Avast Software, provider of PC and mobile security, today revealed the results of their experiment to lose and track 20 smartphones in the United States. 10 phones were each randomly placed in New York City and San Francisco. The phones ended up in different locations – one is currently being used in Mumbai, India.
Prior to dropping the devices, Avast installed three security apps on all the phones: the free Avast Anti-Theftapp, Lookout Mobile Security, and Clean Master. Each phone was marked with contact information on where to return the device if found. Of the 20 devices, only four phones were returned to Avast; the others enjoyed colorful journeys.
Over a five-month period, Avast analysts used the Avast Anti-Theft app to track the lost devices and observed the following:
1. The majority of lost devices were wiped clean using the factory reset feature
2. Avast Anti-Theft was the only security app that survived the factory reset
3. One device appears to have traveled via a transatlantic cargo ship before settling in India where the phone is currently being used
4. One device flew to the Dominican Republic
5. One device landed in a pawn shop
6. One device appears to be with a taxi driver zigzagging the streets of San Francisco
Read full report here
“More than 3 million phones are lost each year,” said Gagan Singh, president of mobile at Avast, “Fortunately with Avast anti-theft, users have the means to track and recover a lost phone – or remotely wipe the data on it if it’s not recoverable. With all the personal data we store on our phones today, it’s a good idea to have a way to either find your phone or delete the content if you lose it.”
