While features like Android Device Manager and Sony’s own My Xperia are helpful in trying to locate, ring, or lock your missing smartphone, it also lays open your device to being wiped clean by whoever has taken or gotten your gadget. And that means all programs, including the two aforementioned features, will also be removed. Sony has come up with a solution called My Xperia Theft Protection (MXTP) to ensure that only you will be able to wipe your own smartphone clean.
The MXTP is included in the bootloader of your device so even if someone else tries to wipe your phone, it will still remain in the system. And unless you enter your Google log-in details, the device will be rendered practically useless to the “thief’. Unfortunately, you still won’t be able to locate your smartphone since My Xperia will still be deleted. But at least no one else will be able to use it as well. The phone will turn into lockdown mode if “unusual patterns” will be detected, including factory reset, someone using PC Companion for software repair, deleting a Google account connected with MXTP, disabling or deleting MXTP. And the owner can even activate lockdown mode through the MyXperia website.
Once your device is on lockdown mode, you will only be able to get out of it by inputting the Google account details associated with your myXperia account. Whoever has your phone will not be able to use it since all apps will stop, notification panel will not maximize, incoming calls will go straight to voicemail, outgoing calls (except emergency calls) will be blocked, and the USB port can only be used for charging but not for PC connectivity.
To enable MXTP, just go to your device’s settings, then security, then activate “Protection by my Xperia”. Unfortunately, the only Xperia devices that supports this for now are the M4 Aqua, C4, and Z4 Tablet. Hopefully, it will also extend to other Xperia devices.
VIA: Xperia Blog
