Best anti-theft and recovery app?

Forums › Android › Best anti-theft and recovery app?

peejayw

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#146850 30-May-2014 20:35

Looking for a security app that will assist in recovery of a lost or stolen phone. I see that the new version of Lookout can take a photo of the user after incorrect unlock attempts but its a subscription app.
Cerberus seems popular too, its a one-off payment and they tell me it can take photos as well although I couldnt see that on the PlayStore description.
Any users of either of these or indeed any other security app care to comment on their functionality?
Thanks.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

n4

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#1056858 30-May-2014 20:49

Android device manager is free...

I have Cerebus at up on a couple of devices. The photo thing rarely tasks useful pictures in my experience, due to the way people hold devices (my kids often enter the wrong pin).

Samsung Note20 Ultra, on 2degrees

jeffnz

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#1056863 30-May-2014 20:55

I have used cerberus for a couple of years and it works very well. I lost my phone and was able to track and recover it quickly. It was picked up by someone and I managed to get a photo of them, message them to drop it off back at shop and locked it, was very relieved when they returned it as it was my 2 week old S4.

Galaxy S10

Garmin Fenix 5

blakamin

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#1056864 30-May-2014 20:55

I found cerberus too easy to get rid of and found it did sweet FA... Then, last year, they found a security hole... Then they got hacked in March...

Edit: this is just my opinion. I actually never let my phone out of my sight.. It's either in my pocket, my hand or within reach in my house. :)

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#1056900 30-May-2014 22:31

Prey Project or Symantec Norton (which I use)...

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Athlonite

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#1056933 31-May-2014 04:46

a cheap cover a drill and some string about 1 meter should suffice

Drill hole in cheap cover
tie string to cheap cover
insert phone into cheap cover
tie string to wrist

never loose phone again unless someone cuts the string but not likely you wont notice that happening at the time

1eStar

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#1056944 31-May-2014 08:25

My smartwatch does the above wirelessly. As soon as I'm out of range of the phone, buzz buzz buzz says the wrist.

I use Android device manager. Just make sure you give it administrator privileges or else it's a little useless.

My latest security addition is called autolockphone, an app on my Sony Smartwatch. As soon as I get out of range of phone, or smartwatch is switched off, it triggers the lock screen on the phone. While in range, there's no lock screen. I'm loving the convenience.

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timmmay

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#1056948 31-May-2014 08:54

Cerberus. If you're rooted you can install it as a system app which makes it difficult to remove.

blakamin

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#1057183 31-May-2014 18:59

timmmay: Cerberus. If you're rooted you can install it as a system app which makes it difficult to remove.

If your phone is rooted, and you know what you're doing (have physical access to the actual phone) it's easy to remove.

timmmay

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#1057210 31-May-2014 20:41

blakamin:
timmmay: Cerberus. If you're rooted you can install it as a system app which makes it difficult to remove.

If your phone is rooted, and you know what you're doing (have physical access to the actual phone) it's easy to remove.

Bugger.

richms

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#1057588 1-Jun-2014 16:00

None of these apps help if a phone is taken in a snatch and run when you are using it which is how most people I know have lost their phones rather than stolen while unattended.

Richard rich.ms