Best security options? Enable GPS when stolen, etc...

[Brent Pierce]

Just curious, are there any methods or apps that add security to your phone? Like locating a stolen phone, or wiping memory when stolen, etc.

One idea, if the phone is lost or stolen: I use Locale. I could set a condition that triggers the "open shortcut" situation, and turns ON Google Latitude. The condition could be a calendar event. When I realize that the phone is lost or stolen, I could set a G-cal event that starts immediately, so when the phone syncs the calendar to Google, it triggers the Locale condition/situation.

-If you don't use Locale, you are probably really confused after reading that. That's ok.
--Google Latitude basically shows you and your friends on a G-map. That way, when it gets stolen, I could go to Latitude on my comp and find my stolen phone. It's bundled with Google Maps (I think).

I want to hear what you guys use for security on your phones. Whether it's a simple app that lets you find it around the house (Wheres My Droid), or something more complex, like the idea above.

Let's get people's input on this!

 

[skittlesV1]

This is a good idea im also curious to see what people use. I dont use anything but im looking for something to start using asap.

 

[as329]

I downloaded mobile defense from the market (can't seem to find it there now, maybe I got it from the site below). It's free now, but looks like it's set up to be a subscription app at some point. Locates, wipes, locks the phone. It will tell me what wifi network it is on and is pretty good at determining the phone's location. And latitude is the backup.

https://www.mobiledefense.com/

Another edit: I just tried to put this on my wife's phone and apparently it's in beta and they've suspended downloads. When I got it 5 weeks ago, it wasn't. Anyway, it's cool.

 

[kaisies]

Just curious, are there any methods or apps that add security to your phone? Like locating a stolen phone, or wiping memory when stolen, etc.

One idea, if the phone is lost or stolen: I use Locale. I could set a condition that triggers the "open shortcut" situation, and turns ON Google Latitude. The condition could be a calendar event. When I realize that the phone is lost or stolen, I could set a G-cal event that starts immediately, so when the phone syncs the calendar to Google, it triggers the Locale condition/situation.

-If you don't use Locale, you are probably really confused after reading that. That's ok.
--Google Latitude basically shows you and your friends on a G-map. That way, when it gets stolen, I could go to Latitude on my comp and find my stolen phone. It's bundled with Google Maps (I think).

I want to hear what you guys use for security on your phones. Whether it's a simple app that lets you find it around the house (Wheres My Droid), or something more complex, like the idea above.

Let's get people's input on this!

where'd my droid is cool, and then set the text to something innocuous

 

[RiverOfIce]

Encypted and backed up. If the phone is lost, they would have to delete it to use it, which means they can not use it. It will be reported lost or stolen.

I can see remote wipe, but wonder what would happen if someone hacks the system.

But really if it is lost, I doubt I want to find it again or the person that has stolen or found it.

 

[Brent Pierce]

I did some searching around. There's a few options. Mobile Defense, as stated above, but that's not currently offered, as it's just out of beta stage. WaveSecure, but that seems to cost $20 a year, and has some bad reviews.

The best app that I've found that can locate the phone when stolen, or send a VERY LOUD siren to locate your phone locally, is Lookout Mobile Security. You can log-on to www.MyLookout.com and find your phone with an onscreen map, start a LOUD siren/alarm, backup your contacts/pictures/call history, and do anti-virus scans.

Very useful, I wish you could remotely LOCK your phone. But I'll do some more looking around.

 

[CriticalCritic]

I did some searching around. There's a few options. Mobile Defense, as stated above, but that's not currently offered, as it's just out of beta stage. WaveSecure, but that seems to cost $20 a year, and has some bad reviews.

The best app that I've found that can locate the phone when stolen, or send a VERY LOUD siren to locate your phone locally, is Lookout Mobile Security. You can log-on to www.MyLookout.com and find your phone with an onscreen map, start a LOUD siren/alarm, backup your contacts/pictures/call history, and do anti-virus scans.

Very useful, I wish you could remotely LOCK your phone. But I'll do some more looking around.

WaveSecure finally came out of free beta? Well, that's both good and bad I guess... BTW, WaveSecure said that it could remotely backup/wipe/lock and GPS track your phone. Though I didn't like it. I tried it to see if the activating GPS stuff would work... it didn't so I got rid of it. Though again, that was a few months back when it was free.

