Fingerprint unlocking question

[sm625]

I was just reading the story of how the FBI forced someone to unlock their phone using their fingerprint. It got me thinking. Is there a way to configure an iphone so that your left ring finger print unlocks the phone, and all other fingers cause an instant wipe? That way, if someone forces you to unlock your phone, you can happily do so.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm not aware of that being possible, best I can think of for iPhone would be turning your phone off, as turning it back on and unlocking requires your passcode.

On Android you can use 3rd party launchers to lock your phone, so your fingerprint won't work and you actually need the password to unlock it.

 

[TheStu]

I was just reading the story of how the FBI forced someone to unlock their phone using their fingerprint. It got me thinking. Is there a way to configure an iphone so that your left ring finger print unlocks the phone, and all other fingers cause an instant wipe? That way, if someone forces you to unlock your phone, you can happily do so.

I'm not aware of that being possible, best I can think of for iPhone would be turning your phone off, as turning it back on and unlocking requires your passcode.

On Android you can use 3rd party launchers to lock your phone, so your fingerprint won't work and you actually need the password to unlock it.

To answer your question, no. You can't program that sort of thing. I don't know if you'd want to either, what if you ever accidentally tapped your wipin' finger on the sensor? TouchID 2 is FAST, like insanely fast, it would start erasing the phone before you realized what you had done.

As Red Storm wrote, if you power-cycle it, it won't accept your fingerprint until you unlock it with your passcode. Same applies if you give it the wrong fingerprint 3 times. So if you have your thumbs programmed, put your index finger on there 3 times, and it will demand your passcode (which to my understanding, and IANAL, the courts CANNOT compel your passcode, but they can compel your fingerprint).

 

[Rakehellion]

I was just reading the story of how the FBI forced someone to unlock their phone using their fingerprint. It got me thinking. Is there a way to configure an iphone so that your left ring finger print unlocks the phone, and all other fingers cause an instant wipe? That way, if someone forces you to unlock your phone, you can happily do so.

Or you can just not unlock it with a fingerprint.

 

[maddogchen]

thats a horrible idea. You''ll just end up accidentally wiping your phone.

Just don't use fingerprint id.

 

[KeithP]

I am no lawyer, but it would seem to me if you were given a court order to provide your fingerprint to unlock your phone and you did anything but use your fingerprint to unlock your phone you would be found in contempt of court.

Then you would go to jail with no trial and in theory, no expiration date until you complied.

-KeithP

 

[Red Storm]

I am no lawyer, but it would seem to me if you were given a court order to provide your fingerprint to unlock your phone and you did anything but use your fingerprint to unlock your phone you would be found in contempt of court.

Then you would go to jail with no trial and in theory, no expiration date until you complied.

-KeithP

But the point is, at least on Android I can force lock my phone, so you can't unlock it with a fingerprint, and thus the court order is useless and they can't compel you to input your password.

 

[stlc8tr]

But the point is, at least on Android I can force lock my phone, so you can't unlock it with a fingerprint, and thus the court order is useless and they can't compel you to input your password.

How do you easily force lock on Android to disable the finger print sensor? I though Android was the same as iOS in that you have to shutdown/reboot in order to force entry of the password.

 

[Red Storm]

How do you easily force lock on Android to disable the finger print sensor? I though Android was the same as iOS in that you have to shutdown/reboot in order to force entry of the password.

Using a 3rd party launcher like Nova Launcher, there are gestures you can set to perform various functions, one of those is screen lock, but it locks the display so that you have to input your password to open, it won't accept fingerprint. So for me I can double tap the screen to lock it.

 

[stlc8tr]

Using a 3rd party launcher like Nova Launcher, there are gestures you can set to perform various functions, one of those is screen lock, but it locks the display so that you have to input your password to open, it won't accept fingerprint. So for me I can double tap the screen to lock it.

Ah, that's cool. Just downloaded Nova and tried this out. Set double-tap to lock and once activated, it requires a password whereas normal time-outs can use the finger print to unlock.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[gbeirn]

Well you can certainly add additional fingers into the scanner so you could use just your pinky for example and if a situation arose where a police officers demanded you unlock your phone, use your thumb three times and the phone will require the passcode and then you can say you gonna need a warrant for that.

Edit: I ain't pass the bar but I know a lil bit.

Edit 2: IANAL but I am Jay-z