Android and thief – that is about my quest Anti-Theft words … – dobreprogramy

Some time ago I decided to protect your phone against thieves. What is true of the android still using version 2.2 is only now I started thinking about some of the better protection of my devices. Imagine my surprise when I started looking all protective packages in the store play!

“Super Deals” and base

“The best antivirus for android”, “only with us: anti-theft features “- such slogans regales us with almost any modern anti-virus maker on android. Both paid and free – in the long run they do not differ too much. Of course, the first can be easily verified and the latter is an ordinary lie, because the Anti-Theft function already offers virtually every application. Unfortunately, in most of them they are very poor.

Heading to the point: anti-theft is to secure our device against a thief. Most applications have this implemented in a very simple way: assuming an account with the manufacturer of the anti-virus and if you lose your phone you can choose from three options: locate, “shout” – activates a loud alarm (useful for losing your phone in the apartment), and “erase” or reset the whole phone “for data protection.” The problem is that with this most important, the first function is a whole bunch of problems.

The ideal and its realization in practice

I’ll start with perhaps of how I see the perfect Anti-Theft. 2 variants predict behaviors: for phone and tablet-free SIM card.
Option for your phone: thief can not gain access to our phone at any time, even recently after removing it from our pocket, there is no way to turn it off. reset or use by replacing SIM card.
variant for the tablet: a thief can freely use the tablet without knowing that he has “bugged” – it is intended ago that merged with wifi and betrayed their location. At the same time private data eg. Facebook or Gmail should be protected and inaccessible. The thief and should not have access to the tablet settings to not reset the device by removing our account and “plug instead.” Lock should occur only on request.
In both cases, the welcome is the ability to take pictures or video clips, to have proof for the police.

From my knowledge that is well executed apple devices, ie. to reset your device Account password is required apple, does not help the cable and the computer and no way to disable tracing and the only way to avoid this trace turn off the phone and thrown it in the trash. In short, Apple devices simply does not pay to steal because they are useless for people who are not their own (well, unless you’re Złomiarze).

And how it performs android? Well, unfortunately, here it is already much worse. Factory manager service is offered android devices allows performing 3 previously mentioned commands and the “blockade” of the respective sites. The problem is that track the phone displays the joyful message “android device manager found the device”. In my phone Sony is still myXperia service which, however, also is based on google maps and pushed the boat out even further by displaying the question “improve the accuracy of location including the location of the wifi network?”. Way to go Sony, the thief did not guess that something is wrong! Oh, just got mail from myXperia 2 reminiscent of the time that my phone was located …. unfortunately I do not know how this is implemented in phones from other manufacturers, but I suspect that it does not work very discreetly.

A simple, almost minimalist interface

What will we find on the market?

But returning to the anti-virus and anti theft specialized applications: what else can be found in their offer ? In fact, the only additional function is to trap a photo here: when a thief specified number of times badly typed password / pin on the lock screen are our device will make him a photo and send eg. E-mail. Besides, as they say, “bida poverty”. Most applications do not even hide its presence on the phone. There is also no support function enabled the GPS or the Internet on your phone niezrootowanym.

I allowed myself to make a “small” list of the most popular anti-virus on android and their features. I did not install any of them personally so forgive me if either the information is untrue, it will try to improve them if necessary. I thought it would take me a while and descended on this half of the evening and left a small encyclopedia:)

“The Great Encyclopedia of anti-theft applications”

• AhnLab V3 Mobile Security: Alarm lock, tracking, data erasure, notification about the change sim card, password protection of selected applications. Commands executed via sms from a trusted number – the price is about 60 PLN / year
• Avast Mobile Security: alarm, lock, track, erase data, protection of selected applications pin (two for free, more in premium version), sending a copy SMS messages to a specified number, call forwarding (listening?), sending position in case of low battery, make a call to the phone to overhear what is happening nearby.
  All these functions are free, the program also offers premium services: video sound, download their data (recovery logs calls, text messages and other personal data), take a picture, a photo trap, geofencing (automatic marking device as lost after leaving the area). Commands can seem both a web interface or via SMS (you can set the program to accept only 2 selected numbers). The same anti-theft module is a separate application that is hiding. Unfortunately, only hiding from the application menu in the settings continues to be visible, as in the device administrators. For zrootowanych phones it works much better – we can give a bogus name of the application, eg. To update the agent and then virtually no chance of finding applications. The only way for her to run a “calling” at a predetermined pin code unlock the application. The portal avast we also see the current IP address of the network to which the telephone is connected. Price – 45 PLN / year


