Hard reset over SMS? Can it be done?

[unusedusername]

Hello all,

So... bad news has befallen me. I've lost my Hermes; someone else found it and called Mexico city a bunch of times. This is the first time I've ever lost a cell phone in the many years I've carried one.

As I wait for my replacement to arrive I'm wondering what is happening with the data that is on the old one...

I know I can't do anything about the one I lost, but I can think about the next one.

So here is the question: Is there any programs that can wipe the memory card, and hard reset a PocketPC phone when a "special" SMS message or a series of messages shows up? I am hoping to find some way that I can wipe the data off a lost phone, but without a timer running the background that has to be reset.

Thanks in advance!

[the0ne]

its highly unlikely, coz if such a thing existed anyone can flash anyone phone by sending an sms, but if have installed some anti theft program it will send a silent sms to u with some info of the cell tower the phone is using..for now get the phone and imei barred by ur service provider

[unusedusername]

I've already disabled them.

I was thinking of something that would allow you to set a random password to make the phone reset. I'm not having much luck finding one... maybe I need to write one when I have free time...

Is there a way in the WM5/6 APIs to cause a hard reset?

EDIT:
Apparently there is a way: http://www.pocketpcdn.com/articles/hardreset.html

Now I need to figure out how to put a hook into the SMS receiving code.

[the0ne]

I DONT THINK U CAN HOOK THAT UP THROUGH sms.. sorry about caps

[JasenR]

If you have an exchange server 2007 account you have the capability to wipe all data from the PPC.

Also, see this product: http://www.motionapps.com/msafe/_treo700w.jsp It is currently listed for specific devices, but it demonstrates the capability you are looking for and they have a free trial...

[unusedusername]

Hrm...

I went and looked at the MS video here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/business/directpushemail.mspx

And this IS the functionality I'm looking for.... BUT I don't think I want to set up an exchange server.

I doubt my phone would play well with a server that is running on my laptop :P

[unusedusername]

If you have an exchange server 2007 account you have the capability to wipe all data from the PPC.

Also, see this product: http://www.motionapps.com/msafe/_treo700w.jsp It is currently listed for specific devices, but it demonstrates the capability you are looking for and they have a free trial...

Ahh HA! very nice find!

I hope it works on the new Hermes. I'll try it tomorrow when my replacement phone gets here and report back if it works.

[ilion]

I have not tried yet but it seems very cool.
It can do a lot of things by sms control included the hard reset

Eye on thief:
http://www.mycnknow.com/LockAppen.htm

[over2land]

Here's what I don't get with that program...

I'm on Cingular... my settings and whatnot are for Cingular. If the thief has T-mobile, or orange, or whatever... will the SMS still get sent?

[Elchinator]

You have to enter the "alert" phone number with full access codes, preferably with country code. If the thief can use the phone with his SIM card, it will work. I don't know about the US, but in Europe it's no problem to send a SMS from one carrier to another.

Here's another program doing basically the same:
http://www.pocketpc-live.com/ultimate-theft-alert-v3-for-pocket-pcs-2.html

[madhero]

Remote Protect works as well...
you can lock your phone with an sms, unlock with sms, hard reset as well...
i'm using it on my Dopod 838pro with no problems.
It also has the ability to send you an sms telling you that your phone has been stolen and provides the Thief's IMSI number and your phone's IMEI as well. Once you receive the sms from the Thief's SIM card, you get his number. From there, you can send the Hard Reset/Lock format to his number and it locks the phone.