HandsOff: Anti-Theft Alarm
An anti-theft alarm for Android. Triggers the moment someone touches, unplugs, or steals your phone. Only your 4-digit PIN stops it. 100% on-device — no account, no backend, alarm settings and sensor events stay on your phone; ads may be served by Google AdMob as disclosed in the privacy policy.
Motion Sensor
Triggers if someone moves your phone
Charger Alarm
Triggers if cable is unplugged
Pocket Mode
Detects phone taken from pocket/bag
Headphone Alert
Triggers if earbuds removed
How it works
HandsOff uses your phone's physical sensors (accelerometer, proximity, light) to detect unauthorised handling. Four independent detection modes can be toggled on or off:
- Motion sensor — accelerometer triggers on any movement or pick-up.
- Charger alarm — triggers immediately if the USB cable is disconnected while armed.
- Pocket mode — proximity + light sensor triggers when taken out of a dark pocket or bag.
- Headphone alert — triggers if the audio jack or USB-C headphones are disconnected while armed.
Unsilenceable alarm
Software-generated 95 dB siren — no mp3 files. Three ringtones (Police, Nuclear, Alien). Strobe flash using the camera LED and continuous vibration until the PIN is entered. Volume is forcibly locked at 100% during alarm.
Total lockdown
- 4-digit PIN — mandatory to arm and disarm. Default 1234 (change on first use).
- Volume lock — system volume is overridden to maximum every 300 ms during alarm.
- Persistent foreground service + WakeLock — Android cannot kill the app.
- 100% local — your PIN never leaves your device. No account or backend for alarm data; advertising is handled by Google AdMob when shown.
- 3 siren types — Police, Nuclear, Alien (unlockable through use).
- 20 languages — automatic system language detection (EN/ES default).
Privacy
All app settings (mode, sensor preferences, PIN hash, armed state) are stored locally in private SharedPreferences and removed when the app is uninstalled. The app does not require a user account and does not operate any backend server. Local alarm settings and sensor events are not sent to our own servers. Ads may be served by Google AdMob as described in the privacy policy.
Use cases
- Cafés & coworking — leave your phone charging while you grab a coffee.
- Public transport — pocket mode alerts you to pickpocket attempts.
- Office desk — prevent colleagues from snooping or moving your device.
- Nightstand — motion alarm if someone enters your room.
- Exams & libraries — charger alarm if someone unplugs your device.