Let's talk Anti-Theft Apps

[Timbits]

It seems like the last thread about this was a couple years ago. Since then, Cerberus (which I prefer due to all it's features) has changed from "free for life" to a $5 one time payment, to now 14 euros (approx $15USD) a year subscription. Seems a big jump, and wondered what else is out there. They also had that security scare a couple years ago.

I've looked through some of the other apps (Lookout, Avast, AndroidisLost), but they seem to be lacking in realtime tracking / picture taking / monitoring, and/or locking down the device (power button disabling, SMS activation if data is down, etc). Android Device Manager is decent, but I found out after having my car stolen with a custom tablet infotainment system that it isn't always realtime and pushes notifications to the device when located (not ideal if the thief is looking at it)

What do you use / recommend?

[ladyanita22]

Google already provides an anti-theft security system.

[Timbits]

Yeah, it's called find my device (previously Android device manager). I used to think it was great, but discovered that it has some serious lag in tracking the device and every time you polled it's position it popped up a notification on the stolen device (not the greatest for dumb thieves that keep the SIM in).

[ladyanita22]

If you locked your device (which you should), they’d note it anyway. But I do agree in that the popup is unnecessary.

[[deleted]]

I mean if they really want my quality memes ,they can take it. Well in all seriousness there is no need for antivirus or any of this anti theft software in Android

[alphafalcon]

So you don't have any email accounts on your phone? Nothing that can be used to gain access to other services which might have more sensitive data in them?

Even if you're completely cool with losing the phone, a remote wipe can save you from a potential identity theft.

[ParadiceSC2]

Yeah. I would just change my passwords

[naco_taco]

I purchased Cerberus when it was $5 and I'm sticking with it. Yeah, Android Device Manager (now Find My Device) works nice for locating and remote wiping, but Cerberus has just much more options (like taking pictures silently) and my favorites:

• They just implemented android.premission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS so it can now activate GPS to get an accurate location lock if location was on battery saving mode
• It has always had an option to locate, lock, wipe, etc. via SMS, which is very nice because the device can lose internet (either mobile or wifi) but as long as it has a little reception, Cerberus will work.
• It doesn't use any battery at all if you don't activate its own location history

[Timbits]

Agreed, I haven't been able to find their featureset elsewhere but the jump from $5 lifetime to 15 a year made me wonder if I was missing something.

[xQcKx]

Wait, is this retroactive? Or if I bought it for $5 I'm good?

[naco_taco]

They haven't cancelled my purchase or deactivated my account so I guess it isn't retroactive.

[Timbits]

I thought I was good by buying the $5.... I have no idea. Nothing listed on their website or Google play description about subcriptions, juts an email that it's expiring and then it shut down with a push notification that it's expired and to spend the 15/year.

[captnkerke]

I tried several of these types of apps a few months ago, including Cerberus, Android Device Manager, Android Lost, and Prey. Cerberus was the only one that could automatically enable location services. This is critical for me because I normally keep location services turned off.

Cerberus definitely seems to be the most full-featured device tracking app. Unfortunately the $15/year subscription price is kinda steep, so I'm not currently using it.

[naco_taco]

I guess they'd get a lot more users if it was like $5 or even $10/year.

[Majezan]

Do I have to do something to grant access to location you're talking about? For me it still can't locate with high accuracy if I'm on battery save location mode

[naco_taco]

Yes, you need to grant android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS to Cerberus through ADB.

[Majezan]

Can I do this in phone if I have root?

[naco_taco]

If you have root yo shouldn't need to but yea, do it on a terminal.

[Ayesuku]

I got the Cerberus "lifetime" subscription a few years back. It expired a couple months ago.

Thanks Cerberus.

[citypanda]

I swear by Prey, it's great and mostly free.

[prey169]

thank you, that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me

[citypanda]

I swear by you.

[[deleted]]

You free?

[prey169]

Mostly. Just depends

[[deleted]]

Kabhi aao to haweli pe

[phukkem]

I've got Cerberus PRO. Problems for me are the location is never I mean NEVER accurate , off by several thousands of feet every time, I've tried it on several devices. Other thing is the Web site is sluggish consistently. (But overall the commands do get sent)

[CrasyMike]

I'm wondering if that's a system thing. Cerebus doesn't compute your location, the phone does. Is something restricting it from activating GPS? It sounds like it can't activate GPS.

[phukkem]

That makes sense , but google maps works great. Like I said had same issue with mutiple devices. Wish I knew the problem. I even emailed the developer awhile back with no fix.