The web interface Avast anti-theft

• AVG – alarm, lock, tracing the calls, erase data. The pro version photoshoot trap, lock in case of substitution sim card and application protection password. Steering through the web portal. Price – about 42zł per year. There is currently restatement on -34zł.
• Avira – basic functions: tracing the alarm, lock, erase. Support is provided via web portal. 27zł / year for secure browsing, more frequent antivirus updates and technical support, no additional anti-theft feature.
• Bitdefender Mobile Security: Lock, location, alarm, erase, sound recording, sending SMS commands and information about the change SIM card. Locking device in case of withdrawal of application Administrator privileges. Support is provided via web portal and text messages. All anti-theft functions are payable: 40 PLN / year. Free antivirus is just the same as a separate application.
• Bullguard Mobile Security and Antivirus: lock, location, alarm, erase. Support is provided via web portal and SMS. All functions are free
• CM Security: classical foursome + trap a photo. There is also a password lock selected applications. Support is provided via web portal. The application is free
• Eset Mobile Security: 4 + trap classic photoshoot. Price – 48zł / year. Free does not work practically nothing, in theory, anti theft is active but in practice useless because they do not work the management of the web portal. The application works through the input of fixture into “stolen” and she takes pictures / sends the location.
• F-Secure Mobile Security: Classical 4, operation via SMS commands and probably through the web portal (it is possible that only through the portal sms, I failed to check). Price – 31zł / year
• G date internet security: location, lock, erase and password-protect selected applications. Lock device after swapping SIM card. Sending position in case of low battery. I could not figure out how they are executed command, but I suspect that the internet portal. 78zł / year – a very high price for such basic functions, even the photoshoot there are no traps.
• Lookout: free functions – alarm, location, location by sending a low battery. Premium functions: lock, erase, trap a photo. Support is provided via web portal. Price – 30 PLN / year
• Kaspersky Internet Security: Classical 4. anti-theft functions and on-demand virus scanner are free. Management through the portal. Price – 20 PLN per year for antivirus protection in real time and secure surfing.
• McAfee Security & amp; Antivirus: Classical 4 + trap photoshoot, protection against uninstalling, the protection of other applications 6-digit pin. Management via web portal or SMS. Price – 130zł / year. All functions seem to be guaranteed.
• Norton security – a classic 4 + location with low battery, the phone lock after removing the SIM card. Support domains as web portal or SMS command (only Android 4.3 and older) Price – about 113zł / year.
• Sophos mobile security – a classic 4 + location with low battery notification about the change sim cards. Commands only via SMS. The program is free
• Trend Micro Mobile Security & amp; Antivirus – a classic 4 anti-theft features are payable. Price – approx. 91zł, probably next year.
• Webroot security – lock, tracing the alarm. In the paid version you get further erase and lock in case of substitution SIM card.

In addition, I would like to cite three applications focused only on the anti-theft feature:

Prey Anti Theft: Classical 4 + taking pictures front and rear camera, display a message on the screen, wifi retrieve information about which device is connected, the notification about the change sim cards, protection against uninstalling. Control via web portal or text messages. The application works like of ESET Smart Security or device are marked as stolen and the application takes care of sending the same location and photos. The application seems to be free, but you can buy additional features (rather useless for the normal user). More information about prices can be found here.

Cerberus: The most powerful application of this type that I could find. Its capabilities include: Classical 4 + display messages pronunciation messages via a speech synthesizer built into the phone (by default with Polish English so communication can handle … on average), trap a photo, screenshot, image on demand, video on demand, video from Microphone on request, obtain a list of recent calls, hiding the application from the main menu and a few others. You can lock the power button to the thief could not turn the unit off (unfortunately continues to operate the reset / off the device by holding the power button long) and block access to the notification bar, so no one can change quick settings in Android 5.0 (Lollipop) and higher versions. Root allows you to install Cerberus as an application system and gain many additional features, including protection against uninstalling (Cerberus will last reset to factory settings) and automatic switching on the GPS when you start to track the device. Option SIM Checker also allows to obtain the number for sending SMS if the SIM card has been swapped. Many of the rules can set yourself for example. Geofencing or trap a photo. It is controlled through a web portal or smsy.Cena – 26zł for a lifetime license for 3 device.

