WhatsappIs especially tricky given that they'll also have access to the sim card, and I am unlikely to be able to have it blocked/replaced somehow. Can we please stop with this phone number based identity madness?
If the android device is on latest security patch, there's no way to bypass screen lock protection. Even if it's not fully updated, the thief has to search what known vulnerabilities can be exploited from locked screen for privilege escalation. He will also have to come up with an exploit. Many high severity and critical severity vulnerabilities that are fixed each month don't have publicly available exploits.
Screen unlock attempts timeout increases exponentially after every few incorrect attempts. If your unlock code is not in most predictable android lock patterns, it cannot be brute-forced. If the thief goes to recovery mode to factory reset the device, on first boot, device will ask for Google account credentials that were used to set up the device by the owner. This is called Factory Reset Protection.
By default, sensitive messages like OTP are displayed on lock screen. It can be disabled from settings. First, the thief will use your SIM to learn your phone number. Then he will reset Google account password using OTP showing up on your lock screen. After 72 hours, the new password can be used to unlock factory reset protection.
Your data is always safe but your accounts can be compromised with possession of SIM card alone. Use TOTP to protect your accounts and immediately request your network operator to block SIM. That will leave your device un-reusable for the thief.
If you used full-disk encryption, then your data will be accessible until the device unmounted the encrypted disk (e.g. by rebooting) and discarded the decryption key. If you store your sensitive data in encrypted container, then your data will be accessible until the application closes the container and discarded the decryption key.
If you don't use any encryption, then your data is naked in the wild. Many thiefs are simply interested to sell the phone to make a quick buck and so will simply reformat the phone; but if the thief has a specific intent to steal your data (e.g. corporate espionage, identity thief, etc), then you can assume that they can read all your unencrypted data.
If your phone uses SD card (instead of internal memory), then getting to your data in the SD card is trivial. Getting data in internal memory took a little bit more effort, but is still relatively easy. A turned off device with full-disk-encryption is -- for all practical purpose -- a useless brick for your adversary.
In general computing, physical access to a device means all bets are off when it comes to security of data. A determined and knowledgeable thief is likely to either crack the protection, or at the very least copy the contents off the device to try and subvert encryption.
There are several security packages on the Market that can make this job a lot more difficult for the potential thief. These apps can remotely lock the device, wipe its data, and even attempt to "dial home" if the thief was careless enough to let it go online. This will deter most, but the very savvy ones.
Your best bet to safeguard sensitive data is to never have it on the mobile device in the first place. Banking apps that store your login credentials, entering credit card info into web forms on browser, etc. are all points of vulnerability.
In terms of damage control after the phone/tablet is stolen, it's always a good idea to have a list of accounts for apps that are installed, so that you can change the passwords asap. Email, social network apps, etc.
As the other answers already state: physical access to a device means all bets are off when it comes to security of data (from Chahk's answer). As this is already made clear enough, I will focus on some counter-measures with my answer.
One thing to make it harder was already mentioned in Lie's answer: encrypting the device will make it harder to access the data. But there are several more things. If you e.g. leave USB Debugging on, you make it easier for the thief to access your device, so it's a good precaution to keep that turned off.
So in short and summed up: Yes, a thief can get access to your data -- but there are means of making this at least very hard, or even limit the time frame he has for his "bad deed". Several things to consider on this background:
These features aim to help protect data before, during and after a theft attempt, the tech giant said, adding they are expected to be available via an update to Google Play services for devices running Android versions 10 and later.
Google is also adding an extra layer of protection by requiring users to enter their PIN, password, or biometric information before altering sensitive device settings such as disabling Find My Device or extending screen timeout, or even for accessing critical account and device settings.
This comprises attempts to change the device PIN, turn off theft protection, or access passkeys. Another noteworthy addition is an upgrade to factory reset that effectively makes a stolen device useless.
"With this upgrade, if a thief forces a reset of the stolen device, they're not able to set it up again without knowing your device or Google account credentials," Suzanne Frey, Google's vice president of product for Trust & Growth, said. "This renders a stolen device unsellable, reducing incentives for phone theft."
The tech giant further said it's integrating an AI-powered feature that's capable of recognizing suspicious signals (i.e., abrupt motion) and proactively protecting users' data by automatically locking the device's screen when it detects that a phone has been snatched out of someone's hands and the miscreant attempts to run or drive away.
Also coming to Android 10+ devices alongside Theft Detection Lock is an Offline Device Lock setting that locks the device screen if a malicious actor tries to disconnect the phone for extended periods of time.
Other improvements encompass the ability to mark a device as lost for easier tracking via Find My Device and even remotely lock a phone's screen with a phone number and a security challenge using any device.
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You are Garrett, the master thief. In The City where Garrett resides, crime and corruption are commonplace, wealthy nobles prey on the poor, and magic and machinery coexist uneasily. Attempting to stop the fabric of the city from unraveling are the Keepers, they warn of a Dark Age approaching, and Garrett's name appears in their prophecies ...prominently. The Keepers turn to Garrett in their hour of need, and reluctantly he agrees to help them. Garrett follows clues from the Keepers and his own information of valuable merchandise into castles, mansions, cathedrals, dungeons and museums, past armed guards intent on putting a stop to the skilled thief's endeavours. Tensions rise as Garrett uncovers facts and steals treasures that the Keepers wish to remain hidden.
Someone or something in the Keeper organization is trying to protect an ancient, dark secret... and Garrett is getting too close.It would seem that Garrett's search for answers has only uncovered more questions; who is responsible for framing him? And why is someone or something so desperate to have the master thief out of the picture? Uncover the truth for yourself in Thief: Deadly Shadows Episode 2.
Use left and right to move. You can hide in the shadows by pressing hide. Watch the light meter to determine how visible you are. You can choose to look into a room by pressing action. You can enter the room by pressing action again, or back out by pressing left or right.
During the missions, Garrett can run by double tapping left or right. To move onto staircases, you use the diagonal movement keys. Use up and down to cycle through the inventory items and the currently available action. The action key takes out and swings the blackjack, drinks potions, throws bombs, fires arrows, opens/unlocks doors (and chests) and picks up bodies.
If you creep up behind someone and use the blackjack you can dispose of them silently.Don't forget to hide the body in order to prevent your detection. Bodies will be visible to guards if they are in well lit areas, and new guards will be sent to patrol the area.
Tiny Thief is a 2D puzzle, stealth, and platform game where you play a tiny, white-collar thief in the Middle Ages. Your objective is to steal tons of different objects throughout many different levels.
Tiny Thief's gameplay is both simple and fun at the same time. You have to touch the different objects on the screen to interact with them. For example, touching a staircase makes you go up it, while touching the object you want to steal (whether it's a cake or some jewels) lets you grab it.
In each of the more than 15 free levels, you have to try to get three stars. To do so, not only do you have to steal objects, but also find your pet that's hidden in the setting and accomplish secondary objectives.
Tiny Thief is an original, fun puzzle game that, in addition to offering an addicting gameplay, has controls that are perfectly adapted to touch screen devices. Its graphics are also excellent, with really stunning character and setting design.
Uptodown is a multi-platform app store specialized in Android. Our goal is to provide free and open access to a large catalog of apps without restrictions, while providing a legal distribution platform accessible from any browser, and also through its official native app.
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