Is it possible to prevent your gps been disabled if it's stolen?

seligehgit

I was just wondering if it is possible to prevent my htc sensation gps been disabled if it is stolen?I'd like be able to locate it etc via seek droid or mylookout.

srsly78

Not without blocking the whole phone by reporting it. All those anti-theft apps are a bit pointless vs any tech-savvy thief. Very simple to just factory-reset phone -> all your anti-theft stuff wiped.

Kenny Logins

There is an app that can be installed remotely and will enable GPS. More here -

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74396233

johnny_adidas

the thing is to use the tracking software in conjunction with an app which locks access/settings etc. if the phone is rooted though and the thief is tech savvy then it wont matter.
that said i found the app lock to be a nuisance and eventually uninstalled

SMS GPS Enabler

wouldn't help a lot if phone was indoors anyways as no gps signal.

srsly78

Or if they take your simcard out.

paddyandy

Are you saying there really is'nt any way to prevent a stolen phone being reused no matter what you do.Security is useless if the thief is tech savvy?

srsly78

paddyandy wrote: »

Are you saying there really is'nt any way to prevent a stolen phone being reused no matter what you do.Security is useless if the thief is tech savvy?

You can stop the phone being reused by reporting it stolen, and thus getting the IMEI blocked. This will turn your phone into a brick, but not get it back.

5500

srsly78 wrote: »

You can stop the phone being reused by reporting it stolen, and thus getting the IMEI blocked. This will turn your phone into a brick, but not get it back.

Worth mentioning that it'l only be a brick in Ireland most likely and not any other country. Im suprised the powers in europe havn't implemented a cross border blocked imei database yet which would pretty much kill off any stolen phones being sold on the likes of ebay or traded in for recycling

animaal

What you want is an app called Theft Aware. It installs itself in with the Operating System, so even a reset doesn't get rid of it. And you pick your own name for the process, so there's no "Theft Aware" entry if a thief looks at it. If somebody puts a new SIM in the phone, it'll automatically send an SMS to a number you've pre-selected, to tell you. And you can control the phone remotely, to make it send you updates on its location. Top class app.

Inquitus

animaal wrote: »

What you want is an app called Theft Aware. It installs itself in with the Operating System, so even a reset doesn't get rid of it. And you pick your own name for the process, so there's no "Theft Aware" entry if a thief looks at it. If somebody puts a new SIM in the phone, it'll automatically send an SMS to a number you've pre-selected, to tell you. And you can control the phone remotely, to make it send you updates on its location. Top class app.

Its easily beaten, and easily discovered, if you know what you are at. That said its fair to assume most mobile thieves are opportunists and not savvy in Android, and there are a few good apps like this that will give you a fighting chance of getting your phone back.

madmoe

My first Sensation fell out of me pocket in a taxi and although I had Wavesecure on it etc. I never got it back :-( Determined not to let this happen again so gonna try Theft Aware.

Cheers,
M

PogMoThoin

It's not about getting it back, I'd be more concerned with wiping the personal info it contains, all my personal and work emails and logins. I use Lastpass and Xmarks on Dolphin so the phone has all my bookmarks and passwords, a big risk. I use WatchDroid for this, I bought the paid version. It texts me the number (to a designated number) of the new Sim inserted and I can remote lock and wipe the phone with a text (many other features, this is the only one really interests me). The app is also hidden and locked, they can't remove it, they can only reset the phone which saves me the bother and protects my personal info.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.androgone.simwatchdog&feature=search_result

Boooourns

I bought seekdroid, if my phone ever gets robbed i can wipe it from my computer, it can be hidden on the phone as well. It can also track it but it needs GPS or WiFi switched on.
Since i don't have GPS or WiFi switched on i also have pintail installed, you set your PIN and if your phone goes missing you text (from another phone obviously) locate ****(pin number) and you get a text back with the location of your phone in google map text format.

I think i have all bases covered!

srsly78

It is not possible to "cover all bases", stop spreading false sense of security.

Using pretty much the same procedure as you would for flashing a new rom you can overwrite the recovery image, then take a nandroid backup of the entire device.

In reality it's unlikely Mossad are actually after you, but even an average joe could copy all your data if they wanted with a bit of effort. More likely random scumbag just wants to nick your phone. They will probably sell it to one of those little phone shops, who can easily wipe it.

Sure these apps might be useful if you accidentally lost your phone, and they might even catch a stupid thief. They do not provide 100% safety as you claim however.