For some it may be annoying to have to unlock the screen again and again, but it is a good protection if the cell phone is lost.

This lock screen on your smartphone serves a good purpose, because sometimes you just go to the toilet at a friend's house and don't want anyone snooping on your cell phone.

checked4you ”, the youth portal of the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center, describes the different lock screens here so that you can get an idea of ​​the security for yourself:

Pattern

In a grid of 9 points, at least 4 must be connected. You should remember the pattern you created carefully. If you connect the wrong dots or the right ones in the wrong order, you won't get your data. As a rule, you can then unlock your display with a PIN or password - as long as you have set it and not forgotten it.

The pattern does have the advantage that it can be drawn and remembered quickly and easily. The more dots you connect, the harder it is to guess, even for uninformed people. Disadvantage : If you don't wipe the display again and again, strangers can see the traces of your finger on the display and guess the pattern.

pin code

The SIM card has one and you can set an additional PIN for the display. But they shouldn't be the same! To lock the screen, you can combine up to 17 digits (on Android) as desired. This unlocking method has the advantages that common combinations are easy to remember and the chance of cracking your PIN decreases with each additional digit. The downside is that some combinations are easy for people who know you to guess. That's why you shouldn't use your date of birth. Traces of your finger on the display can also reveal the necessary numbers for the PIN.

password

When it comes to passwords, it is important not to use words that can be found in a dictionary. As with the PIN, the following applies here: the more characters, the harder it is to guess the correct code. And if you also mix upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters, it becomes a safe box. This is the biggest advantage of the password as an unlocking method. The disadvantages , however, are that complex passwords can be difficult to remember and, on the other hand, passwords that are too easy can also be easy to guess. In another article we have tips for secure passwords .

In addition to the options for entering things on the screen, there are also unlocking methods with biometric features. These are unique pieces of information about your body that differentiate you from others. In general, however, you should find out whether this information is stored securely and encrypted on your device. If this is not the case or if it is even transferred to some server, there is theoretically a risk that the information will be misused for criminal purposes (keyword: identity theft ). And biometric data is not as easy to change as a password, PIN or swipe pattern!

fingerprint

This unlocking method is already relatively common and many smartphones have a fingerprint scanner. When setting up a fingerprint, a second unlocking method from the top three options is usually required - in case your finger is injured, too dirty or someone else actually needs to unlock your cell phone. Advantages : You usually always have your own fingers with you and you don't have to remember anything. It can only be replicated or counterfeited with great effort and a great deal of criminal energy. Cons : Doesn't work in winter with gloves.

face recognition

We humans recognize each other most quickly by their faces. Most smartphones with a front camera can do this too. That is the big advantage of this unlocking method. But be careful: If you don't use a 3D camera, facial recognition can often be outsmarted with just a photo. Another disadvantage : Face recognition does not always work reliably. Little light, sunglasses or hair blowing too much can cause problems. That's why a second unlocking method without biometric features is usually required for this unlocking method.

Iris scan

The latest commercial unlocking method is staring you in the eye. The selfie cam or an infrared camera scans the colored circle around your pupil and thereby recognizes you. Advantages and disadvantages are comparable to those of fingerprint and facial recognition. However, an infrared camera also works without ambient light. Greater security arises from the combination of iris scan and facial recognition.


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