Root Mobile defense as a system app?

[shademar]

Out of curiosity, as anyone rooted installed mobile defense as a system app and tried the remote GPS turn-on feature? Tracking the phone would be my main use for such a service, but I rarely have GPS running...

 

[dougwilson2000]

First of all tracking your phone with GPS OFF is impossible to be accuate. Second just because your GPS is turned on does not mean it is running and drawing battery power, it has to have an app to tell it to actually run. I have mine on constantly and it only draws power when I turn on an app that needs the info..

 

[shademar]

Yes, I'm aware of both facts, but I've tried running all day both with and without GPS and found that even when not running Nav, my battery life gets dinged. Not decimated, but noticeably dinged. It may be various geolocative apps defaulting to the better localization method every x hours, but it has enough of an effect that I don't see the point of running it the 95% of the time I don't need it. UNLESS...I lose my phone .

Enter mobile defense, which can be installed as a system app on rooted phones to allow you to turn on GPS remotely. Thus, no battery dinging, and I'm still able to find my phone. I was running Wavesecure previously, and I just wanted to know if anyone who was rooted had tried this?

If not, I'll try it and update for the sake of anyone who might search on the subject.

 

[dougwilson2000]

You can not turn on your GPS REMOTELY. Read the app info and it will tell you that Google security will block remote turn on feature. Secutity update from Google has made that feature useless. This is why GPS MUST be on when it is lost if not you will get the tower location and not the phones.
I at first did not know this until I really read the app. Yes it has an option but it also says it will not work.

 

[shademar]

You can not turn on your GPS REMOTELY. .

That's sort of the whole point of the thread.

By the way, instructions on thusly installing the app on a droid using adb can be found here if anyone else is interested. I'm also intrigued because mob defense doesn't show up in your app list (or notification bar) once activated, making it more useful in the case of outright malfeasance than an app you could just pick out of the list and uninstall. Unfortunately, malfeasance isn't all that uncommon, so being able to turn on gps and track someone who ganked your phone even if they knew enough to turn gps off also sounds useful...

 

[shademar]

You can not turn on your GPS REMOTELY. Read the app info and it will tell you that Google security will block remote turn on feature. Secutity update from Google has made that feature useless. This is why GPS MUST be on when it is lost if not you will get the tower location and not the phones.
I at first did not know this until I really read the app. Yes it has an option but it also says it will not work.

From the website:
Note auto-enable.
Note root access.
This is not same functionality as the Market-installed version, but a for-root variant released by the same company. They mention the moto droid being supported in this respect in their FAQ (again, check the site, not the market.)

The comments from the market are apparently due to the fact that remote activation was possible in android 1.X, but not 2.X. Until rooting, that is.

Description
This tutorial outlines the necessary steps required to install Mobile Defense as a system application. When Mobile Defense is installed as a system application it can auto-enable your location providers (both Wireless and GPS) as needed. This is especially helpful if your device has been lost or stolen, and one or both providers is currently disabled. By following the steps below, you'll also discover that Mobile Defense cannot be uninstalled.
As far as application updates go, nothing changes. You will still receive notifications when updates are available and have the ability to update via the Market as needed.
Disclaimer: This tutorial is intended for advanced Android users only and should be performed at your own risk. We recommend doing a full backup of your phone using Nandroid prior to performing this tutorial.
Prerequisites
Must have Android Debug Bridge (adb) installed
Must have ROOT access
Install Instructions

Anyways, I myself don't know if it works, which was why I was hoping that someone here had an answer...

 

[dougwilson2000]

Ok my bad. IDK. I will stay out of this. They must be bypassing security on the phone. Not sure if I would want the hole (acess point) myself.
At least this is been bumped up. Lol

 

[shademar]

Ok my bad. IDK. I will stay out of this. They must be bypassing security on the phone. Not sure if I would want the hole (acess point) myself.
At least this is been bumped up. Lol

Heh, I guess I'm still a little leery of it myself, but the company seems to have pretty good rep and a pretty good history across other smartphones, so it's worth a try.

I'll report back in the next few...

 

[magnus]

Any updates on this?

 

[mrthundercleese]

Yes I've done it. It works .

 

[bronco401]

Worked for me

 

[infiedlxx]

I am trying to do it but I am lost. I did have it installed from the market and found it very useful. I am currently trying to install it as a SYS app. But I cant figure it out.

 

[xjestersdeadx]

If you have it installed already from the market, uninstall it.

Download the latest mobile defense apk

Connect your phone, mount your sdcard.

Copy the .apk file you downloaded to the root of your sdcard

Disconnect your phone.

Open terminal and enter:

# su
# mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
# cat /sdcard/com.neevo.mobiledefense.apk > /system/app/com.neevo.mobiledefense.apk
# mount -o remount,ro -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
# reboot

After your phone reboots if it worked you will be prompted to go through the setup of Mobile Defense again. Once its set up and confirmed, the Mobile Defense icon will automatically delete so it will be undetectable on your system.

 

[infiedlxx]

Got it to work! Thanks a million. This is a great application. I turned off the GPS and then ran a test. The phone kept prompting me to allow GPS to turn on and i denied it everytime. But it did not matter mobiledefense turned on the GPS anyway. It located the phone exactly within 50 seconds. I powered down the phone and when I powered it back up the Alert on the phone was still active. It has a very loud and annoying defense and I love the custom message you can leave the thief.

 

[tommy_ed]

one more reason to root my phone...

 

[pharpe]

Anyone know where I can find the latest Mobile Defense apk?

 

[piverson]

Hey I have tried to get a copy of that mobile defense......cant seem to find it any where...can you hook me up with a upload ?
or email the file apk format ? jaggededgesigns@yahoo.com

thnx if you can thnx if you cant ...thnx for trying.......