Where'sMyDroid is a sweet app. It's low cost and uses surprisingly low resources. It only does a couple things but it does them well. maybe...

Basically, it's incredibly convenient because if you lose your phone you can pick up anyone else's phone around you and text a keyword to your phone number. This will set the volume to maximum and set off whatever ringer or alarm that you like. It also has the option to text a keyword that enables GPS tracking... though I have yet to try this option. So although it doesn't lock or wipe or backup, it does help in situations where you quickly realize you misplaced/lost your phone. And again, it is very very low on resource consumption.

 

[this n00b again]

Lets say you lost your phone. I think there were a few apps that you could install that could help you recover it. something that like sends back it's location and stuff.

What do you use?

 

[dan330]

Lets say you lost your phone. I think there were a few apps that you could install that could help you recover it. something that like sends back it's location and stuff.

What do you use?

i am currently using Wavesecure.. but that cost $20 a year.
there are a few other free ones.

but.. HTC is working on the new Sense with HTCsense.com. One new feature is finding lost phones! I here that EVO will get this new Sense. It might be Q1 2011 before it is available.

 

[chrisco_kid]

lookout has an online homing system that uses your gps to locate it, also has a scream feature that you activate on the website and your phone will make a siren noise for about a minute, not to mention lookout is an antivirus, and also totally, well worth a try.

 

[s_special]

wheres my droid app

 

[Shawnz]

wheres my droid app

This works but you see the txt message that activates it.

Lookout does it completely silent. All you see is the location bing uploaded via the satellite dish icon.

 

[fluxbox]

I use lookout. It's beast.

 

[YaBoiD]

Check out Tasker - Android app on AppBrain
TONS of options!
Tasker for Android

 

[dextherex]

i use lookout as well. very satisfied.

 

[JMac202]

I had lookout on my Hero. One of the first things I installed on my Evo.

 

[teknagen]

I think lookout is pretty useless app.

1. With out gps enabled you will not find its exact location. Who actually leaves there gps on all the time?

2. If your phone doesn't have password lock on they can just factory reset on it.
Even if your phone does have password enabled they can just wipe it simply by holding volume button down and power on then clear storage

 

[AndroidSPCS]

The next version of HTC Sense will have auto-locate / wipe features baked in.

 

[Deleted User]

I think lookout is pretty useless app.

1. With out gps enabled you will not find its exact location. Who actually leaves there gps on all the time?

2. If your phone doesn't have password lock on they can just factory reset on it.
Even if your phone does have password enabled they can just wipe it simply by holding volume button down and power on then clear storage

1. I leave my GPS on all the time (and no, my battery last a decent amount of time with it on).

2. If someone ever steals my phone, I bet they won't be smart enough to do that. They'll just try and use it, or spend a few days trying to clear it.

 

[dan330]

I leave the GPS on all the time... the phone dont actually use it or power it on.. till a program ask for data from the GPS chip.

I have a HERO...

 

[erichg1000]

I think lookout is pretty useless app.

1. With out gps enabled you will not find its exact location. Who actually leaves there gps on all the time?

2. If your phone doesn't have password lock on they can just factory reset on it.
Even if your phone does have password enabled they can just wipe it simply by holding volume button down and power on then clear storage

I leave my GPS on all the time. Why would you not? If you think it drains your battery - it doesn't GPS will only be used if you are running an app that requires GPS. I started to leave my GPS on all the time after I installed Where's My Droid so that I could locate it if lost or stolen. I don't care if they see the text that activates the app they would just think it is a regular old text.

I have seen the exact same battery usage since I started leaving the GPS toggled on all the time.

 

[AlkiDweller]

I also leave my GPS on all the time and I rarely see the GPS icon in the status bar. It doesn't seem to affect the battery much.

And Lookout is great. If your phone is stolen, locate it through their web site, get as close to it as you can and then have a friend turn the siren on.

 

[hambonewc]

GPS on all the time too. And its awesome. I've used mylookout to find my phone 4 times. Works flawlessly. Also enable data backup nightly and if your phone is stolen you can go to the website and see incoming/outgoing call log and also see what pictures have been taken with the phone. App is downright awesome!

 

[JMac202]

I too leave GPS on all the time and bluetooth for that matter.

Lookout is an awesome app.

 

[ewingr]

Any of these apps work if you use Google voice for your texting?