Phone stolen - can images be downloaded when locked?

[Carl Kessen Sverdrup]

So someone stole my phone yesterday. It was on until this morning, I saw it using Airdroid, but has since been turned off. I've reported it stolen and it's insured so I'll get a new one in a week or two. The only thing I'm kind of worried about are my photos & videos, a few I'd rather not want to get out there. I had the lock pattern on, so I assume it'll be reset, but will the photos also be deleted, or is there another way the thief can get a hold of the files without using my lock patten?

 

[superbleester]

If they honestly wanted too he could with ADB or he could just do be factory reset which resets the password but not picture and music and those things, as they are on a virtual SD card. But, since they stole your phone then they obviously aren't smart enough to know this. Chances are, you are safe.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

[chrisxpierce]

Sadly, i'm afraid that your photos can be "easily" compromised! My phone is locked with both facial and dot lock, and when I plug my phone into my pc, i'm still able to access my photos and all files. This is kind of stupid.... but hopefully, they're only intent on wiping and resetting like new. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if I'm able to access mine, then they'll be able to access your photos... and any other files stored in folders. I hope I'm wrong.

Edit: I think you may be ok, I forgot I had my phone security set to require every 15 minutes, so it would make sense that mine would be able to access the files and photos. I've since changed my setting to require immediate unlock method, and my HTC ONE is "not" showing up in "my computer". So, you're probably ok bro!

 

[Carl Kessen Sverdrup]

I have to unlock it every time I connect it to the computer to transfer files. If it is only password reset then all apps and the like are still there? That means I should be able to connect to it via AirDroid if it were to connect to a network then. Is there a way I can wipe it as soon as it goes online?

 

[downhillrider]

Im assuming you didnt enable your phone so it can be wiped remotely from chrome by you.

 

[Carl Kessen Sverdrup]

I never saw this. Is it a Sense-feature? Or something built into Android?

 

[andriver]

I never saw this. Is it a Sense-feature? Or something built into Android?

See this thread.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/303322-android-device-manager-arrives.html

 

[BigDinCA]

If they honestly wanted too he could with ADB or he could just do be factory reset which resets the password but not picture and music and those things, as they are on a virtual SD card. But, since they stole your phone then they obviously aren't smart enough to know this. Chances are, you are safe.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

What version of Sense are you running? A factory reset wipes out everything on my device. That's why I use it. To get it back to the same state it was in when it left the factory. Assuming that the device can't be unlocked, there's no way to use the "Backup and Reset" app under settings (which does give you the option of keeping all your media).

 

[tfouto]

Try android device manager..
You can find it and wipe via web. I have cerebus installed on my phone. Install cerebus via web Google play...

Enviado do meu HTC One utilizando Tapatalk 4

 

[Carl Kessen Sverdrup]

What version of Sense are you running? A factory reset wipes out everything on my device. That's why I use it. To get it back to the same state it was in when it left the factory. Assuming that the device can't be unlocked, there's no way to use the "Backup and Reset" app under settings (which does give you the option of keeping all your media).

I had updated to the latest version, 4.2.2, or whichever update that was. But you're telling me that there is no way that the person that got a hold of it could have access to my personal files if he did a factory reset? The virtual SD-card is also wiped? I have not been able to confirm this online yet you see, and it's annoying to think about him/her being able to see my photos and videos. According to this Resetting HTC One (Hard reset) the person would have to do a factory reset using hardware buttons (or, I assume, via software) but it's kind of confusing as it does not say wether or not you could chose to delete all data this way, or if it does so automatically for that matter.

Edit: Ok, so after checking these forums a bit more it seems that the virtual sd-card will not be deleted even though the person does a factory reset. ****, this sucks big time. Here's to hoping my karma is good enough so that the person that stole it (mother****ing *******) just deletes everything after he/she resets it. I'll call HTC support tomorrow just to be 100% sure and update this post.

