So Stupid! I just sold my Tab and didn't reset it! Advice, please.

[PaulQ]

I cannot believe I did this. I have sold multiple tablets and multiple phones over several years. I have no idea why this slipped my mind this time. Ugh. I feel like an *****.

So, the tablet is already in the mail and on its way. It looks like it's in my Android Device Manager but it's grayed out and I haven't checked it in Device Manager...... ever.

I also have Norton Security on it which has similar features.

As far as I know, ADM will require him to put in my password after the remote reset, right? I'd rather not go that route. I don't know what Norton will do. It says it resets it but I don't know what happens after that.

The guy I sold it to is in New York and has been very responsive via email so I will have no problem talking to him when he gets it.

I haven't been paying close attention and I *think* this is how it all works. I have never factory reset THIS tablet but I am assuming it's like the other Samsung phones I have had.

First...
I left the device with a PIN and fingerprint. It will arrive off. From what I remember, it requires the PIN the first time you boot it. Is that correct?

Second....
I'll need him to go into Device Manager and disable access to Norton so it doesn't stick around through the reset. Does that require just the PIN?

Third...
When he goes to reset it, it just asks for a PIN, right? So if I gave him the PIN, he'll be able to do the factory reset.

That's it? Do you think this will work?

Thanks!!!

 

[hallux]

It may not be that easy. FRP - Factory Reset Protection - is likely to block him from setting up the device unless you give him your account password. Even if he can get into the device and into settings, to properly reset the device and not have FRP active, your account has to be removed which does require your password.

http://www.androidcentral.com/factory-reset-protection-what-you-need-know

 

[PaulQ]

Even if he can get into the device and into settings, to properly reset the device and not have FRP active, your account has to be removed which does require your password.

Hmm. Knowing me, if FRP is an option, I turned it on. What are your thoughts on the best way to handle giving someone else your Google password to do this? I see how I can remove it as a device on my account. He'll get immediate access to my gmail, right?

I'm not terribly worried. It doesn't sound like this is a bad guy and it's not like he planned this.

Any tips on how to limit the impact of giving someone your password? If I change it right after he gets into the device, does it log him out of my stuff?

 

[Lepa79]

Hmm. Knowing me, if FRP is an option, I turned it on. What are your thoughts on the best way to handle giving someone else your Google password to do this? I see how I can remove it as a device on my account. He'll get immediate access to my gmail, right?

I'm not terribly worried. It doesn't sound like this is a bad guy and it's not like he planned this.

Any tips on how to limit the impact of giving someone your password? If I change it right after he gets into the device, does it log him out of my stuff?

Get him on the phone, get him to remove your google account from the device and start factory reset.

This will take a minute or 2 to accomplish (removing the account). Once he completes this on the phone, change your google password right away. Done. Don't complicate it. Don't think there is a way around it. Unless you want him to ship it back to you.

 

[PaulQ]

I did talk to Samsung. They said their remote wipe just factory resets and you don't have to do anything after the reset.

You know, thinking about it, the only thing I have run into this reset protection has been my S2 watch. I don't think I have run into it on any phone yet. In fact, I don't see it on my S8+ ... do they still do this on newer devices?

In the end, I think I might just go with @Lepa79.

 

[Lepa79]

I did talk to Samsung. They said their remote wipe just factory resets and you don't have to do anything after the reset.

You know, thinking about it, the only thing I have run into this reset protection has been my S2 watch. I don't think I have run into it on any phone yet. In fact, I don't see it on my S8+ ... do they still do this on newer devices?

In the end, I think I might just go with @Lepa79.

Do the remote wipe either way. You can't trust the person on the other end will do it. Wipe it and then if they have a problem setting up the device, you can go with the route mentioned above. You should have done the remote wipe out already.

 

[PaulQ]

Just realized something. He has to connect it to WiFi before I can remote anything.

Can someone try turning their tablet off and back on with a PIN and tell me if you can pick a WiFi network before entering the PIN? That would help.

If you can't (or if no one can do this), I'm just going to get him on the phone, have him enter the PIN, connect to his WiFi and send the wipe.

This sucks. My fault.

 

[Tim1954]

Yes, it's awkward really, regardless, he has to sign out of ALL accounts on that device as the device will be recognised even if he factory resets as soon as he goes online.

 

[PaulQ]

Yes, it's awkward really, regardless, he has to sign out of ALL accounts on that device as the device will be recognised even if he factory resets as soon as he goes online.

I have told Google to remove the device I reset LastPass device links. I know that worked because my phone and other tablet asked me to log in again. Honestly, beyond LastPass, there isn't anything devastating he could obtain. I don't have top secret info on it. No naked photos.

 

[PaulQ]

All is good. Here's what happened. We went through the standard reset procedure, not booting into recovery.

PIN to unlock device.
Go to Factory Reset, required my Samsung password.
Reset.
Done.

Interesting side note... I have Norton Security installed and it is set as a Device Administrator. We couldn't turn off its Device Administrator status, it just caused settings to crash. We couldn't uninstall it either, settings crashed. In the end, it didn't matter, it was gone after the restart.

Also, I have it set up in Android Device Manager. That didn't survive the reset either. I can't locate it anymore.

He was able to set it up with his Google account and it wiped off my Samsung account. It is now letting him use his own Samsung account.

I am curious to know what would have happened if we went the recovery mode route. Does that method completely bypass everything? Obviously you don't need a PIN for that. That would mean all these locks and locators are easily bypassed.

I'll never make this mistake again.