To lock phone or not to lock phone

MacauDragon

That is the question.


Almost left my phone behind. Some old dear pointed it out to me.

Anyone finding it would not only have access to my browser history with its associated filth, both intentional and bizarre disturbing popup variety, but also contacts and various memos and personal information. Even access to email accounts for which 'remember me' has been used.

When I first got a smartphone I guarded the contents jealousy, like a teenage lad jealously guarding and secreting a lightly encrusted playboy in bushes or under his mattress.


But it wasn't long before entering a code every time I wanted to use the internet, make a call, or just give off the air of having a real life and friends by way of gawking at the screen, finally became too much.

I gave in and deactivated the passcode. A weight lifted.

I figured the odds of losing it/ leaving it behind were small when weighed against the constant burden, plus if it ever happened it wouldnt be any time soon and I'd figure out something in the meantime. I didn't.

And today was almost that day.

So do you lock your phone out of fear of the shame of strangers seeing what you really get up to ? Or do you live carefree, safe in the knowledge that its contents are completely harmless? Or something else.

Vex Willems

How long did it take you to enter a passcode?

Tombi!

IIRC, there are several apps that will lock/wipe your phone for you if you lose it (but it needs to have internet available so I'd just leave data on while out).
I also don't really use it that much when outside. So it's not really a big deal to me if I'm using it once when I'm on a walk about nad have to put in a code.

If I was at work or something I'd remove the code.

Captain Chaos

Have to lock my phone as unfortunately I happen to work with immature d1ckheads who love fraping people who leave their phones down out of sight like when it's charging on your desk and you have to use the bathroom.

AnonoBoy

Get one of those fingerprint ones.

Or a swipe code. Those literally take less than a second to do.

Whatever about your embarrassing porn (who keeps porn on a phone? Feckin' young people weirdoes!) - think of all the damage someone could do if they had your phone.... all emails wiped.... all calendar/appointments wiped.... personal data out there in the world... facebook status saying you're gay. THE HORROR!!!!

MacauDragon

Vex Willems wrote: »

How long did it take you to enter a passcode?

5 seconds.


But X 999999999999999109999999911 times.

esforum

no, never lock your phone or if you do, have the welcome screen provide a name and number that can be contacted if the phone is lost

locked phones dont bother criminals, they will be wiping em anyway before selling or using them

the only people that wont be wiping them are the decent people and gardai trying to give it back to you

of course I dont have porn on mine and if it does go missing I simple change my password for facebook, etc

MacauDragon

esforum wrote: »

no, never lock your phone or if you do, have the welcome screen provide a name and number that can be contacted if the phone is lost

locked phones dont bother criminals, they will be wiping em anyway before selling or using them

the only people that wont be wiping them are the decent people and gardai trying to give it back to you

Oh I wouldn't be going to pick it up.

Full denial on that one.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Blackdragon

esforum wrote: »

locked phones dont bother criminals, they will be wiping em anyway before selling or using them

This is becoming less and less of an issue now though thankfully. The last two versions of Android for example require your google username and password after a wipe in order to protect against just this sort of thing.

I'm not an IOS user, but i believe there is something similar there also and has been for a while.

Its not just a case of being able to wipe a device anymore, and a device is more valuable if left unlocked.

Personally, i see no issue locking, if you must, a 4 digit pin even, but something just in case.

I'm a big fan of fingerprint sensors on most new devices coming out and some of the previous gens - sure have made life easy, with the exception of the Galaxy S5, that was just painful

seamus

MacauDragon wrote: »

5 seconds.


But X 999999999999999109999999911 times.

5 seconds? What, are you reciting PI to 50 places or something?

A 4-digit passcode should take less than a second unless you've got arthritis or something.

Set the phone to only ask for a code every 15 minutes.

Tombi!

seamus wrote: »

Set the phone to only ask for a code every 15 minutes.

I can set it in Android so it asks for the code after a certain amount of time. The longest option is 30 minutes but I figure if the OP is using his phone often that he'll use it more than once every 30 minutes meaning that option might be best for him

Blackdragon

Another possible option to get the best of both worlds might be to pick up the cheapest android wear watch you can and set it up as a trusted device.

The phone will always remain open while in range of the watch, and auto lock when out of range.

esforum

Blackdragon wrote: »

This is becoming less and less of an issue now though thankfully. The last two versions of Android for example require your google username and password after a wipe in order to protect against just this sort of thing.

