App to locate phone and remotely lock phone?

[ExigeDriver]

I had a scare today where I left my phone at the gym and thought I had lost it.

Whats a good app to locate the phone remotely? (preferably works with GPS AND cell tower location, because I don't have GPS on most of the time.)

It would be nice to be able to remotely lock it as well... looks like there are some options available but I'm not sure which one works. The thing with the app store is that you can't sort by reviews, its hard to tell which app is good and which one doesn't work

 

[broadwayblue]

Sounds like you need the new HTC Sense...hopefully we'll be getting it soon!

 

[ExigeDriver]

Sounds like you need the new HTC Sense...hopefully we'll be getting it soon!

ooh that is sweet! any idea when we'll be getting it?

 

[68Novaman]

Yeah thats just amazing...but there is an app. Its called Lost Phone in the market. You can set it up so that you text your phone from another phone with the code and it will lock the phone and put a message saying "This phone belongs to ......." "You can return it by calling one of the following numbers 555-555-555" if you set it up correctly it will work. There are a few comments about the GPS portion not working or it not having it I cant remember right now but check it out its worth it for now and its free so you cant go wrong.

 

[Roq]

Wheres my droid is also a great app.

 

[Slick1020]

I had a scare today where I left my phone at the gym and thought I had lost it.

Whats a good app to locate the phone remotely? (preferably works with GPS AND cell tower location, because I don't have GPS on most of the time.)

It would be nice to be able to remotely lock it as well... looks like there are some options available but I'm not sure which one works. The thing with the app store is that you can't sort by reviews, its hard to tell which app is good and which one doesn't work

You can see how many "stars" an app has. I normally do not download apps with less than 4 1/2 stars.

 

[Slick1020]

I want that new HTC sense.

 

[tech411]

Try Lookout.
Lookout Antivirus & Security - Android app on AppBrain

 

[tsipa]

I had a scare today where I left my phone at the gym and thought I had lost it.

Whats a good app to locate the phone remotely? (preferably works with GPS AND cell tower location, because I don't have GPS on most of the time.)

It would be nice to be able to remotely lock it as well... looks like there are some options available but I'm not sure which one works. The thing with the app store is that you can't sort by reviews, its hard to tell which app is good and which one doesn't work

Lookout is good but Mobile Defense is exactly what you are looking for.

 

[jmfryer1978]

I personally use "tasker". I've got 2 profiles set up, these do :

Profile 1 : I can text a code to my phone from any other which when received will start up the GPS, wait a couple of minutes to get a fix (it also uses cell towers) and then text back with a link to Google Maps showing it's location.

Profile 2: Again, by texting a preset code to my phone it will set the media volume to maximum (in case it's on silent) and play a song on a continuous loop until I find it.

Both profiles lock the phone and turn the keyguard on.

So much more that Tasker can do but it's worth the price just for that I reckon.

 

[Chroma]

I'm using lockout with does all above and you can make your phone "scream" to audio-located it, if you suspect you're close.

 

[pavirotten]

Lookout is good but Mobile Defense is exactly what you are looking for.

The last time I checked Mobile Defense was only taking your information in order to contact you when it was available. I had it before I rooted, but I've been unable to download it since.

I have WaveSecure that does everything the OP is wanting. I downloaded it free when it was still in Beta and have a free lifetime subscription on this phone only. It's now around $10/annually though.

 

[nowires]

Wave Secure is working well for me. Has locate, wipe, and backup. Product is reasonably mature at this point. I picked it up under the free beta, they are charging for now. McAfee has bought the company so time will tell whether that's good news or bad.

 

[UncleMike]

I'm using Tasker for this as well, on my son's phone. It has no ability yo wipe the phone, but I have it set to respond to certain SMS messages.

One locates the phone by GPS and reply to the sender with a Google Maps link to the location, and to send an update every 10 minutes. It also disables Wifi and Mobile Data when not performing the location function, to preserve battery life while still allowing further SMS messages to be received.

Another causes the phone to maximize the media volume and play an notification tone for 6 seconds, and repeat every minute. I'm using an old Nextel ringtone, so it's pretty loud and ear-piercing.

When either of the other two are active, every time the display is unlocked, a popup message appears indicating that the phone has been reported lost or stolen, and indicates the sender's number and an alternate number to call in order to return the phone, then pops up the dialer with the alternate number already filled in. It then sets the display timeout to 7 seconds, so the display quickly turns off, and the process repeats.

Also, when either of the above are active, I have it set the ringtone to the same Nextel ringtone, and maximize the volume when a call comes in from my Google Voice number. (even though I don't see a use for this in conjunction with the repeating sound every minute)

I'm still debating locking the phone (Tasker has a lock function), because if someone finds the phone, I want them to be able to make the above call. Besides that, (I may be wrong, but) I consider Tasker's lock function to be on the weaker side, and expect it will only keep honest people honest.

