LockScreen - Do you use a PIN/Pattern/Password at all?

[OtterNZ]

I'm glad I asked, because the various thoughts and opinions here have been much more useful and interesting that what I came across trying to google for it.

I use pattern lock. I have it set so that the phone will lock itself after 5 minutes of screen off, so it's as convenient for me, but will keep someone else from accessing my phone.

This sounds useful, was it an app that allowed you to stop the phone from locking as soon as the screen switched off?

I don't protect my phone because the convenience of the HTC Sense 3.0 lockscreen gets kind of ruined by it.

This is the type of thing I was alluding to when I said I was tempted by the efficiency of some of the custom lock screens. Even the default android lock screen loses some functionality when you go to a pattern lock.

I do, on occasion, use security patterns if I'm out somewhere like a bar

I only lock mine when I'm going out to shoot pool or a party, etc.

I hadn't thought of just using a lock at certain times where there was a higher risk of losing the phone. I don't care about losing the phone, I care about the person who steals/finds it getting access to my credit card on the market, or getting access to my accounts, or people I don't know going through my photos, texts, and emails. And I'm much more likely to lose it while drinking.

I hate how with the number lock you still have to press enter. With iOS, after the last correct # is pressed, it unlocks for you.

That was my biggest annoyance of the PIN lock too. I guess it's done like that because it's meant to be more secure, e.g. If your password was 1-2-3-4 and someone tried to guess your password as 1-2-3-4-5 then when they hit enter they would be told it was incorrect. But if enter wasn't there then it would let them in when they got to 4 even though they were still entering numbers. (although you probably already knew that, and were just annoyed by it like me )

Adults don't play with other peoples phones so no need to lock it. That's how it is in my world anyway.

I can assure you that it still happens when you're in your mid-20's. Mainly when you're all drinking, because there will always be someone who will think it's a good idea.

 

[Deleted User]

I don't use a lock on mine just because my crappy Samsung Acclaim acts stupid when I try to wake it up sometimes. If I have a PIN/pattern, it can make it twice as bad, which means it's twice as likely I'll just do a battery pull. The ROM I use is really fast, boots up in no time at all. I just hate taking the cover off, pull battery, re-insert battery, snap the cover back on, etc., etc. If I'm going somewhere where I think I need it, I put a pattern on it. From something like an N (my first initial) to the house/chimney*, just depends what I'm in the mood for.

* SW, W, N, E, SE, S, C, [NE or NW] (can be reversed or mirrored)

Speaking of neat patterns, anybody have any favorite neat ones? Also do you just stick to 45

 

[Matt31]

Id also like to know how you can set the time delay for the pattern lock.

As soon as my screen goes off, the pattern lock is there.
No option for time delay....

 

[Tattycakes]

Id also like to know how you can set the time delay for the pattern lock.

As soon as my screen goes off, the pattern lock is there.
No option for time delay....

Settings > Security > Lock phone after... immediately -> X minutes of activity.

 

[aysiu]

Settings > Security > Lock phone after... immediately -> X minutes of activity.

That didn't work for me. My guess is that it'd work if the screen just timed out by itself, but I usually press the power button to turn off my screen manually when I'm done using it (instead of waiting the 30 seconds for it to turn off by itself).

 

[TheNameCoin]

I usually switch it up every so often but I like the fingerprint scan for novelty sake

 

[artaxerxes]

I use pattern, and I use every dot on there in a random fashion, crisscrossing here and there. I paint a masterpiece when I unlock my phone.

 

[Saltine713]

It would be nice for an app/case that had a fingerprint sensor to unlock your phone.

 

[aysiu]

There are fake fingerprint unlocking apps.

 

[UssjTrunks]

No because I want to have quick access to my home screen.

 

[mikepic]

Just a normal slider here. I don't feel the need for a lock - I've got nothing to hide. ;-)

 

[vikingjunior]

why lock the whole phone down when you can just pin protect individual apps. works great for messaging and the market which has my CC number on file for quick purchases. I think the app is called app protection the free version works great.

 

[steventrannn]

I use a PIN to lock my phone.

 

[jerofld]

That didn't work for me. My guess is that it'd work if the screen just timed out by itself, but I usually press the power button to turn off my screen manually when I'm done using it (instead of waiting the 30 seconds for it to turn off by itself).

FYI, it works even if you manually turn off the screen. It counts minutes of inactivity (meaning a lack of use of buttons/touchscreen).

 

[aysiu]

FYI, it works even if you manually turn off the screen. It counts minutes of inactivity (meaning a lack of use of buttons/touchscreen).

