Mobility

Five apps for securely wiping your Android phone

By // February 22, 2012, 10:57 AM PST // jlwallen

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  • Introduction

    These days, losing your phone is a lot like losing your wallet. You have data on that device, and should anyone get to it, they could wreak havoc on your life. Sure, there are ways to secure it. But you still might need to wipe your phone in certain situations. Here are five apps to help you wipe your data from an Android phone.

    Note: If you'd prefer to view this information as a blog post, check out this entry in our Five Apps blog.

    Photo credit: Copyright © iStockphoto.com/svengine

     

  • Built-in Android reset

    The built-in functionality is probably the easiest to use, as it doesn't require any installation. Just get to the restore from the Settings menu (where will depend upon your handset and carrier). Of course, you need to have the phone handy to wipe the data on the phone.

  • Built-in Android reset

    You may also have an option to erase data on the SD card. If you're planning to return or recycle the phone, you will definitely want to take that action.

  • Mobile Security

    The Mobile Security app is for T Mobile Handset Protection customers. It lets you remotely sound an alarm on a lost phone, locate a lost phone on a map, lock a lost or misplaced phone, and wipe data from a lost or misplaced phone.

  • Mobile Security

    The Mobile Security options are easy to access through a simple Web interface.

  • Autowipe

    Autowipe lets you set up auto wiping of your phone based on specific criteria. You can trigger an autowipe based on a certain number of password failures, an SMS test, or Subscriber ID change.

  • Autowipe

    There are two versions of Autowipe: Free and No ads. The no ads version is .99 cents.

  • Android Lost

    Android Lost offers a number of features most other apps don't. It lets you read your SMS inbox and sent, wipe your phone, lock your phone, erase the SD card, and locate your phone by GPS or network

  • Android Lost

    Android Lost also lets you start an alarm with a flashing screen, forward calls, do a remote install, and send a popup message to the person who has your phone.

  • Lookout Security & Antivirus

    The wipe feature is available only for the Premium version of Lookout Security & Antivirus, although  the free version can help you locate your lost phone or sound an alarm remotely.

  • Lookout Security & Antivirus

     This Premium version adds several features to the standard version: safe browsing, remote lock and wipe, privacy advisor, and advanced backup.

Introduction

These days, losing your phone is a lot like losing your wallet. You have data on that device, and should anyone get to it, they could wreak havoc on your life. Sure, there are ways to secure it. But you still might need to wipe your phone in certain situations. Here are five apps to help you wipe your data from an Android phone.

Note: If you'd prefer to view this information as a blog post, check out this entry in our Five Apps blog.

Photo credit: Copyright © iStockphoto.com/svengine

 

Related Topics:

Mobility Security Hardware Software Apple Android Google

By Jack Wallen

Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic and Linux.com. He’s an avid promoter of open source and the voice of The Android Expert. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.com.