drbombay

This sounds like it's doable. Seems like if I have full access to the phone I should be able to alter the OS. Especially for older phones that are not getting Android updates anymore. Again, there's also that SD card.

I have tools. Google device manager, Avast Mobile, Lookout, and I've used a few others. The problem is, do we really ever know if they work once the phone is no longer in your possession? I've lost 3 phones over the years, and pressed that button to wipe, or factory reset, or brick it and never really know if it did it, or if my phone is across town now with a prepaid sim in it. Lost a tablet in a cab once, again, never really sure it was wiped or if the cabbie just got a new tablet that he just signed on with his own account. Part of this is experimentation, i also have an old phone that I'd like to drop ( like a USB drop) to see where it goes, as a test. Your feedback has been helpful. Thanks.

So I'm spit balling here. With the phone a thief can't swap out the hard drive. So that gives me some leverage. And also assuming that not every thief is a technical mastermind past resetting the phone. Most just factory reset, and swap out the sim card. So, maybe I could partition the SD card, hide the partition (or password protect it), and then program something on the card that looks for the installed RAT when the phone is restarted and if it's missing re installs it? But they could just remove the sd card. So what about some good old fashioned gorilla glue? It's hard enough to get out as it is, a drop of glue would make it impossible. Again, I know there's no full proof method and of course you can't stop the pros. I'm just looking to make it as hard as possible for the amateurs. I'd rather them give up and chuck the phone, than the thought of someone just taking it and using it as their own.

Found some open source solutions that look as if they'll work for my purposes.Since they're my machines I have access to install them. I guess now I need to figure out how to hide a script that will reinstall from a repository even if the phone is factory reset. On a laptop that may be harder since replacing the hard drive would take everything with it. Maybe hiding a script in the bios? Maybe something with the Mac address or device ID? The hunt continues.

Thanks. Will do some Googling on what you've suggested.

I'm new around here and may be speaking out of turn, but "infosec" people aren't going to give all of their personal information. Your instructor should know better than to make that a requirement. It screams of a phishing expedition. JMO of course.

After watching a few tutorials on You Tube, I did the Digital Ocean rout and it works well. I also use the free version of Tunnel Bear on the Windows boot

I'm new at this so bear with me. I'm looking for a Remote Admin/Access Tool that I can install on my own laptop in case it's lost of stolen. Not completely sure how RAT's work, but from what I've seen it can give me remote access to my own machine if it's stolen and connected to the internet. I'd also like to install the same on one of my Android phones. Something that would "call home" when it connects to the internet to give me access to it and it's location. For extra credit, can I put a PC RAT on the same phone that auto installs when the phone is plugged into a computer? I've lost a few phones and a tablet over the years, and it just pisses me off to know someone is using my stuff. The Google device manager and other programs are kind of weak because you never really know if your device was wiped, or bricked. So i figure I'd go a different rout and try to install something that can't be bypassed, or disappears if they do a factory reset. I know that's a lot of questions. Any help or a point in the right direction would be helpful. Thanks

I had the same problem. I watched a guy on You Tube who does repair videos and one was one the 14" Lenovo Thinkpad T430. After watching a bunch of other videos on this line, and looking at the specs, I started shopping New Egg and Ebay. Long story short, I ended up finding a used T430 | i5-3320M 2.6GHZ, 8GB DDR3, 240GB SSD with Windows 10 with not much wear at all for $190. Only issue, no power cord. I added a second SSD (dual boot) in the DVD drive bay ( $16 for the adapter, $58 for 128G ADATA SSD) on which I installed Kali Linux . And then $20 for the power cord. All spent $284. I may spend a few bucks more on the back-lit replacement keyboard and 16GB RAM, but not pressing at the moment. Works awesome! Built like a tank. Great machine. Assuming you don't need to add the extra drive, $190+$5 shipping+20 power cord for a very nice used laptop with a 240G SSD to run straight Kali on (and a Windows 10 license) is pretty good, and pretty budget. You can find them, refurbished from authorized Windows refurbishers for $200-$250 with varying specs. With or without SSDs. Some only have Windows 7. Gotta shop around. I took a chance and DIDN'T buy from an "authorized" refurbisher, expecting to do some repairs on it, but didn't have to. I would actually by another one of these. I highly recommend it.

New here. Thought I'd check in. Currently a Web Designer specializing in WordPress. have recovered or repaired a crap load of hacked websites over the years. Interested in Pen Testing, Wifi Auditing and anything else I can break to see how it's all done. Sorry, don't have anything cleaver to say. Favorite game: Watchdogs (but it's really the old Defender and Stargate arcade games) Favorite OS: Hasn't been invented yet Favorite console: XBOX One Nationality: American Accent: A few distinguished grey hairs Sex: Yes please Age: Getting up there. Race: I used to run the 400M and 800M in high school Height: Just right Status: Veteran Build: I will crush you. Favorite band: New Order Favorite book: Anything by Theodor Geisel Favorite author: Theodor Geisel Favorite movie: Tombstone Favorite director: Tarantino Favorite TV Shows: Family Guy, Black Mirror, Dr. Who, Master of None, Difficult People, | Reruns of Star Trek TNG, Star Trek Voyager, I Love Lucy, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, M.A.S.H Favorite actor: Tom Hanks