Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is a measure on certain Android smartphones that prevents thieves from bypassing security features to initiate a factory reset on a stolen device, and therefore shut out attempts by the original owner to recover it.

Good idea, but LG and Samsung smartphones have already had their FRP bypasses… and now the FRP of the Nexus 6P, 5X, 6, and 5 have also been rendered moot.

This video shows, in detail, how the FRP bypass is done on a Nexus 6P, although the same technique works on other Nexus devices:

The technique relies upon creating an SMS message, which then tunnels into the phone’s software through a few taps, opening the Settings app to initiative a factory reset.

It seems likely this technique will be patched out of Marshmallow soon enough. Until it is, though, beware: your Nexus device is in jeopardy from thieves.

Via: Redmond Pie