So after my phone was stolen last week, i have been googling and surfing the web of how to protect your phone from being lost or stolen (let's face it, it will have a chance to be stolen lot more than lost).
Now, what are the security measures that you are currently taking on your phones,to prevent theft, or to secure your phone and your data,also to locate your phone, and perhaps take a picture of the thief, After the theft.
I am mostly interested in Android users, cause i would never buy an iphone.

But please, state your Device, and what kind of measures you are taking right now to protect your phone.
I'm using a Note 4 and the only security features I have available are a fingerprint and password. I disabled all the theft security since I'm uncomfortable with location services. I might encrypt my phone but I've just been lazy so far. I suppose another security measure of mine is never using my phone when I don't need it. There are people who walk around with their phones turned off in their hands and even worse, people who text and walk. I never use my phone while I'm walking in public unless I'm receiving a call. Otherwise my head is up and I'm aware of my surroundings.
iPhone.

iCloud protection.



That is all

edit: just saw you said you only wanted Android testimonials..... take it from someone who had Androids for over 5 years. The iPhone is not the same anymore since the 6. Give it a chance!
That's true. the best way to prevent your device to be stolen is making it obsolete if stolen.

unlike android phones which can be wiped and have it re-flashed, Since iOS 7 your phone is activation locked. even if you force install IPSW from itunes while iphone in recovery mode. you will have to activate the phone afterwords, and if you cant the iPhone turns basically to shiny paper weight.

check out this article Link
haidcar wroteThat's true. the best way to prevent your device to be stolen is making it obsolete if stolen.

unlike android phones which can be wiped and have it re-flashed, Since iOS 7 your phone is activation locked. even if you force install IPSW from itunes while iphone in recovery mode. you will have to activate the phone afterwords, and if you cant the iPhone turns basically to shiny paper weight.

check out this article Link
this is also applied on android devices with version 5.1, if you do a factory reset while there is a lock screen, you wont be able to access the phone unless you enter the gmail account and password, nothing else works.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/03/12/guide-what-is-android-5-1s-antitheft-device-protection-feature-and-how-do-i-use-it/
its about time Android implements such mechanism, however its not as bulletproof as on iOS. If you are running unlocked boot-loader, ie: you flashed a ROM on your device, you are Not protected.
Well i was on 5.0.1 lollipop on my Note 4,i think, when it got stolen, that means i won't have Device protection i guess?

@Haidcar, the post says that it's still not sure if when running unlocked bootloader,device protection will stop working.
Are you certain of that?

Anyway, i won't unlock the bootloader on my phone or flash a custom rom on my device anyway!
So i guess that puts me on the safe side.

SoWhat Android phones currently have this feature?
Does any model of a Note 4 has it ( I won't be getting note 5 anyway, they took away removable battery and SD card)

Oh and also, What about protecting your SD card data?
I had a 64 GB SD card in the phone! there goes all the family pictures and everything, he surely can remove it from the slot and view them all!
android manager existed since kitkat, but it does not have hardware encryption like on 5.1. previous to 5.1 all systems are easily defeatable, with a factory reset.

Even if device protection manages to work and block access. the person can easily flash any compatible rom onto the device. essentially wiping the phone clean as you have never used it.
haidcar wroteandroid manager existed since kitkat, but it does not have hardware encryption like on 5.1. previous to 5.1 all systems are easily defeatable, with a factory reset.

Even if device protection manages to work and block access. the person can easily flash any compatible rom onto the device. essentially wiping the phone clean as you have never used it.
But can they do that with a locked bootloader?
Say a freshly sold phone from the company,never been tampered in bootloader, no flashing what so ever, no rooting before nothing...

Can they still do that with Device protection On?
Any idea if the IMEI can be traced by MTC or Alfa? I mean if a sim is installed and the phone was being used, it will show up on the network. Do you know what was the IMEI number?
These are professional snatchers man, their profession is to locate possible targets and then make their move.
So they know what they are doing, he turned off the phone as soon as he stole it and took off the sim immediately (i tried calling,whatsapping etc.. no data received on the phone).
And even if they didn't took out the sim, yea alfa or mtc can trace them, even without need of the IMEI number (correct me if im wrong), but they have to use the phone, make calls or any kind of action that includes the sim card.
And even in that case,you need to present an order from the pubic prosecution, in order for alfa/mtc can trace the phone for you.


