Someone stole my Neo Freerunner... :(

[Helge Hafting]

The Digital Pioneer wrote:
>     And when you think you've tracked down the thief and are close to
>     him, send an sms to make it play some music really really loud, and
>     go bang the thief on the head :)
> 
> Sounds fun. I send the SMS, and suddenly a piercing siren goes off from 
> the guy 10 feet away, so I tackle him and take back my phone. :D I like 
> how you think. 
> 
> Just one little consideration: how best to turn off stolen-mode when I 
> get it back? Sending an SMS won't do (way too easy to spoof), it needs 
> to be something that can only be done by SSH or the like I think.

Enter the 20-letter password that only you know about - or reflash.

The thief also has the option of reflashing - but most of them don't 
know how. If they did - they'd likely be able to earn better working 
with electronics/computers.

If you really hate thieves, fill all free space inside the case with 
explosive. Send the stolen phone a sms containing the key for 
self-destruct mode. In this mode it explodes a few seconds after 
accepting a call - the maximum damage moment when you get both the hand 
and the head.

I would not recommend this though. It'd be illegal most places, and 
you'd have to be really confident about programming the trigger. (And 
then there is static electricity...)

A safer self-destruct mode would be to erase all the flashes, including 
the one in the gsm modem. No boot or usb-based reflash after that, and 
thieves will not likely bother trying a debug board "to see if it can be 
fixed". If they are that good, they probably make a decent living 
unlocking/servicing other brands of phone already.

Such a self-destruct might be useful when the phone is stolen on a trip 
and you don't want to follow the thief into a dubious and unknown 
district. And you probably don't have all the tracking equipment (extra 
gps & phone) with you either.

Helge Hafting