This security app review documents the iOS launch of Prey, a cross-platform anti-theft solution that provided complete device tracking and recovery features during an era when smartphone theft was a growing concern and built-in security features were limited. Patrick Bisch examines how Prey filled a critical security gap by offering silent monitoring, location tracking, camera activation, and network information gathering through a web-based control panel that could remotely activate when devices were marked missing. The app represented sophisticated security thinking that anticipated many features later integrated into operating systems.
The analysis covers Prey's multi-platform approach, supporting everything from MacBook Pro laptops to Android tablets and now iOS devices, demonstrating the company's commitment to complete device ecosystem protection. Bisch details the stealth operation methodology where Prey collected evidence including GPS coordinates, webcam photos, and network connectivity data without alerting potential thieves, creating a complete evidence package for recovery efforts or law enforcement involvement. The undetectable nature of the software provided crucial advantages over visible security measures that thieves might circumvent.
The honest evaluation includes discussion of iOS-specific bugs including persistent location services indicators and delayed reporting that required device movement to trigger updates. Bisch's technical analysis covers Apple's Significant-Change Location Service addation that balanced battery conservation with tracking accuracy, demonstrating understanding of iOS power management constraints. The review notes device compatibility across iPhone 3GS through 4S and iPad models, while highlighting features like front-facing camera mugshot capture for newer devices with appropriate hardware.
This security app review captures the early smartphone security landscape when device theft protection required third-party solutions and user initiative rather than built-in platform features. Looking back 13+ years later, Prey's complete approach influenced the development of integrated find-my-device features across iOS, Android, and other platforms that now provide similar features natively. The stealth monitoring and evidence collection concepts pioneered by Prey became standard in modern device security, though privacy regulations now require more transparent disclosure of such features. The cross-platform strategy proved prescient as users increasingly owned multiple device types requiring coordinated security management. While Apple's Find My and Google's Find My Device eventually provided much of Prey's features built-in, the independent security app ecosystem that Prey helped establish continues to offer specialized features for enterprise and power users. The camouflage mode mentioned in the review reflects creative approaches to hiding security software that influenced later security application design, though app store policies now restrict such disguising techniques. This moment represents the peak period when third-party security apps could provide genuinely superior protection compared to platform-native solutions, before operating system makers prioritized security connection as a competitive differentiator.
This summary was created by Dave Rogers. The original post was written by Patrick Bisch and published on November 1, 2011.
If you'd like to view the original post, you can find it here.