Is there any way to secure android like ios7. In case if i loose my phone then no one can use it. Is it true a hard reset will remove my pattern or password? My phone is non rooted. Can someone install custom recovery too?
saudiqbal said:
Is there any way to secure android like ios7. In case if i loose my phone then no one can use it. Is it true a hard reset will remove my pattern or password? My phone is non rooted. Can someone install custom recovery too?
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There is not fool poof way to prevent this. Even on IOS7 the security can be gotten around. Best advice is to make sure you are backing up your files.
Google does have a remote wipe option built into the Android OS. That is your best bet.
There is no full proof way to make render unusable, but you can call up your carrier and ask them to blacklist the IMEI so they can't use sim cards with it anymore.
You could however, protect your data. Do this by: encrypt your device, stock recovery, disable USB debugging, lock the bootloader. At least with this, if the device is stolen, if they don't know how to flash factory image, they'll need to enter the encrypted password to boot into the phone and can't copy over your datas.
You should also look up the app Cerberus, which with root can survive through factory reset (as long as they don't overwrite or format the "system" partition).
Hi,
I bought the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the fingerprint reader works reasonably well (as in it works, nothing in comparison to apple though, so don't buy it for the fingerprint reader ) for unlocking the screen...
However its a work requirement that my phone has full device encryption, as phones are regularly stolen where I travel.... it seems when I enable encryption I lose the ability to use the fingerprint reader to unlock the phone .... I bought this hoping that I could avoid having to type in my complex password just to unlock the screen, as I got so tired of doing that with my S2
Is there any mods to enable finger print reader screen unlock + full device encryption at boot time for the Galaxy S5 yet? ... I saw some references to pattern unlock / pin with device encryption... but I would think the fingerprint reader is different...
Thanks!
S5 Full disk encryption with fingerprint unlock
I also have this question. I believe on the Nexus 5 it at leasts lets you use face unlock with full device encryption. And I read on one article that you should be able to do this but i do not think the author actually tried this. I will say from my own personal experience that you can infact decrypt the device after encrypting it without doing a complete wipe of the device and you can restore the use of fingerprints to unlock your phone. It seems like for security minded people this would be a great feature but if it is unable to be used with full device encryption it seems a little pointless to me. Being forced to use a PIN or password to use encryption is a big pain point for android users who want some type of security.
Yes I can't believe that no one has really complained about this yet - but I guess encryption isn't' that important to people as I imagined
androidpleb said:
Yes I can't believe that no one has really complained about this yet - but I guess encryption isn't' that important to people as I imagined
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I am having the same pain, as I use my S5 for BYOD.
It makes no sense when you can use fingerprint to make payments with paypal but not unlocking the phone when it is encrypted.
Hope Samsung can enable this feature in next update.
I'd like this too.. as well as, the iPhone has a cydia app (that a friend of mine showed me), that you can basically disable the power button from turning off the phone while it is fingerprint locked. That would definately be nice to have on the S5 (since it's done through an app). That would have stopped the person who stole my wife's S4 from turning it off when it was blasting the locator ring at them!
sorphin said:
I'd like this too.. as well as, the iPhone has a cydia app (that a friend of mine showed me), that you can basically disable the power button from turning off the phone while it is fingerprint locked. That would definately be nice to have on the S5 (since it's done through an app). That would have stopped the person who stole my wife's S4 from turning it off when it was blasting the locator ring at them!
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Click to collapse
I can't believe that the fingerprint sensor can't be used if encryption is enabled whatsoever. I could understand the iPhone model, requiring a pin before a fingerprint can be used, but by disabling fingerprint lockscreen, boot unlock, and SD unlock, the fingerprint sensor is now wholly useless for convenience.
It's too trivial to extract data from an unencrypted Android. By not supporting encryption with a measure of covenieve, I don't see the point in including a fingerprint sensor whatsoever given the current software limitations.
Please, someone, figure out what sqlite/settings need to be changed so we can make decent use of our phones fingerprint sensor.
After some experiments, i found out a procedure to enable FDE and fingerprint lockscreen. Root is required (or at least I guess, I didn't try with a non-rooted system...).
