So I found a trick , people. I use my palm of my hand for my fingerprint reader, instead of a finger.
The best place ive found is the nub/palm oposite your nuckle at the base of the index finger. Open your hand, bend all fingers back and it will stick out enough to be pressed to the reader.
Now just waiting for “facial expression unlock” . My phone should only unlock if I smile at it or make a kiss face etc.
In Android, holding power and selecting “lockdown” locks out access until your pin is entered. However, if you’re at a protest or something where illegal arrests are likely, turn your phone 100% off.
I found this app that helps to mitigate this issue. It disables fingerprint if your phone gets too far away from a Bluetooth wearable or in several other conditions. It’s worth looking into for sure though it is only in preview for now.
I think it’s an excellent choice for anybody that’s got to wearable. You could probably do all this with past or two if you had the free time, which I do not.
Yeah. It’s pretty rad. I’ve been playing with it all day.
If I set my watch and airplane mode it also immediately locks the phone, but it also does that when it goes out of range. It looks like the app should work with any Bluetooth device so any wearable should work just fine or even earphones if you really wanted.
Five quick presses of the lock button does this too, but beware as I think the default behaviour also starts a 3 second countdown to calling emergency services.
Pressing the power and a volume button for >2s (the same combination as shutting down the phone) also disables faceID and does not call emergency services.
Trying to or successfully shutting down will quickly disable it. I don't think the USA is at the point where we should all worry about arbitrary arrests.
Well, I can confirm from personal experience (me and family) that tourists wanting to enter the US aren’t treated that much differently from criminals.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
But then you’ve created dozens (or hundreds) of opportunities a day for someone to get your passcode by shoulder-surfing, which you probably wouldn’t even notice in many situations. I’d argue that unless someone forcibly borrowing your face or fingers to unlock your phone is a strong possibility, entering a passcode each time is less secure than using biometrics.
Especially since the passcode also protects various security settings.
They can’t force you to cough up a password though.
On iOS, holding the volume up and lock button long enough that the shutdown screens and whatnot start showing, will disable Face ID login and force the PIN to be entered on next unlock.
Hey cool, good to know. Just tested with my iphone and even though it said “or swipe up for FaceID”, it wouldn’t take my swipe up, and required my PIN to unlock.
On android there’s Lockdown mode, so everyone should look into this regardless of what phone you have. Better to look up what to do now rather than when you need it
Sorry, I misread your comment, I thought you were asking for a method other than one using lockdown mode. I doubt there’s a method using location if it isn’t provided by the manufacturer, because an app trying to do that would need permissions to lock the phone.
You could try one of those automation apps. I remember seeing some triggers for entering and leaving a location, and the advanced ones should be able to use wifi connections/disconnections
Whether it can change security settings though I’m not as sure about.
Running tasker on a unrooted Fairphone 5 There is a function “System Lock” which locks the phone so you have to enter the PIN. I created a task and a widget on the home screen that triggers the task
I did give tasker some extra rights via adb, which is a quite straight forward process. I think the dev even has a guide for it…
On iOS, hitting vol up, then vol down, then hold power for a second will instantly lock down and also no danger of accidentally calling 911 or whatever.
It’s also the fast way to get to the power option.
Sure but holding volume up and power until the phone vibrates is a much faster and easier method and there is little worry you might accidentally call 911. It’s also easier to do without looking.
It has a countdown before calling with vibrations on every number.
Yeah I just tested it and you’re right it’s a way faster way to get to power off. Personally prefer the five lock presses as it requires way less dexterity in your pocket. I’ve just disabled the auto-call feature.
For me it’s much easier to lock the phone by holding any volume and power then to remember the sequence needed to force power of the phone.
Clicking 5 times on power is probably faster, but I forgot that existed and if I’m trying to do something quickly essentially squeezing my phone is easier than trying to tap the correct side 5 times quickly under pressure. And much easier to me then trying to remember the force power off sequence and performing it without looking under stress.
Especially on the iPhone 15 pros there is now another button so getting the up down up power means finding the correct up button.
I’ve looked up that sequence numerous times when I’ve needed to force reboot and I still forget it half the time.
Add comment