Cerberus is one of the most famous systems for locating a lost or stolen mobile. Knowing how to use it can help us find the mobile that we have lost, but today the task of using Cerberus has become a bit complicated.
After the latest changes in Google’s policy, Cerberus has lost its access to the Play Store as this app requests permissions such as “send SMS” and “make calls” in order to function.
How to remove a lost or stolen phone from Google
These are two permissions that, in the eyes of Google, are dispensable, but in reality these are two accesses that make Cerberus normal operation possible, since it is through SMS sending that allows the victim of theft to locate the mobile.
Install and configure the app
Before learning how to use Cerberus, we are going to explain how it is downloaded to mobile after leaving the Google Play Store:
- From our mobile, we must enter the web that we leave below these lines.
- Download Cerberus for Android
- We click on the red arrow to the right of “Standard version”.
- Automatically, the apk file will be downloaded and will appear at the bottom of the screen. Before opening it, we must confirm that the “unknown sources” of Android are activated to install apps outside the Play Store .
- Click on “Open” and a dialog box pops up to choose the tool with which we want to open the file. We choose “Package Installer” .
- Afterwards, it is likely that another dialog box will appear that warns us that it is not necessary to grant special permissions.
- The Cerberus apk installation begins.
- Once the apk is installed, we must click on “Grant permissions” so that everything works correctly, so here we only have to click on “Allow” .
- As indicated, we must accept the rest of the permissions, such as “Overlay” , “Battery optimization” and “System configuration” , which is what we will do a few steps later.
- Once the above is finished, it sends us to the Cerberus app and encourages us to register if we already have an account or to create a new account .
- At this point, it is convenient to clarify that Cerberus gives us a free trial period of 6 days , then we will have to face the cost:
- Continuing with the application, and assuming that we must register for the first time, click on “Create Cerberus account” .
- We fill in the form and choose a username that is free.
- Once everything is filled in and finished, click on “Create account”.
- Cerberus automatically shows us the terms and conditions that we must accept if we want to use the app.
- We are already inside the Cerberus app, but first they give us a brief tour and clarifications.
- Now we access Cerberus again by registering with our username and password, and a side menu appears, there we click on “Main Configuration” .
- We need to activate two main options for Cerberus to be useful in case our mobile is stolen.
- Click on “Protect device administrator” and then on “Activate” .
- The second option that we must activate is “Block power menu” , then they take us to the mobile settings and we must click on “System Framework” and finally click on “OK” .
- From now on we can activate or deactivate all the options that we see fit, as long as the previous two are active.
An example of using Cerberus
Before waiting for us to lose our mobile phone, it is convenient to put Cerberus to the test and for this, we enter the service’s website :
Web: Cerberus
- Click on the “Login” option (top right).
- We write our username and password and click on “Login” again.
- Now we see that we are geolocated, well, in the menu on the left, we can select the action we want, from blocking, to deleting the device, starting alarm, activating or deactivating emergency mode, etc.
- The map can be enlarged and the truth is that in our case the location of the device was not entirely exact at first, then it was correct.
- In the right panel of the web, we update the status of the phone , that is, if it is connected or turned off, as well as information about nearby networks, SIM card, IP address, operator, etc. As we already said, locating a turned off mobile is impossible , but as long as the mobile is on, there is a glimmer of hope.
- In the event that our mobile phone is stolen , from this same panel we can sound the alarm, make a backup, block access to the mobile, etc.
As we can see, using Cerberus is very easy , where it gets a bit complicated is in the download, but it is still a fast and clean process. In addition, Cerberus is compatible with Android Wear for smartwatches. This means complete control of all our mobile devices.