I'm not an IOS user, but i believe there is something similar there also and has been for a while.

Its not just a case of being able to wipe a device anymore, and a device is more valuable if left unlocked.

Personally, i see no issue locking, if you must, a 4 digit pin even, but something just in case.

I'm a big fan of fingerprint sensors on most new devices coming out and some of the previous gens - sure have made life easy, with the exception of the Galaxy S5, that was just painful

you can do a full wipe, root and put a custom rom on an android device

ios items, sadly theres still people that will buy locked iphones

still means you wont get the phone back if its locked

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I have a passcode on my phone but for all the good it does.
Everyone seems to know it. Boyfriend, friends, colleagues in work.
I'd be very paranoid without it. Lots of photos I wouldn't like anyone to see. My Facebook account that's logged me in, and my private messages. My emails. Private dates and information that I wouldn't be comfortable with a stranger seeing.

I broke my phone recently and had to drop it into the repair place and was very paranoid with having to tell him my passcode.

Blackdragon

esforum wrote: »

you can do a full wipe, root and put a custom rom on an android device

ios items, sadly theres still people that will buy locked iphones

still means you wont get the phone back if its locked

Sure - boot to recovery and away you go. But regardless, with the newer versions of Android, you will still be presented with the google account credentials screen when booting.

Your right of course, no getting the phone back, but im happy knowing that

A - my content is safe and
B - The fool that took it aint going to be able to do much with it

mimimcmc

I never used a lock until just a few days ago. I'm super careful with my phone and have never lost one *touchwood*
I just set up the fingerprint lock on my S6 and I have to say I find it very annoying... Might be removing it but I'll give it another few days

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

esforum

Blackdragon wrote: »

Sure - boot to recovery and away you go. But regardless, with the newer versions of Android, you will still be presented with the google account credentials screen when booting.

Your right of course, no getting the phone back, but im happy knowing that

A - my content is safe and
B - The fool that took it aint going to be able to do much with it

I am not sure what you are suggesting, if I root and do a full wipe using sideloader as an example theres nothing there. I can then put a custom rom on which will not ask me for anything other than a google account for apps, etc which I can ignore if I want. Is that what you are refering to or something newer? I am running 5.1 now and thats all I was asked for

in regards getting back, hey thats your choice and maybe its just the phones in our house but on them we can change the hello wording on the lock screen to anything we want. We have our first names and contact number there. Phone locked but if an honest person finds it, I can still get it back. I have never lost mine but much thanks to Abrakababra in Phibsboro for calling when they found my wives and also the dublin bus driver who found my eldest daughters.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Yeah, my friends and boyfriend can look at my private stuff, I'd be annoyed at my colleagues. Boyfriend would reply to texts or whatever for me if I was busy.
My best friend logs into my iCloud to see where I am using the find my iPhone feature. I've often got messages from her "what are you doing in X"

Sinister Kid

Locked. Couldn't risk somebody looking at my private photos...

The Randy Riverbeast

I find the thumb print thing handy on iPad. Even use it for banking apps to check my account.

Would be a plus in picking out a phone but don't know of any android phones that have it, wouldn't buy an iPhone.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Vex Willems

LexieOnRale wrote: »

My best friend logs into my iCloud to see where I am using the find my iPhone feature. I've often got messages from her "what are you doing in X"

and you don't find that any bit weird?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

It would be me on the other end I just wouldn't have typed it.
If say for example you text me saying
"Hi what are you up to?" Id ask him to read it out and then tell him exactly what to text back. Whatever, there's nothing on there that he hasn't seen before

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Vex Willems wrote: »

and you don't find that any bit weird?

No? Saves having to answer her constant enquires as to my whereabouts

Boom_Bap

I lock mine, I don't want anyone to see all the self d*ck pix I send myself.

mansize

use the thumbprint scanner on my 6s

seamus

LexieOnRale wrote: »

No? Saves having to answer her constant enquires as to my whereabouts

Why is your friend constantly asking where you are?

It comes across pretty weird tbh, I don't even do that for my wife. If I want to know where she is, I'll text her.

Mesrine65

I always lock mine, don't want some opportunist making long distance calls on my €

Blackdragon

esforum wrote: »

I am not sure what you are suggesting, if I root and do a full wipe using sideloader as an example theres nothing there. I can then put a custom rom on which will not ask me for anything other than a google account for apps, etc which I can ignore if I want. Is that what you are refering to or something newer? I am running 5.1 now and thats all I was asked for

My bad, misunderstood.

