# Do you keep your phone locked? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762 "2021-04-10T19:37:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/1 "2021-04-10T19:37:18Z")
Title says it all - is your phone locked when you’re not actively using it? Mine is - with a 4-digit PIN. Not that anyone could get a whole lot off it anyway, since I mostly just use it as a phone. I can’t think of any personal info stored on it that could cause a problem if someone else go their hands on it. And if someone scrolled thru my photos, they’d die from cute overload from all the pics of my granddaughter! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/2 "2021-04-10T19:43:02Z")
Haha, no, mine’s totally unlocked. But I use it for development purposes and it never leaves my office. I hate the thing. I pride myself on being pretty modern with regards to communications but I have a special loathing for trying to use a phone to type anything. I think I once used it as a flashlight. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/3 "2021-04-10T19:52:49Z")
Yes, because it has work data on it. We enforce a policy if you attach to any business systems. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/4 "2021-04-10T19:54:53Z")
Same here. It locks (after a minute, I think). And it’s got a six-digit numeric PIN. ---
**Author:** ![DeathPool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e95f7d/32.png) [@DeathPool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathPool)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/5 "2021-04-10T19:59:38Z")
Yes but only because I look up horrible stuff all the time. On a side note a guy I know from a bar, I watched him put in his phone password one day… it was 12345… Dude! ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/6 "2021-04-10T20:00:22Z")
Yes–it auto locks after 3 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/7 "2021-04-10T20:01:41Z")
Yes. I leave my phone on my desk at work and don’t want anyone looking at the bazillion horse pictures on it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/8 "2021-04-10T20:01:46Z")
Yes, for FERPA and HIPAA reasons as well as protection of my own information. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/9 "2021-04-10T20:40:41Z")
Yes. It auto-locks after some period of time and is unlocked by fingerprint or 4 digit pin. ---
**Author:** ![shh1313](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shh1313/32/8020_2.png) [@shh1313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shh1313)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/10 "2021-04-10T20:43:47Z")
I sure do. The phones coming out will have advanced security. With the ‘digital revolution’, 5G and the legislation in the past and just recently it’s coming fast. Standards on passcodes will integrated with AI. That was in my DOD newsletter. Here is a peek complements of the United States Government. (Health IT) Start saving your money for the new phones. DOD announced webistes, Darnell & Tricare we’re onboarding and going live May 20 2021. If you’re reading this go see what happening! Medicare, DHS, FDA HIPPA and at least 7 or 8 other alphabet agencies will be involved with your health and money. > **[About ONC | HealthIT.gov](https://www.healthit.gov/topic/about-onc)** > > Vision > > > Better health enabled by data > > > > > Mission > > > To create systemic improvements in health and care through the access, exchange, and use of data > > > > ... Comments are open to the Publoc but not for long!! [HealthIT.gov](http://HealthIT.gov) [https://www.healthit.gov/](https://www.healthit.gov/) Updated March 23, 2021 ---
**Author:** ![shh1313](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shh1313/32/8020_2.png) [@shh1313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shh1313)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/11 "2021-04-10T20:49:26Z")
I sure do. The phones coming out will have advanced security. With the ‘digital revolution’, 5G and the legislation in the past and just recently it’s coming fast. Standards on passcodes will integrated with AI. Here is a peek complements of the United States Government. (Health IT) Start saving your money for the new phones. DOD announced webistes, Darnell & Tricare we’re onboarding and going live May 20 2021. If you’re reading this go see what happening! Medicare, DHS, FDA HIPPA and at least 7 or 8 other alphabet agencies will be involved with your health and money. > **[About ONC | HealthIT.gov](https://www.healthit.gov/topic/about-onc)** > > Vision > > > Better health enabled by data > > > > > Mission > > > To create systemic improvements in health and care through the access, exchange, and use of data > > > > ... Comments are open to the Publoc but not for long!! [HealthIT.gov](http://HealthIT.gov) [https://www.healthit.gov/](https://www.healthit.gov/) Updated March 23, 2021 [https://dodcio.defene.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Cyber/modernizing\_the\_cac.pdf](https://dodcio.defene.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Cyber/modernizing_the_cac.pdf) I can’t delete the extra post! ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/12 "2021-04-10T20:52:40Z")
You can lock a phone? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/13 "2021-04-10T20:56:55Z")
I don’t bother. I used to, but I just stopped caring, and it’s been more a PITA than anything for me. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/14 "2021-04-10T21:00:42Z")
Yup, unlocks with a pattern gesture after swiping the lock screen. Numeric PINs are a PITA. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/15 "2021-04-10T21:09:20Z")
Yup. Fingerprint lock. It worked, too. Once I lost a phone and someone stole it. They got nothing off of it, which gave me enough time to change my passwords. (All of them. I use a password manager.) Any time I see a Reddit post about “I snooped on my boyfriend/girlfriend’s phone and realized they’re cheating on me” I always think “if you’re going to cheat, do it right and lock your phone”. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/16 "2021-04-10T21:09:44Z")
> [@DeathPool](#): > > I watched him put in his phone password one day… it was 12345 I’ve got the same combination on my luggage! As for the phone, mine has a seven-digit passcode (or fingerprint) lock. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/17 "2021-04-10T21:16:05Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Yup, unlocks with a pattern gesture after swiping the lock screen. I use the pattern thing too, but I also have to remember to clean the screen frequently. I don’t want someone stealing my phone and figuring out the pattern from the smudges on the glass. 😧 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/18 "2021-04-10T21:17:37Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Yes. It auto-locks after some period of time and is unlocked by fingerprint or 4 digit pin. This. No particular reason as no one else ever comes in contact with it. More to prevent butt-dialing, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![shh1313](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shh1313/32/8020_2.png) [@shh1313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shh1313)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/19 "2021-04-10T21:20:05Z")
The info I read said you’ll have a DOD PIV authentication and 16 digit UPN for unclassified websites with accounts, email or authentication certificates… The new phone will be AI and biometrically scan your eyes or face 2023 target date. ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/20 "2021-04-10T21:58:32Z")
I always lock my phone with a 10 digit PIN when I’m not using it. However, I turn auto-lock to the highest allowed timeout period (30 minutes in my Android phone) because few things in life are more annoying than having my phone auto-lock on me when I’m in the middle of reading something. I subconsciously push the power button every time I’m done using the phone, thanks to muscle memory and my own self-enforced protocols. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762.md?page=2)