Device Lost?

Android tablets and phone are easily lost or stolen. Very inconvenient and harmful if you do banking or whatever privacy sensitive info is on the device. There are some solutions on the Play Store. Some better than others. But Google also made a start of tracking your lost device for non Business Users.

Google logged in devices

For an overview of devices you have used google (like Chrome Browser) on see this page: http://google.com/devices

There you can logout that device to protect anyone else to use your account on that device. You will need to login again on that device.

Google Account Protection

Luckily Google has a system that prevents or detects suspicious login attempts. When your device has your Google account and cached password it is still somewhat protected. For example a device was stolen in Paris and a week later someone in Tokyo switched it on with my account. This was suspicious and was detected by Google. I was still in France with my Android phone on the internet.

These messages or your login history can be found Account Activity. So you can check who is using your account and where.

Example e-mail from blocked login by Google Accounts team:

Android Device Manager

Google itself never equipped Android with the possibility to track or control your device like Apple did with the iPhone. But times are changing. The latest Google Play-services are now capable of tracking your device and even lock or erase it. Not very fancy but a start. Let me explain.

If your device has updated to the latest Google Play Services (goes automatically when connected to the internet) you can find the settings in the Google Settings app (the green G icon with 2 little gears). Goto the last option called Android Device Manager. You have the option to find the location and to lock or erase your device.

For now it has major drawbacks:

• • the Google Play Services are an update so stored in /data/app which can be easily erased with a factory reset

  • you do need a data connection to the internet (obvious) so switching those off make your phone untraceable

  • one can uncheck the options in Android Device Manager (at least the location option should be fixed to on)

  • the gps and network location check marks can be off. Then location cannot be determined.

For finding your device on google maps goto https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager where you can locate your device. Also you can play your ringtone on full volume for a minute.

Google still needs to work on this. We will see.

AndroidLost

The best solution from the Play Store is the free little app called AndroidLost. Although still in Beta it has loads of options. After installing the app from the market, uhm Play Store, you goto the website: http://www.androidlost.com/ and you sign in with your google account.

After succeeding (sometimes you have to wait a minute) you tick Controls.

If you don't want the app to be visible you can goto the Security section and click the Hide package button in the Package display section.

A reboot is necessary.

You can have multiple devices. You can name them in the settings menu (two gears icon near you login name)

Android lost is very small and consumes almost no battery. For me the perfect solution

Others

There are loads of other apps that have similar functionality.