Preyproject - lost phone app

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semigeek

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Topic # 84736 7-Jun-2011 12:24

Thought this might be useful if you haven't heard about it before. I was just reading on here about someone with a lost phone, so in that situation this could be useful. Prey is an opensource anti-theft solution for phones and laptops. Works on Android obviously.
http://preyproject.com/

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Reply # 478497 7-Jun-2011 12:31

Does it use up system resources in the background all the time, or does it only switch it self on when you sen the wake up sms?

semigeek

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Reply # 478501 7-Jun-2011 12:38

Just installed it, so still working my way through settings etc. I think it only does it when sending it a SMS

blakamin

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Reply # 478556 7-Jun-2011 14:50

Sits in the background according to the video. Lots of complaints of it not working on the android market (ignoring the ones about uninstalling, obviously) :/

stevenz

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Reply # 478557 7-Jun-2011 14:51

It'll be an inert process that only triggers when an SMS is received and if the SMS contains the activation code then it'll start up properly and do its thing.

Sounds pretty good, I'll have to investigate.

@KnightNZ

blakamin

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Reply # 478563 7-Jun-2011 15:14

Got mrs to text me 15mins ago... going to give it another 6. Not done anything so far.

codyc1515

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Reply # 478565 7-Jun-2011 15:16

Yes, but what if (and this will most certainly happen if the phone gets stolen) the sim card gets taken out?

blakamin

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Reply # 478572 7-Jun-2011 15:28

You hope you realise it's gone before someone has a chance.

Well, activation by SMS does nothing on my phone. Activated manually thru the app and am now waiting a report...

blakamin

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Reply # 478587 7-Jun-2011 15:56

Well, I ran it for an hour, about half that time it was listed as missing (through the app as the SMS did nothing) and I recieved no reports whatsoever even thought it was set for every 10 minutes.

That was a bit of a waste of life.

stevenz

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Reply # 478589 7-Jun-2011 15:59

Try lookout. It scans for malware too. Additional functionality available via the paid "pro" version.

@KnightNZ

BLazeD

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Reply # 478590 7-Jun-2011 16:01

wavesecure.com is meant to do the same thing, I have subscribed and it seems to work

blakamin

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Reply # 478596 7-Jun-2011 16:05

I had lookout for the malware thing (unistalled to put prey on) but I'm pretty sure the missing device thing never worked in that either. It revies a text from lookout, but never establishes the connection. Must be me.

I'll just have to not lose my phone!

nairda

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Reply # 478598 7-Jun-2011 16:06

codyc1515: Yes, but what if (and this will most certainly happen if the phone gets stolen) the sim card gets taken out?

There are two options called "Warn on SIM change" and "Contact to notify". I presume (without trying it) that the contact is sent an SMS once the SIM card is changed.

nairda

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Reply # 478599 7-Jun-2011 16:08

blakamin: Well, I ran it for an hour, about half that time it was listed as missing (through the app as the SMS did nothing) and I recieved no reports whatsoever even thought it was set for every 10 minutes.

That was a bit of a waste of life.

It worked for me. I have a laptop and an HTC Desire HD attached to my account. The phone seems to send a report very quickly (within a couple of minutes) whereas the laptop seems to take a bit longer.

defragger

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Reply # 478605 7-Jun-2011 16:19

This looks interesting. However I can't even seem to the the verification email sent to my email account. Not a good start...

blakamin

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Reply # 478611 7-Jun-2011 16:35

It took 10 mins for the email to come through for me.

I have found something that works after your phone is gone! "Lookout Plan B"

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