Android's new anti-theft features

funn@lemy.lol to Android@lemmy.world – 62 points –
Android’s theft protection features keep your device and data safe
blog.google
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Awesome! Now do it to keep the cops from being able to force you to unlock your phone under duress.

You intentionally fail the biometrics a few times so it locks the device and requires the pin/password. From there it depends on the country. In the US, they can't force you to give up a password, but they can force biometrics. If your country doesn't legally protect you then there's no software measure that can't protect you at that point.

Rebooting works for this too

Or literally just Android's "lockdown" feature

While that's the strongest security option in that situation, it might cause more problems if they are forcing you to unlock your phone in front of them and you're being observed. Same issue with the lockdown feature. Failing the fingerprint intentionally is invisible to the hostile observer and let's you feign ignorance as to why you phone got locked.

That’s an interesting idea. Pick a weird finger for the biometrics and intentionally use the wrong one if you’re under duress. Fake surprise and astonishment until the device forces you to enter your pin.

What, the cops are going to force you to use the specific correct finger? Great unexpected idea to still use biometrics and have some protection from being compelled to provide your fingerprint.