to this
That's your problem right there. Your phone has likely been reported stolen in the past and someone has changed the IMEI to allow it back on the network.
It's possible that the phone who's IMEI has been taken doesn't support 3G so network isn't providing it to your phone.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
So I was down in Cancun, Mexico and my phone is either lost or stolen...
Its got fingerprint and pin code.... unfortunately, I can not track it as I didnt get local sim with data and its been put into Airplane and Battery Save mode... I tried to locate it in hopes someone crack the pin and turned on Wifi so I can track it but not.
So my question is, the only way for someone to use my phone now is to go into fastboot and erase everything. Since the phone is still tagged in my google account...
Will I know if someone who flash the phone back to stock?
Will Android Device Manager be smart enough to detect this?
Will I ever get my phone back?
I can get the IMEI number in a few days after I get home, it should be printed on the box, If its needed...
I know this is a long shot but hopefully somoene can shed some light and tell me what can be done...
I knew I should have bought Cerberus...
gd6noob said:
So I was down in Cancun, Mexico and my phone is either lost or stolen...
Its got fingerprint and pin code.... unfortunately, I can not track it as I didnt get local sim with data and its been put into Airplane and Battery Save mode... I tried to locate it in hopes someone crack the pin and turned on Wifi so I can track it but not.
So my question is, the only way for someone to use my phone now is to go into fastboot and erase everything. Since the phone is still tagged in my google account...
Will I know if someone who flash the phone back to stock?
Will Android Device Manager be smart enough to detect this?
Will I ever get my phone back?
I can get the IMEI number in a few days after I get home, it should be printed on the box, If its needed...
I know this is a long shot but hopefully somoene can shed some light and tell me what can be done...
I knew I should have bought Cerberus...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would not be much difficult for someone to reset your device. If for god's sake it's not stolen, and an honest person has found it,and somehow disabled Airplane mode and enabled WIFI/Data, you can use Android Device Manager to lock your device, and send a recovery message displaying your phone number so that he/she can contact you. Also prefer adding that you would reward that person with something in return.
But with my experience the above method is less likely to work, since you never know what kind of person has found it or stolen it.
The best thing you should do now is register a complaint in the Police for your lost/stolen device, and provide them with details like the IMEI. I have had this situation in the past, and recovered my phone with the help of Police itself.
you are referring to the local police where I lost the phone or back in my home?
gd6noob said:
you are referring to the local police where I lost the phone or back in my home?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me Not police but Hotel in Cancun (been there many times), and maybe your Carrier at home to block...
I have called my carrier and placed a block on it...
I was just wondering, if the phone was flash back to stock, will google someone see the device IMEI being connect to google server or something and maybe let me know?
gd6noob said:
you are referring to the local police where I lost the phone or back in my home?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gd6noob said:
I have called my carrier and placed a block on it...
I was just wondering, if the phone was flash back to stock, will google someone see the device IMEI being connect to google server or something and maybe let me know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Local police, I guess. I am not aware of the rules & regulations that apply there.
It is the best way. If someone boots the phone with your SIM card, or a different one, they will instantly know.
It is possible to track the phone using the IMEI as well but depends on the local laws.
Notify both the police and your service provider, and give them your IMEI number. Cellular carriers have the ability to blacklist IMEI numbers. They can also track them using a cell tower triangulation method if the phone is somehow unlocked & moved out of Flight Mode. Basically, the carrier narrows down the location of your cell phone by measuring the angles to it from nearby cell tower antennas.
Another stroke of luck could be some apps on play store. Just log into play.google.com using a laptop/ PC and send an app to your lost phone so it can be located. Apps like ‘plan B’ can be remotely installed to your android phone at anytime the phone gets switched on and get connected to the internet.
Check if there are any IMEI tracking companies where you are right now or back home. This is purely down to the laws of the land. You can google this. Lots of websites have an online tracking system.
Hope you get your phone back. All the best
is there anyone for me to get the IMEI number while im out here? I can get the number when I get home.. but I would like to get this done all here while Im down here...
gd6noob said:
is there anyone for me to get the IMEI number while im out here? I can get the number when I get home.. but I would like to get this done all here while Im down here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you buy it online? Most online resellers provide you an invoice copy within their website, or even mail it to you. You will be able to take note of the IMEI number from the invoice itslef.
DJBhardwaj said:
Did you buy it online? Most online resellers provide you an invoice copy within their website, or even mail it to you. You will be able to take note of the IMEI number from the invoice itslef.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no point.. carriers in Mexico wont do this unless its their own brand phone.. lol.. so that sucks...
gd6noob said:
no point.. carriers in Mexico wont do this unless its their own brand phone.. lol.. so that sucks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck then, my friend.
I moved on...
Was deciding between the iPhone 6s+ or the Samsung S7 Edge...
I was leaning on the iphone because of the fact that the security is great.. once its lock to an itunes account, no one can use it unless it gets unlink from either the owner or at the store with the owner present... I hate the fact that it doesnt support SD card and the prices are crazy... 128gb cost $1500CAD...
Just picked up the S7 Edge.. 32gb+128gb SD Card... traded a dead sprint phone with $125 credit... so it came in just over $1000CAD...
gd6noob said:
I moved on...
Was deciding between the iPhone 6s+ or the Samsung S7 Edge...
I was leaning on the iphone because of the fact that the security is great.. once its lock to an itunes account, no one can use it unless it gets unlink from either the owner or at the store with the owner present... I hate the fact that it doesnt support SD card and the prices are crazy... 128gb cost $1500CAD...
Just picked up the S7 Edge.. 32gb+128gb SD Card... traded a dead sprint phone with $125 credit... so it came in just over $1000CAD...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice to know that you stuck with Android itself. Good luck with the new device. :good:
Make no mistake. Even IOS security is not complete. There was a store that was just recently raided by the cops that made its money off of selling stolen iPhones. All it takes is forcing the phone to reset itself.
There will never be a complete secure devices. Just like any electronic devices. There will always be holes.
And to explorer some of the comments from earlier. Yes the police can track a device but it requires a warrant that is for far more then a lost phone.
As for IMEI blocking. That only works on one carrier.
Also the first thing that is done when a phones is stolen is the sim card is removed. Then it is factory reset or refreshed. And no Google doesn't care if the IMEI is activated under a new sim and number. No point in keeping track of that sort of thing.