htc desire forum
Find Your Forum
  
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

News: Do you like HTC Desire?      
Advanced search
Scratch-Proof your HTC Desire                      Best Screen Protector for HTC Desire Good Price on HTC Desire
Bookmark HTC Desire Forum
Pages: [1]
« previous next »
Print
Share this topic on AskShare this topic on Del.icio.usShare this topic on DiggShare this topic on FacebookShare this topic on GoogleShare this topic on LiveShare this topic on MySpaceShare this topic on RedditShare this topic on SlashdotShare this topic on SquidooShare this topic on StumbleUponShare this topic on TwitterShare this topic on YahooShare this topic on Google buzz
Author Topic: Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen  (Read 36037 times)
Chribonn
Jr. Member
**

Karma: 1
Malta Malta

Posts: 95
« on: November 25, 2010, 11:55:12 AM »
Prey lets you keep track of your phone or laptop at all times, and will help you find it if it ever gets lost or stolen. It's lightweight, open source software, and free for anyone to use. And it just works.

Basically you install a tiny agent in your phone, which silently waits for a remote signal to wake up and work its magic.

This signal is sent either from the Internet or through an SMS message, and allows you to gather information regarding the device's location, hardware and network status, and optionally trigger specific actions on it.

It is free for up to three devices.

For more information go to http://preyproject.com/.
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
principalement
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
Belgium Belgium

Posts: 37



Email
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2011, 01:48:09 PM »
Thus this app will run forever in background waiting for a message ? This will use a lot of battery, will it not ?
« Last Edit: January 02, 2011, 01:51:07 PM by principalement » Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
sakai4eva
Ask and I might answer, Google and you shall find, knock and I'll smack the $#!+ out of you.
Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Karma: 44
Malaysia Malaysia

Posts: 2740


HTC Desire A8181 - HT08


WWW
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2011, 08:28:04 PM »
Quote from: principalement on January 02, 2011, 01:48:09 PM
Thus this app will run forever in background waiting for a message ? This will use a lot of battery, will it not ?


Actually, it should use very little battery. Major battery drainers are cell radio, screen and processor. The process for checking is just a simple timed wakelock and and a search in the messages index for the matching criteria.

To borrow from Tropic Thunder, even a nutless monkey can do that.
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
nicholas
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 8
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2011, 06:30:59 AM »
I tried it out, but didn't manage to get the "Alarm" feature working. I'd like that, to help find the phone under a sofa.

Also the first time I sent it the SMS 'wake up' message, the phone reset :-/
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
principalement
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
Belgium Belgium

Posts: 37



Email
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2011, 12:08:50 PM »
Quote from: nicholas on January 03, 2011, 06:30:59 AM
the phone reset :-/

Really ? ! You lost everything not backupped ?
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
nicholas
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 8
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2011, 12:18:31 PM »
Quote from: principalement on January 03, 2011, 12:08:50 PM
Quote from: nicholas on January 03, 2011, 06:30:59 AM
the phone reset :-/

Really ? ! You lost everything not backupped ?

No, no... it just rebooted, is all.

(Still a bad sign, but nothing lost.)
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
sakai4eva
Ask and I might answer, Google and you shall find, knock and I'll smack the $#!+ out of you.
Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Karma: 44
Malaysia Malaysia

Posts: 2740


HTC Desire A8181 - HT08


WWW
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2011, 07:48:06 PM »
Well, that's what you get for trusting an app to do your work for you Tongue

But in real scenarios, a quick factory wipe after they steal your phone would've removed the app. There is no safety in it. I can think of a few ways to prevent such an app from ever getting started in the first place. But then, I practically know the Desire inside out...

Except for the programming things, of course Smiley
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
nicholas
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 8
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2011, 03:36:15 AM »


The reset wasn't intentional, I wasn't trying to demonstrate the self-wipe working. It just crashed and rebooted by itself.

I don't follow your comment though:

Quote from: sakai4eva on January 03, 2011, 07:48:06 PM
Well, that's what you get for trusting an app to do your work for you Tongue

If your device is lost, you can't "do the work" yourself, you kind of have to trust something to do the wipe for you as you're not around  Smiley

Quote from: sakai4eva on January 03, 2011, 07:48:06 PM

But in real scenarios, a quick factory wipe after they steal your phone would've removed the app. There is no safety in it. I can think of a few ways to prevent such an app from ever getting started in the first place. But then, I practically know the Desire inside out...


The idea of the wipe is to remove your personal content, so if the person who stole it does a factory reset, then fine, they've done that part for me! (If they also format SD card...)

And yeah, I'm certain an advanced thief could do anything they liked, but that's not the issue really.

(Obviously you'd try the can-you-get-the-device-back approach first, but if you give up, a remote-wipe is a good plan.)

 Nick
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
sakai4eva
Ask and I might answer, Google and you shall find, knock and I'll smack the $#!+ out of you.
Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Karma: 44
Malaysia Malaysia

Posts: 2740


HTC Desire A8181 - HT08


WWW
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2011, 03:49:13 AM »
Quote from: nicholas on January 04, 2011, 03:36:15 AM
 
The reset wasn't intentional, I wasn't trying to demonstrate the self-wipe working. It just crashed and rebooted by itself.