Oh by the way, after following my case, i now have video feed from a store near the place where they stole my phone.
But the angle of this store does not show the moment of the snatching (nor the license plate of the motorcycle which was installed on the back). Only shows me walking and the snatchers driving behind me.
There is another store in front by a little bit, and by the looks of the camera, i am sure they will have a view of the snatching and then the driving away part of them,and me trying to catch them, and the plates.
But according to the employees,the manager is in travel, so hopefully sometime this week, we will get the footage from there also.
AVOlio wrote
haidcar wroteandroid manager existed since kitkat, but it does not have hardware encryption like on 5.1. previous to 5.1 all systems are easily defeatable, with a factory reset.

Even if device protection manages to work and block access. the person can easily flash any compatible rom onto the device. essentially wiping the phone clean as you have never used it.
But can they do that with a locked bootloader?
Say a freshly sold phone from the company,never been tampered in bootloader, no flashing what so ever, no rooting before nothing...

Can they still do that with Device protection On?

if you are running 5.1 and above with locked bootloader, you are safe.

if you are running 5.1 and above with Unlocked bootloader, you are Not safe.

if you are running Less than 5.1 you are whether bootloader locked or not, you are Not safe.
haidcar wrote
AVOlio wrote
haidcar wroteandroid manager existed since kitkat, but it does not have hardware encryption like on 5.1. previous to 5.1 all systems are easily defeatable, with a factory reset.

Even if device protection manages to work and block access. the person can easily flash any compatible rom onto the device. essentially wiping the phone clean as you have never used it.
But can they do that with a locked bootloader?
Say a freshly sold phone from the company,never been tampered in bootloader, no flashing what so ever, no rooting before nothing...

Can they still do that with Device protection On?

if you are running 5.1 and above with locked bootloader, you are safe.

if you are running 5.1 and above with Unlocked bootloader, you are Not safe.

if you are running Less than 5.1 you are whether bootloader locked or not, you are Not safe.
Sorry to say guys, all of this doesn't matter for anti-theft. I doubt the thief will inquire whether you are on 5.1 or if your BL is unlocked or not before harassing you.
Salloum wrote
haidcar wrote
AVOlio wrote But can they do that with a locked bootloader?
Say a freshly sold phone from the company,never been tampered in bootloader, no flashing what so ever, no rooting before nothing...

Can they still do that with Device protection On?

if you are running 5.1 and above with locked bootloader, you are safe.

if you are running 5.1 and above with Unlocked bootloader, you are Not safe.

if you are running Less than 5.1 you are whether bootloader locked or not, you are Not safe.
Sorry to say guys, all of this doesn't matter for anti-theft. I doubt the thief will inquire whether you are on 5.1 or if your BL is unlocked or not before harassing you.
this is for post-theft protection not anti-theft
Then it doesn't matter anyway, because 99% of Android devices have expandable storage and your data will always be retrieved from the microSD.
Salloum wroteThen it doesn't matter anyway, because 99% of Android devices have expandable storage and your data will always be retrieved from the microSD.
They can have the data, who cares.
The only usable item from the phone will be the SD card then.
He will be acquiring a useless phone, that he cant sell for its price, he can sell it only for parts.

And yea, returning to the SD card issue,
So is there a way to lock and encrypt the SD card, and secure the encryption even after a format of it, after it was removed from the phone?
AVOlio wrote
Salloum wroteThen it doesn't matter anyway, because 99% of Android devices have expandable storage and your data will always be retrieved from the microSD.
They can have the data, who cares.
The only usable item from the phone will be the SD card then.
He will be acquiring a useless phone, that he cant sell for its price, he can sell it only for parts.

And yea, returning to the SD card issue,
So is there a way to lock and encrypt the SD card, and secure the encryption even after a format of it, after it was removed from the phone?
The data protection is the whole point of the exercise. Do you really think there is a possibility they will end up with a paperweight? Even the iCloud locks can be cracked for around $250.
3 months later
Update :
I just got a new note 4 shipped with Android 5.1.1 lollipop.
Do any of you guys have an idea if it has device protection?

I tried locking my phone (pattern, pin, password, fingerprint), though after removing the lock, I didn't get the dialog that says "are you sure you want to remove the lock, device protection will be removed" something like that.

So do any of you have an idea if I have it?
The protection is there since version 5.1, but as far as I know Samsung devices have unlocked bootloaders so anyone can just flash a stock ROM and then data wipe your stolen device and it will work just fine.
Bypassing the lock screen on Samsung smartphones is easy.
I also did it to my friend who forgot his pattern.