Questions tagged [device-locking]

26 questions
54
votes
13 answers

Allow only specific devices to be connected to USB

Suppose I have a Windows PC in a safe room, disconnected from the internet, with only 3 cables connecting to another room, to a mouse, monitor and keyboard. The computer contains highly sensitive data. The HDMI monitor cable is no problem, but the…
Marcelo Glasberg
  • 805
  • 1
  • 7
  • 11
50
votes
5 answers

Downsides of showing email address on Android lock screen

My stock Android 9.0 gives me the option of showing some short text message on the lock screen. I want to add my email address here, so people know how to contact me if they find my phone. Are there any downsides to this? The address is linked to…
freekvd
  • 463
  • 1
  • 4
  • 6
42
votes
9 answers

What are the potential risks of leaving a device in public, but locked?

Let's say you're in a public café, or conference, where you trust your device won't be stolen if you go to the bathroom for 5 minutes, but you don't trust it might not be tampered with. What are the potential security risks I might run into here,…
Zee
  • 531
  • 1
  • 4
  • 7
18
votes
3 answers

Can fingerprint readers be trusted?

I've recently obtained a new notebook, specifically a Thinkpad. Now I found out that it has a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. I am skeptical about biometrics as a security mechanism. But I'm wondering, apart from its suitability…
programonkey
  • 291
  • 1
  • 2
  • 6
6
votes
2 answers

What does HP DriveLock do to your password?

While looking at various hard drive encryption methods, I discovered that HP's "DriveLock" is not quite the standard ATA security system. While I did get confirmation from HP that it does indeed use ATA security commands to lock and unlock the…
Jason Taylor
  • 161
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
5
votes
1 answer

Do app lockers improve smartphone security?

I recently installed Norton App Lock on my smartphone. It asks for a password pattern every time one tries to open an app. So, theoretically, it protects you in case someone is able to bypass your OS password pattern. But it also hurts usability…
guest
  • 51
  • 2
5
votes
4 answers

Laptop battery dies, only IT is allowed to access machine after plugging in

Apparently, my company has a security policy that states that if a laptop's battery dies (that is, uses up all charge because it's unplugged), the laptop gets locked and a domain administrator has to unlock it before it can be used again. Is there…
xxbbcc
  • 171
  • 6
4
votes
3 answers

Friendly reminders for people who don't lock laptops

My bosses have tasked me with coming up with a kind of "friendly reminder" card that we can leave on the desks of folks where we see they've walked away without locking their workstation and we have to lock it. Has anyone else ever had to do…
BarelyCertified
  • 41
  • 3
4
votes
1 answer

How secure is Google’s/Android’s Smart Lock functionality?

Newer Android phones (since Android 5, “Lollipop”) have the Smart Lock functionality that allows one to unlock the phone, among other ways, with a trusted device (Bluetooth or NFC) instead of entering the usual PIN, pattern or password. I’m asking…
Socob
  • 225
  • 2
  • 5
4
votes
3 answers

What OS's will "brick" a stolen phone; preventing their use or resale by a potential thief?

You can look at this question in two ways: Prior to purchasing a used phone, I want to ensure that the IMEI is not locked and I'm able to use it fully. Or you can be a purchaser who wants to devalue their mobile phone from theft because they are…
makerofthings7
  • 51,248
  • 61
  • 280
  • 585
3
votes
2 answers

Why do I need to unlock my phone to enable wifi

I have a mobile phone running Android 6.0.1, even when the phone is locked, I still can access various settings from the quick settings menu, one of those is the wifi setting. However, when I enable it, I need to unlock my phone. What threat(s) are…
duongntbk
  • 250
  • 2
  • 7
2
votes
1 answer

What happens if incorrect SIM card PUK entered 10 times?

I know that if incorrect SIM card PIN is entered three times, it is erased, so there is no longer any valid PIN, but user can set up new PIN with PUK. But when incorrect PUK is entered 10 times, it is no longer possible to unlock it. What happens?…
user204565
2
votes
1 answer

Shoulder surfing prevention or mitigation for unlocking mobile devices

How can shoulder surfing be prevented or mitigated when unlocking mobile devices? I found other questions about shoulder surfing that focus more on desktop machines, but I believe the issue is much more serious and worrying for mobile devices. You…
reed
  • 15,964
  • 8
  • 52
  • 78
2
votes
0 answers

Implementation of existing smart lock methods

Smart lock? Apple , Android , Google , and now Microsoft have a feature called "auto|smart|dynamic|proximity lock" which enables to unlock your computer by simply carrying a (Bluetooth) support device with you. That means if you move "too far" away…
Nils Q.
  • 29
  • 1
1
vote
1 answer

Phonegap/Cordova InApp pinlock, difference if its on Java Layer/HTML5 layers?

I am going to build a PIN lock on Phonegap, trying to understand the security layer. As Phonegap is just a webview, it can be easily altered, if you are connected to a device. I believe that you can also decompile the Java as simple as the HTML5…
clark
  • 109
  • 6
1
2