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So most of you are NOT using a pattern lock or other security on your phone?

Heh, I've found if you want to get around some type of security, set it up in a middle school. Give it a couple weeks, they'll figure it out. I've also found giving laptops to Gym teachers is a bad idea. They'll use them for attendance in the gym, and then the kids will use it as a target in dodge ball. I don't know how many macbook screens I've had to replace because of this.

I gave the gym teachers Dell netbooks. They were made for those rowdy middle school students so they are pretty darned sturdy.
 
I'm seeing so many people complaining about the new lock screen that it seems that many Droid owners aren't using a pattern lock to secure their phone.

This really surprises me...the phone contains access to all your email, contacts, calendar, and any other personal data you may have placed on it, and a large percentage of you aren't even using the basic security provided by the pattern lock?

Or is it that many people don't know the pattern lock exists?

I just can't imagine having a phone like this that isn't secured to whatever extent is available.

I totally agree! I had the same thought when I started to see a lot of complaints about the new unlock screen.
 
Using pattern lock and Lookout Mobile Security (free beta). Wouldn't be without it. As far a smudge marks go, I wipe the screen off from time to time :)
 
I work from home so most of the time, no lock necessary, but I enable it when out as needed....like heading to the mall for Christmas shopping.

I don't have any easily obtainable info on my phone such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, no highly sensitive super secret documents.....but I do have several email accounts and since it is easy to remote search all emails saved on the server it would be possible for someone to find info that I would not want in the hands of a stranger. I also don't want my family members spammed as a result of leaving my contacts list vulnerable or a thief to look at my calendar and see what weeks I will be away on vacation leaving my house as an open target.
 
Galaxy user here ... with a tip for y'all:
AutoLock allows you to have a pattern configured, but only forces you to enter it if you've been away from your device for 'x' minutes.

I've set mine up so it activates after 4 hours. This way, I use the simple screen unlock most of the time, and the secure one once or twice a day.

The idea being, of course, that I don't need to lock it from me, but from whoever finds it, which is presumably not immediately after I walked away from it.

Does this bring the regular swipe-to-unlock screen before the time is up, or does it go full-unlock to whatever screen you were on when you press the lock button to turn it on? I tried a free app that purported to do something similar, but it would disable the unlock screen altogether until the time was up, at which point it would enable the security screen.

It's a shame that AutoLock costs money, when the simple wait-before-lock feature is available by default on the iPhone. It's for that simple reason I don't use a security swipe on my Droid: I hate having to enter the security swipe every time I want to do something, even if I was using it just 10 seconds ago.
 
ive got a password on my blackberry.. for no particular reason except i didnt like the normal keyboard lock feature.

im probably not going to use the lock feature on my droid. i hate having to retype my pass all the time on my blackberry
 
Galaxy user here ... with a tip for y'all:
AutoLock allows you to have a pattern configured, but only forces you to enter it if you've been away from your device for 'x' minutes.

I've set mine up so it activates after 4 hours. This way, I use the simple screen unlock most of the time, and the secure one once or twice a day.

The idea being, of course, that I don't need to lock it from me, but from whoever finds it, which is presumably not immediately after I walked away from it.

Looks like the free version is gone...the barcode at the link you provided doesn't work, but there is a paid version for 99 cents if you search autolock in Marketplace...
 
I use the lock screen, but keep in mind that this isn't real security, if someone gets your phone they can still probably get the data off of it easily. Even if they couldn't figure out the unlock pattern, they could at least get the data off the microSD easily by just removing it.
Its kinda like a laptop, you can lock your laptop screen with a password, but unless you are using drive encryption your data can be retrieved easily.

On a related subject, I think it would be nice if the unlock pattern had more options. Maybe have it use multiple strokes, or go over the same position multiple times in different directions. There are only so many easy to swipe combination right now, combined with finger residue, it is too easy to break.
 
Pattern lock in use from day 1 ...

my original complaint was if i had Pattern Lock on I still had to use the second "slide" unlock screen.

not to mention, having the Emerg. Call button so accessible scared me

Edit: Looks like they fixed the dual lock/slide screen issue i was having...I would still love to remove the Emerg. button
 
Complex pattern here since day 1. I would never consider running without a lock pattern!

