avast! Anti-Theft offers a very special feature, which is the so-called stealth mode. Stealth mode is enabled automatically whenever you enable the Anti-Theft protection within the basic settings.
Within stealth mode, Anti-Theft is hidden from the Android app launcher and cannot therefore be launched in the same way as other applications.
Why is stealth so important for Anti-Theft? Thieves usually check stolen phones for applications that could unveil their identity. They will look for application icons and will check the application manager. If the thief finds any trace of such an application, it is very likely that the phone will be turned off and will be subject to disposal. This usually results in the phone being lost forever.
Anti-Theft is the only solution in the marketplace that will actively hide itself on the phone, in order to give you the best chances to catch the thief or at least to get your device back. Anti-Theft disguises itself using a false application name and further hides itself by removing the Android application launcher icon when the Anti-Theft protection is enabled.
In stealth mode you cannot launch Anti-Theft in the usual way because it is hidden, as described above. You can launch Anti-Theft by CALLING the avast! PIN, in the same way as you would call a phone number.
For example, if your avast! PIN is set to 1212, just make a call to 1212. The call will be cancelled immediately without any cost to you and avast! Anti-Theft will start up within a few seconds.
To make Anti-Theft visible again, you just need to disable the Anti-Theft protection within the basic settings. This will restore the Android application launcher icon instantly.
To uninstall Anti-Theft if it is installed non-rooted, please look for the disguised name within the application manager and then uninstall the app. Please note that Android prevents uninstallation of device administrators. So if you are unable to uninstall Anti-Theft please double check that the device administrator setting for your disguised Anti-Theft installation is disabled, then it will work.
If you installed Anti-Theft rooted, it is also easy to remove Anti-Theft. Start up avast! Mobile Security, and go to Settings, and choose the Anti-Theft uninstallation wizard option. After entering your avast! PIN you will be guided through the deinstallation process.