Glad to know that's how it's supposed to work. That's not how it worked for me, though. (Ice Cream Sandwich Galaxy Nexus)

 

[saptech]

I use a Pin to lock mine. I usually lock it while at work or out & about. At home I don't lock it. Lately I've been trying out the Pattern to see how it works.

*Now which pattern did I use*

 

[!on]

Adults don't play with other peoples phones so no need to lock it. That's how it is in my world anyway.

Cool story. But one might need to charge it & be away from the desk, or, even if it is safely stashed away in pocket, in certain places thieves operate & are quite good at relieving people of phones, wallets, keys without them knowing. They wouldn't be playing with them - incriminating property is usually exchanged pretty quick for cash.

I use public transport & have found many phones & things that simply fell out of peoples pockets*. Mine is pattern locked at 3 mins so I can use the player without it locking me straight away. For all the above reasons it makes sense to have extra security in case it goes missing & you need to cancel it. Smartphones make me particularly paranoid because of the personal info on them.

*Hand them into police. I've lost things & been amazed that people have handed them in. There are some good people left

 

[aysiu]

I don't really charge it away from my desk. I charge it at home.

And if my phone is stolen, a pin code won't really help, because the hardware is more valuable to the thief than the personal information (and because I can remotely wipe the data anyway). A factory reset and the thief can sell the phone "used."

 

[OtterNZ]

Settings > Security > Lock phone after... immediately -> X minutes of activity.

I don't know if I'm just blind or not, but I can't seem to find that on 2.3.3 (under Location & Security)

 

[chanchan05]

I don't know if I'm just blind or not, but I can't seem to find that on 2.3.3 (under Location & Security)

Its a brand thing, not all androids have those settings. The manufacturer inserted those settings themselves. Samsung did not for instance.

 

[!on]

I don't really charge it away from my desk. I charge it at home.

And if my phone is stolen, a pin code won't really help, because the hardware is more valuable to the thief than the personal information (and because I can remotely wipe the data anyway). A factory reset and the thief can sell the phone "used."

Wow! Way to reward theft!!!

If you left the locks open, they could browse your files, your sim & anything personal stored on the phone, before you've had a chance to cancel it. You
say "hardware is more valuable to a thief" but if it's locked it's just a paper weight. Why would you want to make it easier for a thief to steal your identity, your files & your credit? That's just daft . If a thief stole my phone. I'd wish it was booby trapped with explosives. I don't leave my doors unlocked at night so people can burgle me!

I try also not to charge it at work (for security reasons, yeah?) but occasionally I forgot to flick the mains switch. I have two chargers & my colleagues are trusted.

 

[aysiu]

It's not daft. It's a common-sense compromise. There is no such thing as 100% security. Everything is a balance of a measure of security with a measure of convenience. The "security" I get from a pin gets heavily outweighed by the inconvenience of typing it in every time I want to use my phone. I've had smartphones for two and a half years and then "dumb" phones for eight years before that--never had a phone stolen. Neither has my wife had hers stolen in all that time.

I'm not saying it could never be stolen. Maybe my phone will be stolen tomorrow. But each person has to weigh out for herself risks, rewards, inconvenience, security, lifestyle choices, etc. and decide what's best for her own situation. I've decided what works best for me, and I'm willing to accept the consequences if/when that doesn't pan out. You can do whatever you want and accept the consequences as well.

 

[sleepingseason]

Same here.

And no one gets physical access to my phone anyway.

Exactly - it's always with me, and when I do hand it to somebody else to use it's always somebody I can trust.

In the even that I do lose it, so long as the phone has a data connection I can lock and track it using Prey (which activates when I send a text with a certain phrase to my phone).

 

[sleepingseason]

You can keep the Sense 3.0 lock screen with a pin/pattern lock. When you open an app with the lock ring, it requires the pin/pattern then.

Also, Widgetlocker has a Sense 3.0 widget. Not that I see you getting widgetlocker just for this, but as a general FYI for people reading.

I know, but what's the point of quick-launching something if there's an intermediary screen?

 

[Clementine_3]

I use a Pin to lock mine. I usually lock it while at work or out & about. At home I don't lock it.

Same here.
I usually don't lock it at work. It's either sitting on my desk while I am there or locked in my drawer if I leave my desk and don't take it with me.
No need to lock it at home, my dog isn't going to do much with it
I do like to lock it when I go out though, never know what can happen. I can wipe it remotely but, depending on how long it takes to get to a laptop or other phone to sms it, it could be a while.
I've gone back and forth on the locking/not locking thing and this is what works for me (this week anyway).