I don't follow your comment though:

Quote from: sakai4eva on January 03, 2011, 07:48:06 PM
Well, that's what you get for trusting an app to do your work for you Tongue

If your device is lost, you can't "do the work" yourself, you kind of have to trust something to do the wipe for you as you're not around  Smiley

Quote from: sakai4eva on January 03, 2011, 07:48:06 PM

But in real scenarios, a quick factory wipe after they steal your phone would've removed the app. There is no safety in it. I can think of a few ways to prevent such an app from ever getting started in the first place. But then, I practically know the Desire inside out...


The idea of the wipe is to remove your personal content, so if the person who stole it does a factory reset, then fine, they've done that part for me! (If they also format SD card...)

And yeah, I'm certain an advanced thief could do anything they liked, but that's not the issue really.

(Obviously you'd try the can-you-get-the-device-back approach first, but if you give up, a remote-wipe is a good plan.)

 Nick


Exactly. I was speaking with dripping sarcasm on the first one... I could be construed to say that if you lost your phone, you should personally hunt down the thief and deliver justice; lock, stock and twin barrels.

On the other hand, all information that's worth money is in my head (still young enough to be naive about it Tongue ) or locked up tight somewhere no-one can access (that sometimes include meself, so losing the phone means the phone is the most valuable thing lost.

Either way, it is a good app, but I have never tried it before, and from what I understand about Desire software, it might not really work.
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
Chribonn
Jr. Member
**

Karma: 1
Malta Malta

Posts: 95
« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2011, 12:01:32 PM »
The folk at project prey are working on figuring out why the software does not work as expected.

If you're willing to send them debug info they are willing to analyse it.

The topic dealing with the subject is at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/prey-security/0fo10alAdqw/NqjsD-UQI9kJ.

If you're reading this considerably after it was posted, you might want to perform a search for a more recent update on the subject.
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
Brecht
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
Belgium Belgium

Posts: 1


Email
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2011, 09:26:23 AM »
Hello,
My HTC got stolen a few days ago  Angry Cry. Is there any way to track the phone by the EMEI or something? Did not get to installing anti-theft software so there's no use in explaining that. I am realy devastated about this. I would be very greatful if anyone could help me here!
Thank you.
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
XSaenen
Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Karma: 37
Belgium Belgium

Posts: 2297


The Terministrator
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2011, 09:42:06 AM »
Brecht,

In your case the only thing you can do is call your provider (Proximus, Mobistar, Base or any of the smaller ones) and get the IMEI blocked.  That way the phone will not get onto any network anymore. 

Theoretically it could be possible for the providers to see what IMEI every SIM is using and triangulate that signal, but they simply don't do that because of the costs involved.
Logged Track You HTC Desire if it gets stolen: http://www.htcdesireforum.com/index.php?topic=2400
Pages: [1]
Print

« previous next »
Jump to:  

Got a new phone? Find the forum here


Related Topics
Subject Started by Replies Views Last post
Update to Google's My Track 1.0.20.
HTC Desire Applications 		Chribonn 0 2720 Last post November 25, 2010, 12:20:12 PM
by Chribonn
Do you use the optical track pad?
HTC Desire 		ITemplate 9 3760 Last post February 07, 2011, 03:36:15 PM
by ITemplate
TRACK VIA GPS
HTC Desire Applications 		AANDROIDFREAK 0 4061 Last post February 13, 2011, 04:22:14 PM
by AANDROIDFREAK
Firefox 5 Offers ‘Do Not Track’ to Android Browsing
HTC Desire Applications 		HTC Desire 0 2546 Last post June 22, 2011, 03:56:27 AM
by HTC Desire
HOW TO FIND BACK STOLEN PHONE ON PAY&GO
HTC Desire How To.... 		scoobyboob 2 8827 Last post July 14, 2011, 08:40:42 PM
by XSaenen




Thanks for visiting HTC Desire Forum Powered by SMF 1.1.13 | SMF © 2006-2011, Simple Machines LLC Sitemap

Galaxy S3 | Galaxy Note | Galaxy Nexus | Kindle Fire | Atrix 4G | Motorola Xoom | Windows Phone 7
Nokia Lumia | Tech Support Forum | Top Hosts | Samsung Galaxy Tab | Samsung Galaxy S2 | Samsung Galaxy S | Samsung Wave
HTC Evo 3D | HTC Evo 4G | HTC Incredible | HTC Incredible 2 | HTC Incredible S | HTC Thunderbolt
Motorola Droid Razr | HTC Desire | HTC Desire HD | HTC Desire Z | HTC Desire S | HTC Wildfire
Motorola Droid | Galaxy Indulge | Nokia N8 | Droid Charge | Droid X | Droid X2 | Droid 2| Droid 3 | Fascinate
HTC Sensation | HTC Flyer | LG Revolution | Asus Transformer | Xperia Play | iPhone 4 | Nexus S | Droid Bionic
HTC One | HTC Wildfire S | HTC Droid Eris


This is an Un-Official fan based Website. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the proprietor, or contributors to the site, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the parties it covers, and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by parties involved.
If you have a problem with any of the content posted on this website, please contact "mobile@vssupportqueue.com"
Term of Use | Privacy Policy | BlackRain 2006 by, Crip