 

[Carl Kessen Sverdrup]

So I just called HTC Support and the person I talked to told me that everything on the phone, including the virtual SD-card, is wiped when doing a hard reset. However I'm not sure if I really trust him as my experience with customer service centres is that they often tell you what you want to hear or simply just don't know what they're talking about. I'd really appreciate if someone could confirm this, either by knowledge of Android, own experience or testing it out. If no-one replies I'll try this out when I get a One in probably a few weeks (I'm currently waiting for the police report to arrive so I can send it to my insurance agency and them giving me the funds I need to grab a new one).

 

[karn101]

So I just called HTC Support and the person I talked to told me that everything on the phone, including the virtual SD-card, is wiped when doing a hard reset. However I'm not sure if I really trust him as my experience with customer service centres is that they often tell you what you want to hear or simply just don't know what they're talking about. I'd really appreciate if someone could confirm this, either by knowledge of Android, own experience or testing it out. If no-one replies I'll try this out when I get a One in probably a few weeks (I'm currently waiting for the police report to arrive so I can send it to my insurance agency and them giving me the funds I need to grab a new one).

Factory reset does wipe /SDCARD/DATA.

As said before, with some fastboot and/or ADB commands, they can still get your photos, but I doubt that's their intention. They will lock themselves out trying to guess your pattern and then just do a factory reset on the phone. Your personal information will be wiped.

 

[BigDinCA]

I'd really appreciate if someone could confirm this, either by knowledge of Android, own experience or testing it out.

I think that you're needlessly confusing yourself. Under the phone settings there is a "Backup & Reset" option. This option resets the software on your phone back to factory settings, clearing out all of your apps, accounts and personal info. It DOES NOT, I repeat DOES NOT automatically erase any of your files. There is a separate box that needs to be checked off at the bottom of that page if you want to I include all of those personal files in your reset. But this is a software reset, so the software can be programmed to give you options. I'd love to post a screenshot but I haven't figured out how to do that in the AC app yet... STILL!

A hard reset (aka a hardware reset) doesn't give you those options. If you have to use the hardware buttons to reset the device (which would be required if the thief can't guess your lock pattern or gmail password) then everything goes, including all files stored in the phones memory. It will be exactly as it was when it was brand new and you first took it out of the box.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Carmen Jade]

ok can someone please just give me a short answer please. I had my HTC ONE stolen last night with some serious home-made-porn on it. please spare me the "you should know better" lecture I'm already embarrassed enough. It had a screen lock on it. CAN THE THEIFS ACCESS IT OR NOT??? I JUST WANT TO KNOW FOR A PIECE OF MIND. I dont care if they wipe it clean and sell it, I just want to know if they can watch my videos or not.

 

[Carmen Jade]

.....................It had a screen lock, tell me that counts for something..........

 

[JBeef]

If some one really wants the information off a stolen phone and they know how, they can get it. However, if they have no reason to think there's anything worthwhile on there (like "serious home made porn") they most likely won't bother and will just wipe it.

 

[REEG14]

my verizon galaxy s phn was stolen i tried to use this app on the web but my device is not compatible...do u know anything else i can use?

 

[Meena Hashemi]

guys ...

my name is meena and my phone got lost yesterday at 5 pm in the evening my sister didnt told me by then but she told at 1:30 in ht night after we got home from a place....i really neeed to knw i dnt want any ******* codes or stuf just tell me can theey access my phone data ??? i live in kabul afganistan i wana knw in simple plain sentences that are the type of codes ur saying is available in here spically the CDs or other relevant stufff?? my phone was gifted to me from euorpe and i had to break the code to insert the sim... but in the mean time it damaged my phone a bit and i was not able to transfer my data to computer ..my picture family events and vidios and study metrial are there which i dnt have now... i want an answer dnt make ur sentence like mathematics codes i dnt understand those ******* stuff. i wil be happy to have an answer soon. i am already upset so dnt make me wait ..,

 

[sneha garg]

hi my name is sneha and i have some thing to share with you all guys theses days steeling phones are a big thing as they same went with my mother that her phone some thiefs came and stell it so in that mombile it was of samsung grand and it is having all my photos and all so i need them in my laptop so can you all plz help me to get that ? the thief has formated the phone i guess also my phone was not having any password in it so can i get the photos from any system like i cloud or something plz guys help me it was having my all the personal pictures......