tracking down nexus 7

[zeos]

someone broke into my apartment yesterday and stole a bunch of stuff. I changed my passwords within 20 minutes of getting home and I checked the device manager locator thing, but it couldn't find it. I also sent a lockout password to it. some time this afternoon the nexus 7 disappeared from my device list. when I called google they said that they could do anything since it was no longer in my device list. Im sure this a futile question, but is there any way to track the thing down?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Probably not much you can do after the fact. Though Cnet has a article on this subject.

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39...t-or-stolen-phones-tablets-and-other-devices/

 

[gorcorps]

If it's already off of your account you're pretty much SOL. Every solution I know of involves purchasing an app and installing remotely, but if it's not in your list of devices you can't do that. Whoever took it knew what to do fast unfortunately.

 

[ImDonly1]

Next time
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus

You can install it invisibly, so it doesn't show up in the app list (or with a different name).

Also, you can set it so it can't be un-installed even after a factory reset. Only way to get rid of it is if you know the password or flash a new rom. It has a lot of cool features too (taking pics, recording texts or phone calls, etc).

 

[RossMAN]

Next time
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus

You can install it invisibly, so it doesn't show up in the app list (or with a different name).

Also, you can set it so it can't be un-installed even after a factory reset. Only way to get rid of it is if you know the password or flash a new rom. It has a lot of cool features too (taking pics, recording texts or phone calls, etc).

I would also consider preyproject.com - I have both installed.

 

[Kelvinz]

Too bad there aren't any long range device tracking features on current devices.

 

[Dankk]

Next time
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus

You can install it invisibly, so it doesn't show up in the app list (or with a different name).

Also, you can set it so it can't be un-installed even after a factory reset. Only way to get rid of it is if you know the password or flash a new rom. It has a lot of cool features too (taking pics, recording texts or phone calls, etc).

+1, I'm a Cerberus user and it's probably the best anti-theft App out there IMO. Fortunately I haven't actually had to use it in a real situation but the features are very powerful.

 

[rh71]

^ how does Cerberus specifically compare to Lookout in terms of bogging down the system?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

someone broke into my apartment yesterday and stole a bunch of stuff. I changed my passwords within 20 minutes of getting home and I checked the device manager locator thing, but it couldn't find it. I also sent a lockout password to it. some time this afternoon the nexus 7 disappeared from my device list. when I called google they said that they could do anything since it was no longer in my device list. Im sure this a futile question, but is there any way to track the thing down?

Doesn't changing password break the login on your device? I noticed that almost everyone recommends this first, but essentially your device gets cut off from Google.

If anything, I'd recommend NOT changing your password. Most thieves are out there to grab your device for a quick sale. They could care less your email has critical information.

I've tried helping multiple people now to recover their devices, and it's almost always fruitless given they change their passwords before consulting me.

If you really think your e-mail has something too critical, I'd change it, like national secrets, fortune 500 secrets, etc.

 

[vshah]

Doesn't changing password break the login on your device? I noticed that almost everyone recommends this first, but essentially your device gets cut off from Google.

If anything, I'd recommend NOT changing your password. Most thieves are out there to grab your device for a quick sale. They could care less your email has critical information.

I've tried helping multiple people now to recover their devices, and it's almost always fruitless given they change their passwords before consulting me.

If you really think your e-mail has something too critical, I'd change it, like national secrets, fortune 500 secrets, etc.

for this reason I always keep a dummy account on the phone as well. I can use it for remote app installs/tracking even if I deactivate my main account. I also use cerberus.

 

[sweenish]

Doesn't changing password break the login on your device? I noticed that almost everyone recommends this first, but essentially your device gets cut off from Google.

If anything, I'd recommend NOT changing your password. Most thieves are out there to grab your device for a quick sale. They could care less your email has critical information.

I've tried helping multiple people now to recover their devices, and it's almost always fruitless given they change their passwords before consulting me.

If you really think your e-mail has something too critical, I'd change it, like national secrets, fortune 500 secrets, etc.

I'd never heard of changing your account password. Using the Device Manager to remotely apply a lock code would have been better. Remote wipe if it came down to it.

I have both the device manager and cerberus on my phone, and just the device manager on my tablet. I might go ahead and put cerberus on my tablet as well.

 

[zeos]

Thanks for the ideas, I will definitely look into that stuff for my phone. I was checking the device manager all night and all morning, but then I had to go on a service call and sure enough those couple of hours were when the dirt bag decided to go online.

edit:

I'd never heard of changing your account password. Using the Device Manager to remotely apply a lock code would have been better. Remote wipe if it came down to it.

I meant I changed my google password so they couldn't get into my email and what not. I sent a lock code that night before it had come online again, I guess they must have done a complete reset to get around that maybe?

 

[sweenish]

Thanks for the ideas, I will definitely look into that stuff for my phone. I was checking the device manager all night and all morning, but then I had to go on a service call and sure enough those couple of hours were when the dirt bag decided to go online.

edit:


I meant I changed my google password so they couldn't get into my email and what not. I sent a lock code that night before it had come online again, I guess they must have done a complete reset to get around that maybe?

I know what you meant. The lock code keeps them out of the device, which keeps them out of your email.

I don't know if Device Manager can survive a reset. I would hope it can, since it does have admin access. Cerberus can. I have no idea if Plan B can or not, either.

Still, I feel for you. I hate that this is the world we live in.

 

[vshah]

in any case, renters insurance should cover it, right?

 

[Kelvinz]

+1, I'm a Cerberus user and it's probably the best anti-theft App out there IMO. Fortunately I haven't actually had to use it in a real situation but the features are very powerful.

I just had a read about Cereberus and damn I need to buy that thing now:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus&hl=en

Why haven't I heard about it until now?!

 

[zeos]

in any case, renters insurance should cover it, right?

Yeah, im pretty sure it should cover it.