How to remotely turn OFF GPS

Avast Mobile Apps Avast Anti-Theft for Android
1

Hi,

Just installed v 2.0.2627 today and got impressed with all features. Just missing “the take a photo” available in some other apps, but sure you’ll add this anytime. So, congrats guys ;D

After getting rid of the GPS warning “Data transmission charges may apply” that would make the thief suspicious, I’m wondering how to turn off the GPS. I mean, I ask for a one-time location from the web, the GPS starts and I get the location well by GPS or wifi stations means, but there is no command to shut the GPS off.

Sometimes it shuts off alone, sometimes it does not respond to locally (on the phone) on/off toggle.

This is running on a Xperia Mini with ICS 4.0.4 rooted.

Best regards,

bROTHER

2

Hello,

There is command to stop the location tracking: 2222 LOCATE OFF (2222 here replaced with your PIN).

3

Hello,

the warning warning

“Data transmission charges may apply”

is definitely an eye catcher for a thief. this message is produced by autoactivating GPS on non rooted phones.

that’s why you can disable the autoactivation of gps in the advanced settings of Anti-Theft.
if you disable it, you can still locate using cellular triangulation and surrounding wifi hotspots.

to autoenable gps without this nasty notification you would need to root your phone.

Werner

4

Hi,

Thanks for your answers.
I was not aware of that SMS command, it is not listed in http://files.avast.com/files/documentation/mobile-security-user-guide-en-v2-3.pdf.
Do you plan to add it to the web control drop-down command list?

The message “Data transmission charges may apply” appears in both rooted an un-rooted phones, no matter what config you use. If you don’t want this message to appear you just have to freeze/block/uninstall “Learning client 2.1.apk” which is a system app.
This is what you need to be root for; and this is what I already had done as mentioned before.

Regards.

5

it is already in web. LOCATE → select it from drop down in the dialog.
when you turn on “auto enable GPS” you’ll be warned that on some phones such dialogs may appear. we can not change that, unfortunately, as it is hardcoded into some android flavors by the device manufacturer.

6

Hi, that’s the command for STARTING the location. I’m asking for the one to STOP the location, to TURN OFF GPS.
Does this command switch? I mean, if first LOCATE (one time) does turn ON the GPS, a second LOCATE (one time), does it turns OFF the GPS?

There is also the LOCATE (Stop continuous location) option. Does this turn OFF the GPS if already started?

Regards.

7

Hi again,

Just got myself the answer:

With any LOCATE command both GPS and WIFI are STARTED.
If already sent a LOCATE command, sending it again does NOT turn the GPS, but it does turn OFF the WIFI.
If sent the LOCATE (Stop continuous location) the WIFI turns OFF but the GPS does NOT turn off.

So, you manage to switch WIFI but always leave the GPS on. Is this the intended behaviour?

Regards.

8

actually, if your phone is rooted and you checked “auto-enable GPS” it should disable GPS after location tracking again.