Screen Lock

Nowadays, most information is in our hands, right on our cell phone screens. No wonder smartphones have become a target for malicious people. Therefore, it’s necessary to take precautions and enable screen locking using authentication methods. This way you minimize the risks of possible malicious access. 

The screen lock, as the name implies, prevents unauthorized access to your device. When using the screen lock you must enter a password or use biometrics to access other functions on your device. 

To enable this function on Android, go to settings and go to the “Screen lock” option. Current models have the following options: pattern (drawing), PIN code, password, fingerprint, facial recognition, and alphanumeric password. Older models, on the other hand, only offer the first three lock modes. 

To set up the lock screen on iPhone, tap “Settings” and choose the “Touch ID and Code” option. The unlock options are password (with 6 numbers; option with more digits; or even alphanumeric) and fingerprint. Facial recognition is present on models beginning with the iPhone X. 

The most secure locking option is the alphanumeric password. But to ensure your security, don’t use passwords with obvious sequences such as “123456” and important dates such as birthdays. See these and other tips in the other videos on Internet Citizen. 

It’s worth remembering that, even with biometrics enabled, it’s still necessary to have a password because reading biometric data does not always work. Don’t forget that, if there are too many wrong attempts to access your phone, it may end up blocked. There are cases in which it’s necessary to authenticate the account associated with your device to re-allow access. Some devices have a feature to erase all data in case of too many wrong attempts. This can be an interesting option in situations where the device is stolen. 

Many operating systems offer remote location services, even allowing you to delete the device's contents. Furthermore, there are several apps with anti-theft features, such as photo capture in case of an incorrect password, tracking, and remote control of the device, which can help you in case of loss or theft. 

In addition to the screen lock, it’s also important to enable the password on the SIM card. 

Stay tuned to Internet Citizen’s tips and invest in your devices’ security!

Video description

In the first scene, a girl leaves her cell phone on a table where a guy is also sitting, and leaves. Then the following phrase appears: “Turning your screen off is not locking it.” The boy takes her cell phone, turns on the display and swipes the screen to unlock the device. 

In the second scene, the phrase changes to “Enable the Screen Lock in the settings,” and the settings screen appears on the cell phone. A hand appears on the image and selects the “screen lock” option. Several screens appear, showing the default lock options which are: password, facial recognition, and fingerprint. The fingerprint option is chosen. 

In the third scene a boy appears, apparently malicious, who finds a cell phone on the table and picks it up. He tries to access it, but when he sees that the cell phone is locked and asks for his fingerprint to access it, he gets angry and puts the cell phone back on the table. Above is the phrase “Protect your device!”