These are the steps:
1) set up fingerprint lockscreen
2) with a root explorer, go to /data/system folder, and backup locksettings.db, locksettings.db-shm and locksettings.db-wal to sd card
3) set up password lockscreen
4) encrypt the device
5) when encryption is done, restore the backed-up files to /data/system: you should have fingerprint lockscreen again (no reboot needed, just turn the screen off, and magically the password should be vanished )
CAVEAT 1: with my system configuration, I wasn't able to encrypt the device directly: the encryption procedure started, but after reboot nothing happened, the device just booted normally. I don't know the exact reason, in some forums they suppose that it happens on kitkat when the device is rooted. I was able to bypass the problem only adding these steps to the procedure:
...
3b) with TWRP, backup the /system partition, and restore the stock non-rooted /system
4) encrypt the device
4b) restore the original rooted /system partition
...
I don't know if steps 3b) and 4b) are always necessary, let me know...
If you need these steps, don't worry if before restoring your custom /system partition the encryption password isn't recognized, just restore the partition and all will work fine
CAVEAT 2: once encrypted, I didn't find a way to unencrypt the device, because the unencrypt ion procedure starts, but after reboot the device is still encrypted, similar to what described in caveat 1. I tried to replace the /system partition with the stock one, but the encryption password was no longer recognized.
CAVEAT 3: the current TWRP (2.7.1) isn't able to mount S5 encrypted data partition, and restoring an image made with online nandroid backup doesn't seem to work either. So, if you want to make an image of your phone (and I suggest to do it ), do it before encryption
Boot Loop
fabiokino said:
After some experiments, i found out a procedure to enable FDE and fingerprint lockscreen. Root is required (or at least I guess, I didn't try with a non-rooted system...).
These are the steps:
1) set up fingerprint lockscreen
2) with a root explorer, go to /data/system folder, and backup locksettings.db, locksettings.db-shm and locksettings.db-wal to sd card
3) set up password lockscreen
4) encrypt the device
5) when encryption is done, restore the backed-up files to /data/system: you should have fingerprint lockscreen again (no reboot needed, just turn the screen off, and magically the password should be vanished )
CAVEAT 1: with my system configuration, I wasn't able to encrypt the device directly: the encryption procedure started, but after reboot nothing happened, the device just booted normally. I don't know the exact reason, in some forums they suppose that it happens on kitkat when the device is rooted. I was able to bypass the problem only adding these steps to the procedure:
...
3b) with TWRP, backup the /system partition, and restore the stock non-rooted /system
4) encrypt the device
4b) restore the original rooted /system partition
...
I don't know if steps 3b) and 4b) are always necessary, let me know...
If you need these steps, don't worry if before restoring your custom /system partition the encryption password isn't recognized, just restore the partition and all will work fine
CAVEAT 2: once encrypted, I didn't find a way to unencrypt the device, because the unencrypt ion procedure starts, but after reboot the device is still encrypted, similar to what described in caveat 1. I tried to replace the /system partition with the stock one, but the encryption password was no longer recognized.
CAVEAT 3: the current TWRP (2.7.1) isn't able to mount S5 encrypted data partition, and restoring an image made with online nandroid backup doesn't seem to work either. So, if you want to make an image of your phone (and I suggest to do it ), do it before encryption
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I get samsung boot loop using the above instructions
Pierreseoul said:
I get samsung boot loop using the above instructions
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Hi guys! Did someone try this solution? I unfortunately have the same issue and unlock my device each time make me crazy!
Thanks in advance.
Same problem
I purchased a Galaxy S5 and I have the same problem, unfortunately I cannot root my phone due to security policies in my company. :crying:
I hope Samsung will solve the issue. :fingers-crossed:
Have anyone contacted to Samsung Support Center?
Pierreseoul said:
I get samsung boot loop using the above instructions
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What is the consequence of boot loop if you are using stock boot loader? Odin mode required to recover? Something less drastic? What device model are you using?
I found a possible solution that involves deactivating SuperSU and running encryption from there. Still investigating. I am thinking that the solution from @fabiokino will work in this case too.