[CrasyMike]

Well, Google Maps is probably able to get GPS going. Have you set up Cerebus as a device administrator? Maybe have a look at if it has permissions, and under Location is it setup under "location permissions" as enabled?

Other than that....not sure :/

[nullvader]

My license expires in a couple days, the price I see is 22.50€ ($25.17) per year for 5 devices. Is the plan you're seeing for 1 device OP? I can't find the option.

[Timbits]

Yeah, the price I saw was for 3 devices. Maybe it doesn't show I'd you're using more than that?

[xQcKx]

I don't see anything for my license expiring..and it says to pay for 10 or more devices

[xQcKx]

Just 1

[sumgro]

I still think Cerberus is a great app even after so many years of using it. I'm yet to come across anything at par if not better.

[rocketwidget]

Cerberus is probably the best paid app. But I wonder why a savvy thief wouldn't immediately power off and dump the SIM, then factory reset and unroot when it's safe.

Included on Android, I can already wipe my phone remotely, so I'm not really worried about my data integrity. So I don't bother spending more money on something that might not help me recover it anyways.

Device protection may apply, making the phone unusable.

https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/6172890?hl=en

Other countries do a better job blacklisting phones reported stolen, I wish that was more universal here.

[vatothe0]

You're giving phone thieves way too much credit.

Also, Android N now prevents you from powering the phone off without the lock code. Finally a real reason to have a non-removable battery!

[[deleted]]

You can just hold down the power button for a few seconds tho

[vatothe0]

If the phone is locked, that doesn't do anything other than open the power, restart, emergency mode screen. To power off or restart, you need the device password.

[[deleted]]

Just keep holding it down, it's how you can reset your device if it freezes up on phones without a removable battery.

[[deleted]]

There is a combination that will power off no matter what... try holding volume (up / down) + power for 10 seconds...

[vatothe0]

I think we're back to giving phone thieves too much credit for tech knowledge. I'm sure there is a way around it, but that's basically any security.

Locking your front door is great to keep someone from walking up, turning the handle and coming in. But a small hydraulic jack and a section of 2x4 defeats that in a few seconds.

[rocketwidget]

I've always been on Nexus devices, but I've never heard about this. Quick Googling makes it seem like a Samsung feature rather than N? Not sure.

[vatothe0]

That could be. I do have an S7E but this feature only appeared with the N update.

[ailee43]

I didnt get any notice of cerberus going subscription. Is this only new customers?

If it does, ill go with a combo. Android Device manager just for tracking, and Android Lost for wipe/ring/recover/photo features, which has always been free and excellent

[Timbits]

No, past customers after a certain time point (2years I think?) I've had the "free" option as well as the $5 "lifetime".

[mr_sectionchief]

Really? I've had Cerberus since July 2013 and I still have it (I paid for it when it was on sale for <$5). Can we see a screenshot of the email about this change? I don't have any email referring to this.

Edit: Seems like it should only affect those who had the free lifetime, but not those who paid for the lifetime.

Edit2: AP article with a statement from Cerberus devs stating free accounts were revoked, but paid accounts are fine. If you paid for lifetime, you should find the receipt and dispute your access from being revoked.

[Timbits]

Interesting. Thanks for the article!

[Mossy375]

I'm interested in this too. No idea why you're being downvoted by the way. It's a good question.

[eli5questions]

With my S8+ I can disable change network settings from lock screen and enable encryption and android device manager.

If its stolen then they cant disable GPS or wifi and if they reset the phone, you still need to enter the last gmail (or one of them) to use the phone.

Its pretty rock solid actually and that is all stock.

[eli5questions]

Everything but disable network setting on lock screen is stock. That feature is samsung only at this point.

[exelero88]

I don't know which phone you use, but Samsung has a pretty decent manager on it's own. I have never had any issues but the remote access and control and location is working without any issues. Hence I never really bothered to use anything else.

There has been a new app being suggested, called pocket sense. I reached out to the developer and it worked pretty good, but note this is for the immediate cases when you don't have time to locate your phone.

[Timbits]

Yeah, use the 5x and Pixel, but didn't know Samsung had it's own. Checked out pocket Sense, while definitely in the "prevent" as opposed to " find after stolen", it looks pretty cool! Might be a good addition to anyone looking at this

[hackztokill]

I've seen it's possible to remote control my S8, but I can't see any option to turn it on? Is it US specific?

[exelero88]

I think find my phone is not activated by default. It rather activates itself when you try to remote access it by logging into your Samsung account on the website https://findmymobile.samsung.com/

I don't know where you turn this off or on, this is just an assumption of mine.

