Phone Tracking App .. Android phone

WLM21

A friend of my wife has just had her iPhone stolen, but luckily she had a tracking app installed on it.

The police were able to visit the property of the thief, recover the phone and arrest the culprit. Full marks !!

She and I both have Android phones so we are now keen to instal some form of tracking app. There seem to be quite a few to choose from.

I just have a couple of questions ..

Surely if the thief has a bit of common sense (not guaranteed of course) it would simply be a matter of deleting the app, or just switch off the GPS tracking option on the phone. Is this correct ?

Is there any way to 'hide the installation' or even prevent an easy removal, as least by a normal 'dumb' criminal .. not one clued up on technical issues.

thank you

No doubt

Shrimply

Look at Avast Anti-Theft, very handy and does exactly what you are asking about I think.

Just lock your phone and the sim with pins.

Of course it's not full proof, but it will make life a lot harder for anyone who tries to take the phone.

jbainbridge

I've loaded - Where's my droid ... never had to use it as yet thankfully.

To secure the phone also:
- set a sim pin
- set a screen lock

Apple have improved their setup over recent years - Android needs to catch up.

JJ_Egan

Later phones/ Firmware have it built in under settings Security Find My Mobile .

bob_a_builder

Most android phones are/can track you anyway if you have a google account set up
see
https://maps.google.co.uk/locationhistory/b/0

robti

Kaspersky mobile security does all this and free with a Barclays Bank account, maybe your own bank has something similar

cookie365

robti wrote: »

Kaspersky mobile security does all this and free with a Barclays Bank account, maybe your own bank has something similar

Not installing Kaspersky mobile security will do all of it for free too.

Internet security suites on Android are nothing more than useless ways to show you ads.

Gavin78

Prey also do security for upto 3 devices inc laptops/pc's etc https://preyproject.com/

There is a free version but isn't as good as the paid version I would look at them both see which is best for you. the paid version is $5 a month about £3.50 or you can pay up front and get a 10% discount which works out at £34.50 a year if you do it that way.

esuhl

bob_a_builder wrote: »

Most android phones are/can track you anyway if you have a google account set up
see
https://maps.google.co.uk/locationhistory/b/0

Oh, that's interesting! I'm quite relieved to see that, despite having a Google account set up on my phone, I have absolutely no tracking history. How have I managed that?!

bob_a_builder

How have I managed that?!

http://www.androidcentral.com/understanding-googles-android-location-tracking

Always pays to read the small print when giving apps persissions

esuhl

bob_a_builder wrote: »

http://www.androidcentral.com/understanding-googles-android-location-tracking

Always pays to read the small print when giving apps persissions

Ahhh... Maybe that explains why I have so many problems trying to get mapping services to tell me where I am!

I find it a nightmare trying to work out whether to accept app permissions. Sometimes you can just use a web browser instead of the app -- like with the Guardian and Wikipedia apps that (for some useless reason) want to know my location.

But overall, I hate the way there's no centralised control of permissions in Android.