I'm curious about this aswell.
Doesn't anyone know a working solution?...
It is really frustrating the very least. I can't believe there isn't a way (or if there is, a guide) to do this (with or without root access).
I have also heard it is doable on the Note 4. See this post for example http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=57103664&postcount=7.
I just flashed the stock Lollipop ROM and guess what: It works!!
Samsung finally did it. No tweaking needed and it also works without root access.
How?
healpowah said:
I just flashed the stock Lollipop ROM and guess what: It works!!
Samsung finally did it. No tweaking needed and it also works without root access.
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Can you explain how please? I'm on stock lollipop as well and cannot use fingerprint scanner with FDE. Wondering if there's a process to it?
Thanks!
healpowah said:
I just flashed the stock Lollipop ROM and guess what: It works!!
Samsung finally did it. No tweaking needed and it also works without root access.
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Nice to see this, hope it will work on my Galaxy tab S too
Did you see this?
https://www.jethrocarr.com/2013/12/29/encrypting-disk-on-android-4/
GermanDoerksen said:
Can you explain how please? I'm on stock lollipop as well and cannot use fingerprint scanner with FDE. Wondering if there's a process to it?
Thanks!
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Unluckily the trick showed in the previous link only encrytps the main device and not the micro SD
Joker87 said:
Unluckily the trick showed in the previous link only encrytps the main device and not the micro SD
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Well for me that really wouldn't be a problem. I don't have an SD card so I'm okay with just FDE. Thing is I really really don't want to root my phone... No particular reason other than every older android device I've done it on always ends up slow and buggy after a few months use until I reflash with stock ROM. I would like my phone to stay buttery smooth for once..
GermanDoerksen said:
Well for me that really wouldn't be a problem. I don't have an SD card so I'm okay with just FDE. Thing is I really really don't want to root my phone... No particular reason other than every older android device I've done it on always ends up slow and buggy after a few months use until I reflash with stock ROM. I would like my phone to stay buttery smooth for once..
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Click to collapse
You could root then unroot it after you have encrypted it
Joker87 said:
You could root then unroot it after you have encrypted it
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Click to collapse
you're right... plus it's not really the "rooting" process that makes it slow, it's installing another ROM. Having a rooted phone doesn't necessarily have any performance impact... just opens up a few things for me. Interesting. Thanks! Unfortunately I've already encrypted so now I have to find that thread about how to decrypt lol.
Thanks!
Fellow XDA buddies...please help me on this one!
My colleague is locked out of his Galaxy S4 running Lollipop that has a pin / password lock that he inadvertently set and doesn't know what it was set to
We've Tried:
- Android Device Manager: After getting on the phone with a Samsung Mobile Tech and having them conference in a Google Tech... getting out of a pin lock screen is no longer compatible with ADM on Lollipop as it doesn't display the password input without first unlocking the phone via pin ...
- Samsung Find My Mobile: He never setup the Samsung Account/App on his phone before the forgotten pin issue ...
- Lollipop doesn't seem to have any vulnerabilities / workarounds to get past the lock screen when pin locked ...
- I have tried to use the Stock Recovery to apply the files suggested here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2308130 and here http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4/general/bypass-t3035553 and cann't get past the Signature Verification ...
- USB Debugging was never enabled so the adb exploits I found that involve SQLite or removing the key file do not work ...
- I have exhausted all the methods here because it doesn't have have root access or a custom recovery installed http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2620456
So without USB Debugging, Root or a Custom Recover (which requires root it seems), we are stuck!
I think the best bet would be to enable USB Debugging somehow while locked or from an upload we can make through the Stock Recovery or ODIN...
We would greatly appreciate if anyone can help!
Thank you,
-Chris
Usually the only option is a reset from recovery. Which will erase all user data. Pics, files... Etc.
That's the point of the pin lock... To protect your privacy mostly.
I have not heard of any other way to bypass the pin lock. Well, flashing firmware again works on most devices, but same result. All user data gone.
