Through a new web-based control center for the app users can activate a ‘Mugshot’ feature that accesses a lost or stolen phone’s forward-facing camera and captures photos of whatever or whomever might be in front of the lens.
Photos are secretly taken -– so if your phone is with a thief he or she will not know the pics are being taken -– and captured photos can be viewed directly through the app’s web-based control center or emailed to a pre-determined address.
If your phone is stolen, then those photos might potentially show you the thief. If you’ve just misplaced your smartphone, then a photo may help you remember where you left it.
In addition to giving you access to your phone’s camera, the app also allows you to remotely local a missing smartphone from the web interface as well as locate a lost or stolen phone using GPS, GSM or Wi-Fi, and Google Maps. You can also review logs of recent activities on your smartphone, and even find out of the SIM card in the handset has been removed or replaced.
Not just for missing phones, the app also automatically scans apps you download and helps protect your handset from new and emerging viruses, spyware, trojans and bots, and offers real-time protection against dangerous links and webpages, including phishing sites. Antivirus scans and updates can be completed on a schedule or done automatically.
Kaspersky Mobile Security is available now for Android. A 1-year license of the app can be purchased for $14.95 from the Google Play store, and is on sale for $9.99 from Kaspersky's website (regularly $19.99). If you're looking for an app to help you find a missing phone, but aren't concerned about taking pictures or antivirus protection, then Where's My Droid? can be a less-expensive alternative to the app.