My precious EVO was stolen

cabbie · Mar 29, 2011

I was at work. It was in an large area open to the public but it was hidden because I had it on the charger I was flashing a kernel.

I had to attend to something for less than 5 minutes and when I walked back it was gone.

I had Lookout Mobile on it and I instantly logged in. For the longest time, it was right in the immediate area. I sent screams to it as well as people calling. Nothing. I called Assurion and tried to have them locate it, but they couldn't find it.

As I kept refreshing the page and walking around trying to find it, I saw that the thug had left and was 5 miles, then 10 miles away. Then communication broke off.

I've kept my HTC Hero updated over wifi. I went to the sprint store, filed an Assurion claim, and had it activated so I was back in business with a working, archaic phone. But I was so stressed I didn't think to upgrade to Lookout premium and remotely wipe the phone before the new phone activation bumped the evo off the network.

I've changed all my passwords. I really want to know if theres a way I can remotely brick it. It cant get on sprint's network but it'd still be usable over wifi.

I had it running on CM7 RC3 so I'm fairly sure thug is not even going to know wtf he is looking at. What hurts the most is that it had a 32 GB micro-sd in it that I received as a gift. I am going to get an evo in the mail, but not the micro-sd. I'm just glad I had it naked today so I didn't have to replace my otterbox.

I showed up to the sprint store at 4am on launch day and it's been my baby. Now, all I want to do is find a way to reach out through the innerwebs to it and kill it forever because I'm never going to see it again.

Enjoy the tech podcasts and pictures of my dog, you POS, wherever you are.

Slick1020 · Mar 29, 2011

Sorry to hear that man. I wish people would test out Where's My Droid. That app will try to return a street address to you of your phone.

Do you think Sprint would have given you a deal on the new 3D if you decided you didn't want a refurbished phone? I am asking because my phone still looks brand spanking new and I heard the EVO refurbs do not come in great condition.

Evo 5oh · Mar 29, 2011

Download Total Equipment Protection App from the Market by Sprint I believe is free and helps you locate by computer and erase contacts lock device sync manage and restore contacts. I have it but i havent try it

Slick1020 · Mar 29, 2011

I just tested out SeekDroid and it blows. Doesn't give you an accurate location using GPS even if someone is in a large building or complex. You would have to wait outside for the person then call your phone and watch the person answer. I need an app that gives me real time tracking. SeekDroid takes too long to find your phone in my opinion. If someone is going out the door with your phone I want to see it happening real time. What needs to happen is the navigation app should activate one you request activation from the phone. Then the phone can pass that information to you via google maps.

Slick1020 · Mar 29, 2011

Just tested out Wheres my Droid app and I am pretty impressed. If you use this app with the SMS Enabler or SMS Enabler Advanced apps you can control your phone from another phone. Meaning activate GPS, Wifi, and the LED as well as other things on your phone. While using Wheres my Droid the GPS was pretty accurate when I had wifi/GPS locating my phone at the same time. The app did not spit out an address because my building isn't close to an actual street.

greyopaque · Mar 29, 2011

Look for Plan B.

"Plan B is the 'find my phone' app that you download AFTER you lose your phone.
Plan B is your last resort to find your missing phone."

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lookout.labs.planb

aeiou · Mar 29, 2011

Sorry that happened to you. And at your place of work even worse. I have a question in general though.

What if you have a lock password on your phone? Is there any way a theif could bypass this password and activate the phone somehow? I always assumed that no matter what you do unless you figure out the password the phone is useless (besides the sd card)

greyopaque · Mar 29, 2011

aeiou said:
Sorry that happened to you. And at your place of work even worse. I have a question in general though.

What if you have a lock password on your phone? Is there any way a theif could bypass this password and activate the phone somehow? I always assumed that no matter what you do unless you figure out the password the phone is useless (besides the sd card)

I have Where's my Droid, and Autowipe. Where's My Droid aids in location, and Autowipe wipes both the phone and the SD card if necessary (last resort). I have a pin lock, and Autowipe is set to wipe everything both 20 failed attempts. Also, I can wipe the phone remotely via SMS.

Rigmaster · Mar 29, 2011

I'd suggest you call Sprint or log in and look at the most recent numbers called and received. From there you can likely get some info on how the phone is being used. You can also ask Sprint for tower locations most commonly used as of the date stolen so you can file it in a police report, but I don't know if you they'll give you that. Of course, report what you find to the police with a stolen property report. It's a slim chance to get them to recover a phone for you unless you pretty much lead them right to where it's likely to be.

You can always call Sprint and have them suspend the phone/account. The phone would only be good for parts or off network then.

Ironically, I wish there was an app that would only allow calls to one number (your own) sortof like mask-dialing with no sound in or out just so you can get an idea of whether the person is trying to use the phone. Also wish the app would randomly snap and email/text a photo to the appropriate gmail account assocatiated with the phone so you could go online and tag/locate the phone based on geo-tagging.

