Wipe phone with a "panic button" type app

[AC Question]

Does anyone know of an app that can active the wiping process of an android device with just a icon or widget on the home screen? I would think this could be a simple app that you could put anywhere and if needed to start the wiping process you would hold it for say 20 seconds or less or maybe repet tapping 10 times in a row within 7 seconds or something.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! If there were an app like this, I wonder if it would wipe data deeply enough such that forensic data recovery experts couldn't still access it. (I assume you're asking this in regard to law enforcement or governmental seizure of your phone.)

If you're worried about this kind of thing, it's probably best to have a good screen lock set up (that automatically locks as soon as the screen goes to sleep or when you press the Power button), and then rely on Android Device Manager to remotely wipe the phone in case it falls into the wrong hands. But I also don't know how deeply that kind of remote wipe goes.

 

[Lightbutt]

Welcome to Android Central! If there were an app like this, I wonder if it would wipe data deeply enough such that forensic data recovery experts couldn't still access it. (I assume you're asking this in regard to law enforcement or governmental seizure of your phone.)

If you're worried about this kind of thing, it's probably best to have a good screen lock set up (that automatically locks as soon as the screen goes to sleep or when you press the Power button), and then rely on Android Device Manager to remotely wipe the phone in case it falls into the wrong hands. But I also don't know how deeply that kind of remote wipe goes.

I think implementation-wise there is a smart solution: use the usual 2-key full disk encryption and in case of emergency, wipe the master key securely.

 

[methodman89]

Try Phone Factory reset from the playstore. One click reset promise, but I have not used it.