Now if only there were a way to make the device turn back on (like on a Blackberry), so I could eventually find the phone even if it was turned off at the time it was lost.

 

[ArmadaTattoo]

I'm using Tasker for this as well, on my son's phone. It has no ability yo wipe the phone, but I have it set to respond to certain SMS messages.

One locates the phone by GPS and reply to the sender with a Google Maps link to the location, and to send an update every 10 minutes. It also disables Wifi and Mobile Data when not performing the location function, to preserve battery life while still allowing further SMS messages to be received.

Another causes the phone to maximize the media volume and play an notification tone for 6 seconds, and repeat every minute. I'm using an old Nextel ringtone, so it's pretty loud and ear-piercing.

When either of the other two are active, every time the display is unlocked, a popup message appears indicating that the phone has been reported lost or stolen, and indicates the sender's number and an alternate number to call in order to return the phone, then pops up the dialer with the alternate number already filled in. It then sets the display timeout to 7 seconds, so the display quickly turns off, and the process repeats.

Also, when either of the above are active, I have it set the ringtone to the same Nextel ringtone, and maximize the volume when a call comes in from my Google Voice number. (even though I don't see a use for this in conjunction with the repeating sound every minute)

I'm still debating locking the phone (Tasker has a lock function), because if someone finds the phone, I want them to be able to make the above call. Besides that, (I may be wrong, but) I consider Tasker's lock function to be on the weaker side, and expect it will only keep honest people honest.

Now if only there were a way to make the device turn back on (like on a Blackberry), so I could eventually find the phone even if it was turned off at the time it was lost.

Hi UncleMike, very impressive set of profiles. Is there a step by step guide to setting this up on Tasker? I just got it and am trying out different things but this application is not something I want to wait to get up and running, just encase.

If not, no worries.

 

[mr504]

I personally use "tasker". I've got 2 profiles set up, these do :

Profile 1 : I can text a code to my phone from any other which when received will start up the GPS, wait a couple of minutes to get a fix (it also uses cell towers) and then text back with a link to Google Maps showing it's location.

Profile 2: Again, by texting a preset code to my phone it will set the media volume to maximum (in case it's on silent) and play a song on a continuous loop until I find it.

Both profiles lock the phone and turn the keyguard on.

So much more that Tasker can do but it's worth the price just for that I reckon.

I'm looking to this with Tasker.

Can you list the steps you set up for each profile?

I have an Evo, and the app is great, and complicated at the same time.

My wife just lost her BB, so i want to set this up for a new droid we're looking to get

Thanks

 

[Rootmepls]

Seek Droid
Control the following from our secure web site:

- Locate your device
- Remotely Enable GPS
- Display its location on a map
- Audible alarm (even on silent)
w/ custom message
- Lock device w/ custom code
- Retrieve recent calls
- Remotely wipe entire phone
- Remotely wipe SD Card
- Hide from app drawer
- Disable App from being
uninstalled
- Virtually no battery drain
- Works without a SIM Card
- More features coming soon!



This thing is so cool I almost look forward to losing my phone. Well, maybe not. Still hella cool.

 

[lexluthor]

+1 for seek droid

 

[AngryHatter]

Call Verizon and have them lock it.
Duh.

 

[brianr8011]

+1 Seek Droid.

I installed it before a recent trip out of the country, but thankfully did not need to use it. The one thing I figured out when testing it though was that you have to already be using a pin or password for the remote lock function to work like you would want. I was not (at that time) using a password, so when I would lock it from the website, it would simply turn the screen off. To get back in, you just had to slide the screen lock.

 

[CodeMonkey]

+1 for Tasker

I have SMS initiated alarm, lock and locate profiles, plus a lockdown profile that combines the 3.

I back that up further with the freeware Prey which (being cross platform) I've also deployed to my macbook and my Windows Home Server.

 

[Rootmepls]

+1 Seek Droid.

I installed it before a recent trip out of the country, but thankfully did not need to use it. The one thing I figured out when testing it though was that you have to already be using a pin or password for the remote lock function to work like you would want. I was not (at that time) using a password, so when I would lock it from the website, it would simply turn the screen off. To get back in, you just had to slide the screen lock.

They may have changed that brian. I rarely lock my phone and playing around with Seek Droid was able to lock it remotely and set a pin.

 

[Pinmac1]

This thread reminded me to test my Seekdroid to check I remembered password etc. I had forgotten how good it is! The alarm is so loud and instant it made me jump. The location shows it as in my next-door neighbour's garden..... I did frighten myself by locking it assuming that my SeekDroid password would unlock it. I didn't and I panicked a bit until I realised that I could unlock it from the website. What password is it looking for as I don't remember setting a different one? Great app and so easy to use.

I also have Lookout but the alarm function is inconsistent - it once went off the day after I had tried to set it off which could have been embarrassing as it was extremely loud.

 

[Android25]

Anyone use the remote wipe and remote sd wipe yet on Seek Droid? Not something I want to test out on my own