Don't know whether any of this is possible, but I'd pay a buck or two for that type of app.

sparky7474 · Mar 29, 2011

Hey Cabbie, I was looking around in the market place, look at this app, it might be right up your alley for your next phone or use it on your current phone, (as long as it is running 2.2 or higher) it's called PhoneLocator Pro, it does cost $2.80 USD, but it might be what your looking for.. Im considering changing to this instead of using lookout

TheEngineer · Mar 29, 2011

Slick1020 said:
Sorry to hear that man. I wish people would test out Where's My Droid. That app will try to return a street address to you of your phone.

Do you think Sprint would have given you a deal on the new 3D if you decided you didn't want a refurbished phone? I am asking because my phone still looks brand spanking new and I heard the EVO refurbs do not come in great condition.

No.

novox77 · Mar 29, 2011

Sorry to hear that cabbie. I'll do my part and wish ill on the thief. In the meantime, you've opened my eyes regarding my own phone's security. I'm going to look into some of the apps mentioned above.

aburgthing · Mar 29, 2011

Sorry to hear this as well Cabbie. If there is ANY good out of this though is I'm sure you have made many re-assess their security needs (which I certainly did), so for that you get a "thanks". Hope you enjoy your new Evo and it was as good as your last.

Slick1020 · Mar 29, 2011

Rigmaster said:
I'd suggest you call Sprint or log in and look at the most recent numbers called and received. From there you can likely get some info on how the phone is being used. You can also ask Sprint for tower locations most commonly used as of the date stolen so you can file it in a police report, but I don't know if you they'll give you that. Of course, report what you find to the police with a stolen property report. It's a slim chance to get them to recover a phone for you unless you pretty much lead them right to where it's likely to be.

You can always call Sprint and have them suspend the phone/account. The phone would only be good for parts or off network then.

Ironically, I wish there was an app that would only allow calls to one number (your own) sortof like mask-dialing with no sound in or out just so you can get an idea of whether the person is trying to use the phone. Also wish the app would randomly snap and email/text a photo to the appropriate gmail account assocatiated with the phone so you could go online and tag/locate the phone based on geo-tagging.

Don't know whether any of this is possible, but I'd pay a buck or two for that type of app.

Brother, you are onto something. How about the front facing camera taking a few photos upon opening the phone and emailing/texting the photos with a location to a predesignated email address and phone number. Or have a command to where the phone can text the photos/location to the number of your choosing by texting the phone. With a good location and photo of the perpetrator, a person could recover their phone. However, I don't know if an app could have permission to take automatic photos, then hide those in a locked folder.

Traceamount · Mar 30, 2011

Slick1020 said:
Brother, you are onto something. How about the front facing camera taking a few photos upon opening the phone and emailing/texting the photos with a location to a predesignated email address and phone number. Or have a command to where the phone can text the photos/location to the number of your choosing by texting the phone. With a good location and photo of the perpetrator, a person could recover their phone. However, I don't know if an app could have permission to take automatic photos, then hide those in a locked folder.

Could have it take a pic and email it from the FF cam every time say, the Home button is pushed, assuming youve remotely activated it. Thatd be amazing

Only a matter of time imo

Slick1020 · Mar 30, 2011

Watched the movie Social Network and how Facebook began. If we were developers we could code an app, then push the app to Android for inclusion in all Android phones with front facing cameras. Lol, just hope the end result won't wind up like the movie.

Rigmaster · Mar 30, 2011

Slick1020 said:
Brother, you are onto something. How about the front facing camera taking a few photos upon opening the phone and emailing/texting the photos with a location to a predesignated email address and phone number. Or have a command to where the phone can text the photos/location to the number of your choosing by texting the phone. With a good location and photo of the perpetrator, a person could recover their phone. However, I don't know if an app could have permission to take automatic photos, then hide those in a locked folder.

Photo would be interesting addition. I don't think the police would need it though because people would just say "I didn't steal the phone someone handed it to me as their own." I'd actually just want something to happen as a masked procedure so the perp wouldn't even realize what's happening. Instantly reporting/emailing the location would be better to me than leaving it in a locked folder.

Kinda funny. Now that I think about it, phone makers could add this and make a dent in theft the same way automakers now build in anti-theft to cars (even location service with OnStar).

Please, some enterprising app developer - just do this.

aeiou · Mar 30, 2011

aeiou said:
Sorry that happened to you. And at your place of work even worse. I have a question in general though.