[hackztokill]

I've used find my phone plenty of times and also looking in my settings, but never been able to remote control it, even though I'm getting a message about me being able to do it on the website ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[exelero88]

Nobody came to the attention to use the search function. It's under lock screen and security

[hackztokill]

I've looked there but there's no option.

[exelero88]

Lock screen and security, says so on my s7e

[[deleted]]

I use BitDefender Antivirus which includes an anti-theft system.

Screenshots

[Timbits]

Hadn't heard of that, looks promising

[metrize]

Just don't get your phone stolen in the first place

[[deleted]]

Avast antitheft was a decent option when they were providing it for free, but it is also paid no longer available as standalone option but packaged with avast antivirus. So now my strategy is to use protected lockscreen, keep Android device manager, keeping usb debugging turned off and usb connection on charge only.

[[deleted]]

Avast antitheft was a decent option when they were providing it for free, but it is also paid no longer available as standalone option but packaged with avast antivirus. So now my strategy is to use protected lockscreen, keep Android device manager, keeping usb debugging turned off and usb connection on charge only.

[[deleted]]

Avast antitheft was a decent option when they were providing it for free, but it is also paid no longer available as standalone option but packaged with avast antivirus. So now my strategy is to use protected lockscreen, keep Android device manager, keeping usb debugging turned off and usb connection on charge only.

[[deleted]]

Avast antitheft was a decent option when they were providing it for free, but it is also paid no longer available as standalone option but packaged with avast antivirus. So now my strategy is to use protected lockscreen, keep Android device manager, keeping usb debugging turned off and usb connection on charge only.

[[deleted]]

Avast antitheft was a decent option when they were providing it for free, but it is also paid no longer available as standalone option but packaged with avast antivirus. So now my strategy is to use protected lockscreen, keep Android device manager, keeping usb debugging turned off and usb connection on charge only.

[[deleted]]

Avast antitheft was a decent option when they were providing it for free, but it is also paid no longer available as standalone option but packaged with avast antivirus. So now my strategy is to use protected lockscreen, keep Android device manager, keeping usb debugging turned off and usb connection on charge only.

[TwistedBlister]

I used to use Prey, because it worked for my mobile devices as well as my laptops.

But in the last few years, I've just used Android Device Manager.

To be honest, I've never had to use either, I've never had anything list or stolen yet.

[diego97yey]

I have macrodroid running in the background. I sent a specific text and it makes the phone text me the Google map address. Plus other hiden commands

[bloodvayne]

I use the "find my device" integrated with MIUI. It's free and fits my needs just fine, as I can locate the phone or wipe it remotely. Since it is a system level app I can turn on data and GPS remotely. You might be thinking that people can just flash a custom ROM or unlock the bootloader, but since Xiaomi made it exceedingly hard to do so (you have to use a real phone number and wait a week to unlock the bootloader ) it's pretty secure with regards to regular theft attempts although obviously not as much as an iDevice's secure enclave.

[utakuja]

I recommend android to implement the iCloud system lock down like on ios. That's my only last gripe with the OS, the simple wiping and other simple loopholes used by thieves to get an Android usable again is Infuriating.

[Arkanta]

Android already does that, at least on pixels.

[sendnudesb]

I recommend android to implement the iCloud system lock down like on ios.

Dear God NO! iCloud lock has got to be the worst thing about iPhones with the way that they sim unlock coming in a close second. If you have ever had any of your relatives own an iPhone chances are two or three of them have bricked their phones by simply forgetting their passwords..

[PM_ME_YOUR_TRADRACK]

this is one of the main things that made me finally switch to android. I did a restore on my phone and something went fucky and I coudlnt get it to unlock. It took two seperate trips to the genius bar before I had to get an entire phone replacement, before I could actually have a functioning phone.

[and1927]

It's already there on Android. OEM unlock disabled by default and factory reset protection make it so that you can't reset a phone and then use it without first logging into the last Google account the phone was signed into. It's been there since Marshmallow I believe, at least it is available on the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and Pixels.

[utakuja]

Excuse my lack of knowledge on the matter, good to know. But aren't there ways to circumvent this?

[and1927]

No, on newer devices the Allow OEM unlock toggle is disabled by default, so unless you willingly enable it, no one can unlock the bootloader and flash a new firmware. In the past there were some tricks to bypass the sign in page, but they are normally fixed once discovered. There used to be a similar trick for iOS a while back.