Thursday, April 14, 2011

Lookout Mobile Security Smart Phone App


Just installed this free (and ad free too) app on the Android HTC Thunderbolt and I'm impressed with it so far. Mostly impressed with two things, 1) lack of memory used and 2) Missing Device feature.

Basically, for free, you get the antivirus program, phone contacts data backup to the MyLookOut.com server, and the Missing Device feature.

Not sure how reliable the antivirus/malware finding/protection is so far. Time will tell.


The contacts backup backs up EVERY contact (including those you filter out to not show on the phone). The only drawback to the contacts backup is that it doesn't back up the assigned photo of the contact to their server.


With the Missing Device function you have two options from the MyLookOut.com web site, 1) Locate your device, and 2) make an air-raid siren bellow from your phone along with vibrating, even if on silent and vibrate off.

I placed the phone on my desk and the location device found the phone within 101 meters and displayed it on Google Maps. Sitting the phone in the window caused it to narrow the radius to 25 meters. It found it in less than 30 seconds.

Next, with the volume turned on silent/no vibrate, I clicked the button to make it "Scream" (hummm, that would be a handy button to have and apply it to anything/anyone of choosing). Anyway... within 5 seconds the phone started out with a faint siren sound that increasingly got louder and louder until the window shattered and my ears began to bleed (slight exaggeration, ok a mega exaggeration)

I'm really happy with having these features, for free and without ad's. It's advertised to use the least battery power and resources of any antivirus software out there. We will see about the battery thing, but so far it is minimal on the resources.

You can at any time activate the 30 day trial of the program with all features unlocked where you basically get:


--Advanced Privacy Protection
--Remote Lock & Wipe
--Enhanced Backup


The added features will set you back $29.99/yr or $2.99/mo.

At this time for me personally, the free service provides all I need. If in the past you have been prone to losing your phone then I would suggest paying for the addition features so that you could securely lock or wipe your phone of all personal/confidential data by simply logging on to the MyLookout.com web site.


Main web site:
https://www.mylookout.com/

AppBrain reviews and download:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/lookout-mobile-security/com.lookout


What are your experiences with various apps of this type? Please share your thoughts.