What if you have a lock password on your phone? Is there any way a theif could bypass this password and activate the phone somehow? I always assumed that no matter what you do unless you figure out the password the phone is useless (besides the sd card)

Anyone have an idea about the bolded?

jj14x · Mar 30, 2011

aeiou said:
Anyone have an idea about the bolded?

the thief can try out combinations and try to guess the password, but I don't think there is a known/published way of bypassing the lock screen. They can always hard reset the phone (that would wipe out the data on the phone - restore to factory settings) - but then, they don't get the lock screen anymore. When they try to activate it, hopefully sprint will prevent activation (if you have reported it as stolen)

archervanadin · Mar 30, 2011

jj14x said:
the thief can try out combinations and try to guess the password, but I don't think there is a known/published way of bypassing the lock screen. They can always hard reset the phone (that would wipe out the data on the phone - restore to factory settings) - but then, they don't get the lock screen anymore. When they try to activate it, hopefully sprint will prevent activation (if you have reported it as stolen)

I was just about to say the same thing. If they knew how to get into the boot/recovery menu they could completely rest/wipe data. I had my EVO stolen about 3 months ago and was stupid enough not to enable the lock screen. But luckily enough the person who stole my phone for some strange reason decided to use the QIK app, to bad they didnt know that the videos are automatically uploaded to my QIK account online so I got to see who stole it. I printed out the screen images and took it to the police. They found the person but I never got my phone back. So its still my loss.

But yea sorry to hear about your phone being stolen. trust me i know how you feel. I had everything on my phone. I had to change so many passwords and account details. Hopefully you can get a replacement or find out who took it.

aeiou · Mar 30, 2011

Thanks guys. Well as long as the data is completely reset/wiped and returned to factory setting then I feel a little better knowing all my information and pictures are not accessible. (Unless they figure out the combination)

lordofthereef · Mar 30, 2011

aeiou said:
Thanks guys. Well as long as the data is completely reset/wiped and returned to factory setting then I feel a little better knowing all my information and pictures are not accessible. (Unless they figure out the combination)

It's a lot more likely they want the hardware and will just wipe everything (unless of course you are a wanted ex CIA member or something cool like that). Your pics and that sort of thing are stored on the SD card though. I think anyone can just pull that out and view anything on it, right?

NSXLA · Mar 31, 2011

Most don't imagine their phone being stolen, let alone being snatched from their hands on a train as it arrives at a station (happened to my girlfriend). One of the basic data theft deterrents one should implement on their smart phones should be lock screen with code access.

The other being the app

GPS Tracker
by InstaMapper LLC
>250,000 downloads, 4651 ratings (4.1 avg)
Free

I love this app! Say someone steals my phone

Step 1: Remain calm & not call sprint right away to report is stolen. I want to the phone to have data

Step 2: Send an SMS to my phone "GPS_TRACKER_FETCH device_key XXXXXXXXXXXXX" you can use an email to send this command also using XXX-XXX-XXXX@messaging.sprintpcs.com - this command does not keep the GPS tracker app active, rather it fetches the location using GPS once and then exits.

Step 3: Have someone you trust access InstaMapper - Free Real-Time GPS Tracking or yourself to get the location.

Keep in mind the thief would have to keep the phone on and not turn off the GPS for this application to be useful - I would love to fetch the location of the phone in the middle of the night to get their house location lol.

Or one can go the route of just having an app delete your data remotely and let the bastard who stole your phone most likely flash a metro PCS rom on it or use it the phone as a entertainment device on wifi, I wouldn't be so lenient.

cabbie · Mar 31, 2011

thanks everyone.

i got my refurbished evo yesterday and promptly got cm7 on it. I am most definitely utilizing the lockscreen passcode going forward. I actually did have a code before, but I used "No Lock" to disable/enable it. Needless to say, I almost always had it disabled. Lesson learned.

I used GPS Tracker before, maybe a year ago. I eventually ditched it because you needed to send the SMS you mentioned above. It makes it completely obvious its being tracked and thief would simply need to turn the phone off. They are dumb and might not, but I'm really shocked that even after a year, the app has not been updated for a custom code like Where's My Droid.

Even as I was refreshing the location of the phone, I knew pretty much that was useless information in case of theft (as opposed to losing it). I'm not going to confront a professional thief, and the police really don't care about a stolen phone.

What I want is a remote brick. Yes, Lookout can remote wipe, but I want nothing more than to kill the device so its unusable. From what I've gathered (I'm not certain because obviously I've never tried), the 100% sure way to brick a phone is to flash a radio meant for another phone. So, lets say I have the radio for the MyTouch 4G on the SD card, I could send a command that would activate an app that would automatically reboot into recovery and flash the radio, thus bricking it. I'm sure its possible.

SmokeCapone · Apr 1, 2011

Damn sorry to hear about the phone being stolen.

After reading thru this thread I have installed 'wheres my android' and am having some issues with it and was wondering could you guys be of some help.

When i go to set the phrase words to activate the test to see if it works, only the phrase word for the GPS works. I cant get it to work for the 'Attention word' at all and everytime I try I get no response but the text i sent to the phone to activate it.

So, my question is...

a) Do i have to have the ringer on vibrate or off?

b) I'm just doing it wrong?

I am so ready to catch someone who tries to steal my phone with this security device on it. Just wanna see the looks on there face when they get caught!

Thanks for the help in advanced folks!

My precious EVO was stolen

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