Samsung Galaxy S4 owners can now secure their phones with LoJack services. The persistent technology should hopefully help make phone theft obsolete.
I previously wrote about the LoJack solution for the Samsung Galaxy S4 and had the chance to spend a bit of time with it installed on a test device. The new LoJack for Mobile Devices application and service is a persistent technology that is designed to make phone theft obsolete.
The LoJack software is integrated into all all Samsung Galaxy S4 devices at the factory, but you do need to download and install the LoJack software. Absolute Software currently sells the service for just $29.99 for 1 year. This year of service covers the cost of the application, remote functionality (track, locate, secure), and theft recovery team services if your device is reported stolen.
After you install and setup the software then you are prompted to create an account so you can login and manage your device from a web browser. After the software is setup on your phone, it remains active even if your Galaxy S4 is wiped and reset.
Locate: With the software installed, login to your account to perform remote functions. After selecting to locate the device you will see it appear on a map view with the last location of your phone identified.
Lock: To lock your phone remotely you select the lock option and then enter a lock message that will appear on your phone screen. You then enter a PIN and select to lock the phone. After confirmation, your phone will be remotely locked. Once you find it or it gets returned, you can then enter the PIN and unlock your phone.
Delete: If a lock is not good enough, you can also choose to remotely wipe your device. This action may be desired if you cannot find your device and have sensitive data you don't want to risk losing. You can choose to delete messages, contacts, phone logs, removable storage files, non-removable storage files, or a full manufacturer wipe. Again, a PIN is entered to confirm and carry out your request.
I didn't get a chance to test the ability of the recovery team to find a device, but they have been doing it with laptops for quite some time with great success. I look forward to the day when deterrents like this make phone theft obsolete and appreciate manufacturers and developers working to make this a reality.
Caption by: Matthew Miller
Top 10 iPhone privacy and security tips you should check today
Here are the top 10 tips for keeping the data on your iPhone safe from hackers and snoopers. Even if you are pretty confident in your security, it might be worth checking to make sure things ...
Apple WWDC 2019 keynote: Scenes and surprises
Highlights and some surprises from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, including announcements on iOS, MacOS, TvOS, and WatchOS.
Apple products you should and shouldn't buy: June 2019 edition
Apple products are expensive, so it makes sense to avoid buying anything that's nearing the end of its lifecycle, or when you can buy something of equivalent quality from another vendor. ...
Totallee screen protector for Google Pixel 3: Affordable, bubble-free, with edge-to-edge security
As expensive as phones are today, it's worth spending $25 to add a tempered glass protector to act as a sacrificial anode for your display. The Totallee protector is easy to apply, has ...
Hands-on that Gear4 Platoon case for the Samsung Galaxy S10e
Samsung's latest small flagship is perfectly sized to take out and about. The Gear4 Platoon case uses D30 material for serious impact protection so you can enjoy the phone in even more ...
iOS 12.3: How to keep your iPhone safe from hackers and snoopers
Your iPhone and iPad is likely packed with important, valuable, and even sensitive information that you might not want others to be able to access. Here are the steps you should take ...
OnePlus 7 models up close: Specs, features, and colors
Following in the steps of Apple and Samsung, OnePlus has not one but three flagship models this year. Here's how they compare.
Join Discussion