topic Re: Question about block&erase in Tablets

Question about block&erase

botpride — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 20:37:40 GMT

Hello, my tablet Z2 was stolen in hotel, so I wanted to block it and erase my sensitive data (passwords and other). I subsequently used "block" and "erase" - and when my device came online it was blocked and wiped. But the message for wiping was actually shocking: "now your device is like brand-new" - so, I just made it easier for the thief to re-use it???

The text on myxperia site reads that "you may block and/or erase it" - so I supposed that my personal data will be wiped, SD-card too, but device would stay unusable for thiefs.

SONY, don't you think that turning stolen device into "brand-new" isn't a good idea, huh?

Re: Question about block&erase

Uliwooly — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 21:15:33 GMT

@botpride

I'm sorry to hear that but you should NOT erase it, if you do, it will be factory reset, like new. you should only lock it.

Re: Question about block&erase

Uliwooly — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 21:17:57 GMT

@botpride

On a second note there's another option that I hope it's incorporated to other Xperias

/t5/FAQ/My-Xperia-Theft-Protection/td-p/998346

Re: Question about block&erase

botpride — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 08:07:40 GMT

Thanks for your answer,

actually, I expected something like this. I just wanted to emphasize (more for SONY employees), that functionality explaination on myxperia site is inadequate. If you read "you can lock AND/OR erase your device", you definitely get it in the way that if you block it and than erase, it still WILL BE BLOCKED due to some hardware lock (otherwise you may just re-flash the firmware with reset data option and get the same clean device, so what is this "security measure" for at all in this case?

The warning before erasing reads that one be unable to access or track a device, or block it ANYMORE. So that, you can't block it if you try to do it after erasing - which is not the same to "it will be shiny brand-new for dear thief":)

What about other options - MXTP is only for tablet Z4 (not for Z2), and what about google device manager - it's a different story, but it is probably a theme for another topic.

I'll mark your answer as a "solution" (thanks again), but actually, if Sony employees read this site, I'd like to hear a single line from them.