Can I track my stolen phone by uploading tracking app to Dropbox?

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bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#133578 27-Oct-2013 09:35

Hi

My beloved HTC One phone was stolen (complete with wallet).   I've had it blocked (although waiting on Telecom for the transcript of 4 texts they sent before I blocked it), and I now have the same number SIM in my new phone.

I had (have) Dropbox on the phone, so all photos they take are uploading to my laptop   :-)

My question is, would it be possible to track the phone if I load some sort of locating/tracking app into Dropbox? If so, could someone please advise which might be the most accurate locater for me to upload?

Thanks

PS: I have loaded FindmyPhone on my new phone!

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85 posts

Master Geek

#922346 27-Oct-2013 09:38

you could try google device manager here https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

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bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#922352 27-Oct-2013 09:42

Wow Jonovw, I clicked on that link (from my laptop) and it immediately went looking for my phone! Message was 'location unavailable' - I guess that means it's turned off?
Thanks so much :-)

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#922354 27-Oct-2013 09:46

Even if you can't locate it you can still lock or erase the phone - unless they person using it now has reset it. This is probably not the case because as you say the photos are still uploading.

My suggestion is to open that and use the ERASE option so no one has access to your data.

Trying to find it will be futile, really.

andrewNZ

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#922359 27-Oct-2013 09:50

Shouldn't the photos be geotagged !?!

bramwell

161 posts

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#922364 27-Oct-2013 10:11

That would be interesting - how do I find geotags on the photos? Thanks

johnr

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#922365 27-Oct-2013 10:12

I can tell you now Telecom will not be handing over the content of the SMS that were sent before it was blocked if they do it's a privacy breach

andrewNZ

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#922374 27-Oct-2013 10:30

Doesn't Google+ use the geotags to map and group photos?

ubernoob

576 posts

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#922382 27-Oct-2013 10:49

jonovw: you could try google device manager here https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

Wow who knew. It got my phone within 22 metres. Saved to my favourites so I can delete and lock my phone if I loose it

Thanks for the link

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#922398 27-Oct-2013 11:45

Thanks everyone for your help.
ADM is a great service but unfortunately it looks as though they're not hooked up to wifi or even a cell provider as ADM cannot find the location.
Geotags give me the same co-ordinates for all of my photos (taken in different places) so perhaps I didn't have geotagging turned on.

freitasm

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#922417 27-Oct-2013 12:29

The lock/erase commands should be available even without a GPS lock.

jonovw

85 posts

Master Geek

#922426 27-Oct-2013 13:08

but you won't be able to wipe or lock it without it being connected to the internet

andrewNZ

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#922427 27-Oct-2013 13:10

If it's uploading photos to dropbox, it's connected. It's just inside, or they've turned location services off.

timmmay

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#922429 27-Oct-2013 13:16

Cerebus is the application you need to install, before it gets stolen. Ideally you install it as a system app through a custom boot loader, it's difficult to uninstall, and if you install the invisible version people won't even know it's there. It can track things, you can txt it to turn GPS and mobile data on, wipe the phone, etc.

johnr: I can tell you now Telecom will not be handing over the content of the SMS that were sent before it was blocked if they do it's a privacy breach

How is it a privacy breach if it's a phone you own? Just because someone else has sent a txt on it and has the phone it still belongs to the owner.

freitasm

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#922431 27-Oct-2013 13:19

You think like that but the law says differently... Sad but dura lex sed lex.

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#922432 27-Oct-2013 13:23

AndrewNZ, why didn't I realise that? Thanks! So do you think if they take the phone outside ADM might find it? Or would I be best to 'push' another tracking application onto the phone via Google?

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