Flashing a new ROM through Odin I don't believe will work. If I recall correctly Odin doesn't wipe data when installing. Therefore, the only real option is a factory reset if you don't wish to root or install a custom recovery.
The only thing that you can save is files stored on the internal storage.
Apps, sms, contacts etc are gone. That is if you didn't make any backups.
If you want to save the files on your internal storage:
- Flash custom recovery (twrp)
- Wipe /system partition.
- Reflash a rom.
My girlfriend has a note 4 we where casting songs to YouTube when the pin changed itself. Any info on this or how to fix as she is locked out and none of our Google searches seem to help.
Was it rooted ?
Reporting Via N910G
How did that happen?
Now completely stock. She casted a song on YouTube then went to unlock her phone and the pin would not work
Ffinger said:
Now completely stock. She casted a song on YouTube then went to unlock her phone and the pin would not work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you manage to root the device through odin and install twrp or any recovery, then you can flash this file :
https://mega.nz/#!KwNlUQKY!XPMcejxkzUeHOnKaQ6c9B6tk4Jwq1HgTNoPUDF8B_kY
This will reset any security to swipe.
Reporting Via N910G
Thank you so much will give it a try
well i think i am ready to try and root and install twrp just curious if this will wipe the phone and weather it matters that it was a pin unlock not swipe. i should also add that it is the canadian varient. sm-n910w8
Ffinger said:
well i think i am ready to try and root and install twrp just curious if this will wipe the phone and weather it matters that it was a pin unlock not swipe. i should also add that it is the canadian varient. sm-n910w8
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Click to collapse
There isnt any need to wipe data if you use cf- auto root. Before rooting make sure that twrp can be installed via odin. It doesnt matters what your security was, it will be reset to swipe.
When i root my phone, I never format or wipe anything, unless I want to flash a rom.
Incase something goes wrong, flash the stock rom, you wont have to format it.
You can find that on sammmobile site.
Do you have any experience in rooting?
If something goes wrong while installing twrp, like error while booting the device or bootloop on samsung Logo, then just flash the cfauto root file, it will restore your stock recovery.
Warning: There surely is a risk but I suppose there is no way out.
Let me know if it works or even if it doesn't.
Goodluck.
Reporting Via N910G
Hi all!
I searched the entire forum for a question similar to mine, but didnt find any thread about it.
I rooted my S7 Edge G935FD using odin, and the startup screen where i get to input my pattern generates me an "incorrect" pattern!!
Once I reflash my firmare back to stock...everything works back as normal, and im able to input my pattern successfully and log in to the phone.
Am I missing something? ?
ahmedmohsin said:
I rooted my S7 Edge G935FD using odin, and the startup screen where i get to input my pattern generates me an "incorrect" pattern!!
Once I reflash my firmare back to stock...everything works back as normal, and im able to input my pattern successfully and log in to the phone.
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Click to collapse
Does disabling the pattern lock and then rooting it work?
Not sure what seems to be the issue, but this https://forum.xda-developers.com/s7...overy-official-twrp-hero2lte-3-0-0-0-t3334084 works if you want to root ur phone. May as well flash a ROM (which will come with disable DM-Verity and root) while ur at it rather than root the phone using this method though (that's what I did anyways). I recommend Superman ROM.
Hope this helped
ahmedmohsin said:
Hi all!
I searched the entire forum for a question similar to mine, but didnt find any thread about it.
I rooted my S7 Edge G935FD using odin, and the startup screen where i get to input my pattern generates me an "incorrect" pattern!!
Once I reflash my firmare back to stock...everything works back as normal, and im able to input my pattern successfully and log in to the phone.
Am I missing something? ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes rooting or any major change to the operating system requires pin to be enable after the phone successful reboot and you get main, you can reset the pin to a pattern.
This is my understanding of what is need with any modifications to boot loader or kernal which rooting does.
I tried everything, from disabling fingerprint and pattern lock entirely to clearing the cache from the stock recovery menu, but still rooting or flashing TWRP cripples the phone into a Samsung logo stuck screen. The only way out is to re-flash back to complete stock.
Am I missing something? I recall rooting the S7 edge was much easier...whats going on?