I use pattern lock, but it's a very easy pattern. Just enough to keep the general public out if anyone gets their hands on my phone, but easy enough where even my friend who sits next to me at the bar already knows how to get into my phone. :D
 
my original complaint was if i had Pattern Lock on I still had to use the second "slide" unlock screen.

not to mention, having the Emerg. Call button so accessible scared me

I hit the emergency button by accident once. It brings up another selection that you have to hit before you actually place the call so it is safe.
 
my original complaint was if i had Pattern Lock on I still had to use the second "slide" unlock screen.

not to mention, having the Emerg. Call button so accessible scared me

Edit: Looks like they fixed the dual lock/slide screen issue i was having...I would still love to remove the Emerg. button

I've had my Droid since launch and I've never had it double lock. As soon as I entered my pattern, I was in.

And the emergency button doesn't do anything scary. It just brings up a dial pad for you to call someone. It doesn't autocall 911 or anything like that.
 
I haven't set up a lock pattern yet. I know it's secure, but honestly, I never have my phone anywhere other than my bedroom, my pocket or my hand. Personally, it's just too much. I have to unlock the phone probably over a hundred times a day between texts, e-mails, and just general usage. It's too much to have to put in an unlock code every time. It also locks relatively quickly while idle, so it would just become an annoyance.
 
I use the lock screen, but keep in mind that this isn't real security, if someone gets your phone they can still probably get the data off of it easily. Even if they couldn't figure out the unlock pattern, they could at least get the data off the microSD easily by just removing it.
Its kinda like a laptop, you can lock your laptop screen with a password, but unless you are using drive encryption your data can be retrieved easily.

On a related subject, I think it would be nice if the unlock pattern had more options. Maybe have it use multiple strokes, or go over the same position multiple times in different directions. There are only so many easy to swipe combination right now, combined with finger residue, it is too easy to break.

Yep, full software disk encryption on my linux laptop, filevault set up on my mac, and full hardware drive encryption on my dell laptop.
 
I am looking for some advice. Is there a way to have the lock screen only set when you press the lock button? I cannot find this in the settings...is there a good app for this?
 
I keep the lock-pattern on as well. I like the look of that screen more than the other. Although the swipe-marks do sort of show the unlock pattern. There are a lot of swipe marks on there most of the time, though.

I like the changes they made to that home screen, it looks cool.
 
For the first two weeks, I didn't lock the phone..

BUT, then I considered that if I left it behind somewhere, then anyone could pick it up and order songs, read (and send) emails, and just 'have their way' with the data...

NOW IT'S LOCKED UP.

I'll put up with the minor inconvenience of a crooked swipe to open.. :)

FC
 
Those of you saying you don't want to use pattern lock because the phone locks too quickly, you can change the timeout from the default (can't remember what it was) to various increments up to 30 minutes. (This is under Settings, Sound & Display, Screen Timeout.) One of the first things I did was reset mine to 10 minutes.

I have always locked what ever phone I use for years. I've been using BBs for several years but just got the Droid. I'm not comfortable with the simple pattern lock but it's better than nothing so will research the other locking software mentioned in this thread. Looks like WaveSecure is the most often mentioned.

Thanks.
 
. I've also found giving laptops to Gym teachers is a bad idea. They'll use them for attendance in the gym, and then the kids will use it as a target in dodge ball. I don't know how many macbook screens I've had to replace because of this.

Those who can't do , teach.
Those who can't teach, teach gym.

Had to add that line (teacher, please take no offense, I teach).
 
Thanks for the tip.

I'd much rather have to enter a passcode AFTER I swipe to unlock like I did what I had that other fruity phone because having to do the pattern unlock everytime after a couple of minutes gets old fast for me for some reason.

Me Too, The security is a great idea but not practicle. I haven't lost a cell phone in 15 years... I spose there's always a first.
 
Wow, I hadn't expected so much interest in AutoLock. A couple of answers:

- A Galaxy runs v1.5. I expect AutoLock to work with v1.6, but can't say anything about v2.0.
- The pattern lock (again, on a Galaxy at least) comes up *after* the normal so-you-wanna-turn-on-the-screen thingy.
- I didn't know it costs money now. I can send you a copy of the free APK (I mean, that's allowed, right?).

Anything else you need answered, just holler! :)
 
Those of you saying you don't want to use pattern lock because the phone locks too quickly, you can change the timeout from the default (can't remember what it was) to various increments up to 30 minutes. (This is under Settings, Sound & Display, Screen Timeout.) One of the first things I did was reset mine to 10 minutes.

I have always locked what ever phone I use for years. I've been using BBs for several years but just got the Droid. I'm not comfortable with the simple pattern lock but it's better than nothing so will research the other locking software mentioned in this thread. Looks like WaveSecure is the most often mentioned.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, that timeout doesn't prevent the phone from locking immediately if you shut off the screen using the lock button.
 
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