Yes, i'm not sure which version of 5 (but i did come across it on one of the later ones), but on 6 forward for sure, if the phone has security set up, and is wiped from recovery rather than from within the settings menu itself, the phone will require the google credentials of the last account logged in before the wipe to place to boot.

MacauDragon

MacauDragon wrote: »

But it wasn't long before entering a code every time I wanted to use the internet, make a call, or just give off the air of having a real life and friends by way of gawking at the screen, finally became too much.

There are a number of other options for this however. Examples -

1) Finger print sign in
2) Visual sign in such as based on your face.
3) Voice sign in
4) Pattern sign in - so a shape or design over a pass code
5) A phone that locks based on proximity to something else on your person - such as a smart watch.

or if you are against any of that then you could just move the things on your phone worthy of protection - into a password protected area - so then you only have to sign in when you want those things - rather than any function of your phone.

Also you could install an app of function for accessing your phone remotely. So if you lose it you can locate it or lock it or wipe it remotely.

AnonoBoy wrote: »

(who keeps porn on a phone? Feckin' young people weirdoes!)

Well some keep it on their phone - but others might keep it on things the phone can access. Such as drop box. But on both my phone and on drop box I would have images of my girlfriends that would range between compromising and pornographic. So it certainly would not be a good thing for me to lose them to anyone.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

seamus wrote: »

Why is your friend constantly asking where you are?

It comes across pretty weird tbh, I don't even do that for my wife. If I want to know where she is, I'll text her.

Her: are you nearly here?
Me: yeah I'm on my way
*5 mins later*
Her: no you're not, it says your still at home

seamus

Yeah, far be it from me to criticise relationships, but you need to rein that sh1t in Lexie.

"I'm on my way"
"Why can't I log in to see where you are?"
"I'm on my way, have some patience".

biko

I have a phone that allows for fingerprint, so I have a long complicated password but use the fingerprint almost always.

Phone is also encrypted and will wipe after a few bad tries.



But most importantly, I always have it in my pocket, never on a table.

Blowfish

LexieOnRale wrote: »

It would be me on the other end I just wouldn't have typed it.
If say for example you text me saying
"Hi what are you up to?" Id ask him to read it out and then tell him exactly what to text back. Whatever, there's nothing on there that he hasn't seen before

What if someone told you something in confidence over text with the expectation that you are the only person that'll see it? They may not be happy with your boyfriend or others having access to it.

Personally I work in InfoSec, so there's no chance I'm giving anyone else my passcode.

French_Girl

I don't have a password on my phone even though I know I should have.
Been meaning to try the fingerprint lock for a while, so maybe now that all of you mentioned it, I finally will.

Having said that, I am super careful when it comes to my personal belongings.
Never leave my phone on the table at work and I barely use it when outside.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Blowfish wrote: »

What if someone told you something in confidence over text with the expectation that you are the only person that'll see it? They may not be happy with your boyfriend or others having access to it.

Personally I work in InfoSec, so there's no chance I'm giving anyone else my passcode.

I tell him pretty much everything. If I tell my best friend something I know she'll probably tell her OH. It's just how it is. I don't mind, and unless my friend specifically told me not to tell him, I probably would just tell him anyway. And big secrets like that would be in person not in text. Like my oh knows which one of my friends have cheated and with who, and I trust he would never ever tell my friends partner, even though they'd be on good terms too.
It's just how it is in our relationship. He's my best friend. I tell him everything.

Samaris

The contents of my phone are pretty much utterly innocent so it doesn't really bother me. Given I am an absent-minded individual who leaves her phone (and anything else not actually nailed to her) around, it's really just as well!

I did lose my kindle some years ago and vaguely wondered what the finder made of a few chunks of my own writings on it but if they're going to nick my kindle they can suffer my writing, the assholes, and deserve worse!

My partner didn't used to lock his phone either but recently put a swipe code on it. Not so much for hiding dubious whatevers as because he kept ass-dialling people

_Kaiser_

My new and last one has a fingerprint lock, backup code and encrypted and I don't share it with anyone (although the little fella isn't impressed with the fingerprint as he can't unlock it now to play Angry Birds )

Main reason really is that I find for some reason (even with all the different widgets and icons to choose from) it'll always start dialing someone if in my pocket unlocked. That and being in IT myself, security policies and standards are second nature - my laptop is similarly encrypted and protected.