Spontaneous erase

lakeTetra

Watching a tiktok, out of nowhere GrapheneOS goes dark, after a few moments the message Erase appears and it reboots. System is back to factory settings.
What could have triggered this?
I'm not aware i pressed a button combination, an erase command wasn't on.
Backups were not set, this a major bummer.

horde

were you using any apps like https://f-droid.org/en/packages/me.lucky.wasted or wipe apps similar?

Attach logs so GrapheneOS can investigate.

lakeTetra

horde I was checking f-droid for such an app, i might have installed that one. Unsure if i activated it.
Harsh.

Where are the logs located?

Johnnyloans

lakeTetra

Or a tracking app like fmd-foss can wipe your phone if you give permissions.

I doubt there are any logs, the phone was factory reset.

Sorry, sending you internet hugs

Novalissoide

lakeTetra was checking f-droid for such an app, i might have installed that one. Unsure if i activated it.

That kind of app is only increasing the risk of data loss, it won't increase your security or privacy.

Onlyfun

That's sad. We need a reliable backup feature please!!!

Murcielago

lakeTetra My best guess is Wasted or similar app was active and I pressed a hardware button combination that triggered the wipe without a warning. Stupid lesson.

Thanks for the feedback. This will certainly be helpful to others who are interested in a similar setup.

Onlyfun

We need a reliable backup feature please!!!

I understand the desire for an integrated and convenient backup solution. However, in this case, it would have helped to have performed any kind of backup at all.

nandohyphen1

The Duress PIN is a good replacement for those kinds of apps and you run less of a risk of wiping your phone accidentally

lakeTetra

Thank you for the tips all.
FMD wasn't installed.
I'm cursing the android gods.
Bit upsetting to not know how it happened, and how to prevent it from happening again.

nandohyphen1

Were Developer Options enabled?

lakeTetra

nandohyphen1 Yes

The 'erase' or 'erasing' message was a white font against a black background i think, on the right side of the screen, maybe a half circle around it. 2-3 seconds later it rebooted into the menu you get after a fresh install.

nandohyphen1

lakeTetra I wonder if that caused it somehow? Developer Options aren't recommend. They can cause irreversible and unexplainable things (like what happened here possibly). I'm curious what triggered this though too. I'm going to keep thinking on this one

Johnnyloans

lakeTetra

Could be worth investing time into:

Double Check or change your google password, 2fa, any suspicious logins if google's find my device wiped it. (If you use a google account and find my device.)
Careful what apps you set to be device Admins (MDM)

If you ever set a duress pin, never ever use it unless you want a phone wipe. If your phone asks for a pin, use the owner to authenticate.

lakeTetra

Thank you for thinking along

At second thought not sure if Developer Options were enabled. There was no need.
On my previous phone with LineageOS they were enabled to enable root.
The Pixel wasn't rooted, google-free, no Google accounts, no FMD, no Gapps or whatever the Playstore requires was installed. A few apps were installed via the Aurora store
As far as i remember no apps set to device Admins (MDM). I don't know how to do this.

My best guess is Wasted or similar app was active and I pressed a hardware button combination that triggered the wipe without a warning. Stupid lesson.