We present to your attention a program from Google - Android Device Manager. Finding a phone with its help is quite simple. Recently, this program has been renamed to Find my device (you can download the update from the Play Store). This application is designed to search for lost or stolen devices on the Android platform with a small set of necessary functions.
A little about the functions
Program supports features:
- call on;
- phone lock;
- completely erasing information from the device remotely;
- device discovery.
If the gadget was lost, not stolen, the alternative to blocking it is much more pleasant than completely erasing information. However, in the event of a theft, data cleansing can be more than ever useful. Setting up and launching the app is pretty straightforward.
Program installation
Since the application is official, just click the "Install" button in the Play Market, and it will be installed. If you have a Google account and are signed in on your device, the application will be installed automatically afterafter you confirm the use of location data. After this procedure, the map of the area will start loading.
The approximate location of your device will be displayed next to its description. On the map, it is reflected as a single dot. Also, if you drag two fingers on the map in different directions, you can zoom in on the map for a more detailed display of the location of your device. The detection accuracy varies depending on the location of the device at the moment. Usually it does not exceed 20 m.
If you have multiple Android devices, you can switch between them. To do this, in the description of the phone, click on the triangle under its name and select the necessary gadget.
If one of the devices is used more often than the others, you can rename them to a more readable form. The function of determining the location of the phone is not enough to determine exactly where the lost gadget is located. To do this, you need to use the "Call" function. This procedure does not require pre-configuration. When you press this button, the phone will ring for 5 minutes without turning off at maximum volume. Turning off this call by simply pressing the "Red Button" will not succeed. A complete shutdown of the device will be required.
Setting up a complete wipe and device lock
In order for your device to be remotely locked and wiped, it must be configured.
How to do it? In case Android Device Manager is not installed on your device, there are two options for installing and configuring it. Either send a request from the web interface, and then simply click on it in the notification bar of your gadget to start the setup process, or go to your phone in Settings-> Security-> Device administrators, then activate and enable the application.
This way you can run the program on most Android platforms. After that, you will have access to functions such as "Delete all data", "Change password to unlock the screen" and "Lock screen". Even if you already have your passcode and pin turned on, Android Device Manager will require you to enter your own.
It is advisable to use a new code that is different from the rest and write it down somewhere so as not to forget.
In case of theft or loss, if someone unlocked your phone before you set up a lock on it, you will already have a lock password set in advance. When you click the "Lock" button, a menu will appear in which you need to enter a new password. A message will also be sent in which you can offer to return the gadget to the owner with or without a reward. In addition, the menu has a line for specifying a phone number that you can call without unlocking the phone.
Privacy issues
Very often the user is worried about the privacy of his data, and in many Internet forums and other sitesoften write that the information can be used at the discretion of the creators or something like that.
If we consider this issue technically, then, indeed, the possibility of constant monitoring of your location is available. However, do not forget that Google is an officially registered legal entity. This suggests that the company declares the functions it performs to the relevant control organizations. As such, she is officially announcing how she collects and uses location information.
Important from Google! Android Device Manager does not collect history or provide location reference reports. The approximate location of your device is determined when you first signed in. This data is deleted when you exit Device Manager. If the device is turned off or is offline, Google does not report its location.
When you need to find a lost or stolen phone, the last thing you need to worry about is the data that will be used to locate it. Simply exit the app and the information will be deleted.
Note
Very often, the user thinks that he has nothing to hide on his phone and does not lock, not thinking that he can easily lose the phone. Thus, he endangers all the people who are in his contact list and makes it easier for attackers to steal their data. Screen lock will help you avoid unnecessaryproblems associated with hacking your gadget, or calls to your friends from intruders asking them to deposit money into their account.
Web interface and installation on a computer
It is necessary to clarify for owners of personal computers that Android device manager cannot be downloaded to a computer. The program has a web interface that runs through your browser. In order to find your device using this application, you need to go to “android remote control”. If there are several, you should select the lost gadget from the drop-down list and click on the “Target” button. After the GPS determines the position of your device, it will be displayed on the map.
Conclusion
Summing up all of the above, it is worth noting the changes for the better of the application from Google due to the simplicity and ease of use of Android Device Manager.
It should be noted that most people in our world have been using phones, tablets and other devices for a long time and know that it is impossible to determine the location of the device if it is turned off. This fact significantly reduces the ability to detect a stolen gadget. You should not hope that an inexperienced user will have the device and he will not turn it off. To date, there are other applications for Android devices. In some of them, there are much more opportunities than in ADM. Basically, these are Internet security features. As far as discoverability is concerned, Android Device Manager is quite successful with this.coping.