Phound !: application from Kaspersky, free, managed through the portal www. It has uninstall protection – when you try to revoke administrator privileges random device blocks the pin and just by logging into the portal Kaspersky and reading the pin on their part, we can unlock the device. Features a classic 4 + Photo thief. Few offers but at least it is free and does not display a notification nasty “your device was found.”

Applications

In summary, many manufacturers trying to pull money from us for which basic functions to the device manager Google offers for free. Few which application has any additional features in the style of a photo traps, or to protect other applications pin. There are a few gems like avast or prey that offer advanced features for free.

He used a combination of currently occupying little RAM but having a 100% success rate in tests anti-virus AVL Pro which is the only anti-virus and Cerberus, whose lifetime license basically it costs pennies. I also recommend avast, mainly due to the extensive features and the ability to protect your phone settings and attempts to uninstall the application pin. It also has additional features available when zrootowaniu: change the name of the application, preventing access to the phone via USB, protection against factory reset, forcing enabled connections to transfer data to a thief can not disable Internet communications and forcing the GPS enabled. Unfortunately, it is quite expensive: 45 PLN per year while Cerberus 26zł we have for life. In turn, the defect Cerberus at the moment is the lack of protection before uninstalling.

Future Outlook

With all these protective applications is only one problem: to protect the screen. Studies have shown that the average user looks into the smartphone more than 200 times a day. Even protecting the screen only a model, not a pin lose a lot of time to unlock the screen and most people simply can “forgive” leaving the default drag your finger. And as the thief has already come to the phone is only applocki or application lock pin can stop him from reading our emails or text messages. But if someone does not set the pattern for the main screen is even more doubt to protect specific applications. And of course most anti-theft applications can be removed just like that, in a few seconds, together with a Google account, only some have protection against uninstalling.

Fortunately, the situation is not totally hopeless. In the newest google android 5.1 has added the “Device protection” which appropriates some functions of apple and more specifically the PO (wish we had before, right?) Reset, the device requires the user / thief to enter our password on the device recently used Google account. Thus, the reset will leave him with a useless brick in his hand. But there is indeed a huge disadvantage: the reset will disconnect the phone from the device manager, google, otherwise the phone without entering the password does not really start until the end, can be compared with the password in the BIOS. Anyway: we will not be able to locate the phone in any way.
Another feature is a security device protection before deleting your account from your phone if we google for example. Left unlocked phone (because we set ourselves delay lock 3 minutes after extinguishing the screen) a thief would want to clean it before the sale it will require a password / pattern / pin (used for locking the screen) to the last google account (eg. if we have 2 or 3 to remove all but one). But then again, without pattern or pin, this feature will not work. Besides, you can easily reset your password by sending a link to google recovery at gmail installed on the device.
The third function is a security guard in the event of data loss google account. When the thief changes the password for google us and then erase data from your phone this for 3 days will not be able to use that account to unlock your phone. So we’ll have time for any regain control of your account.
My discussion of this feature could come out a bit chaotic, if you prefer it, you can read about it in English here.

Congratulations if you’ve gotten this far dear reader In conclusion, I would like to appeal to manufacturers of anti-theft software for mobile (I can see how some of them are reading;) to have entered into them with more features and be an example of such a Cerberus or avast.
I would also like to appeal to you, dear readers: Position yourself on the phone while lock pattern, I do not have to be this pin (though not really model is nothing but a pin, only the digit was replaced by dots elected a little differently). Zainstalujcie program also wearing any type of anti-theft, even free, always Half a loaf is better than nothing.

I hope that Google will continue to improve the protection of the devices with Android and allow even sustain enabled the GPS or the Internet without root, hide the GPS icon at work or introduce need to enter a password before resetting the device. What do you and myself and everyone else wish. To live safer!

P.S. It was my first (and so far only planned, but who knows!) Blog post