# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/61 "2021-04-12T20:17:24Z")
I do, with a pattern lock. I read somewhere it’s more secure than a PIN but the article did not explain why. It has facial recognition and fingerprint capability but I’m just not trusting the tech enough to work in an emergency when the adrenaline’s pumping – a bit weird I suppose. I use the thing – occasionally even using it to put a call – often enough the screen is full of finger grease so the pattern is not discernible. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/62 "2021-04-12T21:01:39Z")
Apparently everyone in the universe uses their phone 100x more than I do. I guess I knew that. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/63 "2021-04-12T21:06:28Z")
My phone is a work phone but the rules on personal use are rather lax. I use it for banking stuff so I have it set to require a PIN or give it “the finger” after 60 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2021, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/64 "2021-04-13T06:37:17Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m pretty sure that facial recognition won’t work with closed eyes so it would not work for an unconscious person. It’s an option on the iPhone for Face ID to unlock with your eyes closed. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/65 "2021-04-13T15:45:31Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Not because of the fear of being hacked through amputation, Well here’s something to think about - the person hacking your phone won’t know your fingertprint won’t unlock the phone until after he’s already cut it off. pleasant dreams! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/66 "2021-04-13T16:19:18Z")
There’s always the possibility of torture to reveal one’s PIN… ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/68 "2021-04-14T18:45:37Z")
Ah, yes. The old rubber hose decryption ploy. ---
**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 15, 2021, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/69 "2021-04-15T00:41:10Z")
That seems like a bad option. I don’t know why anyone would want that, so why even make that less secure option available? ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/71 "2021-04-15T05:52:24Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > That seems like a bad option. I don’t know why anyone would want that, so why even make that less secure option available? A person with an eye or vision condition might need that option. Also, certain sunglasses can apparently block some of the infrared light the Face ID cameras use to accurately scan. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/72 "2021-04-19T01:53:55Z")
Adult son handed me my phone. “I auto-locked it. The password is your bank PIN.” I made him show me how to log my fingerprints, so that I could unlock it faster. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762/73 "2021-04-21T14:45:06Z")
Yes mine is locked with a pattern and fingerprints, either can be used to unlock it. In all likelihood it’s not important but if I lost my phone I would be very happy it was locked. Also locking it keeps my butt from operating the phone accidentally. I was pleasantly surprised how fast and accurate fingerprint sensors can be on modern phones. Takes just a fraction of a second to unlock and show the home screen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-your-phone-locked/939762.md?page=3)