Got an idea for a lockscreen that would help people keep the data on their phones a bit more secure.
It'd look just like a normal lockscreen with a keypad and if you type in your secret code the phone unlocks normally, but if you type in a certain code then all you get is a very basic home screen with a 'fake' gallery & other apps.
The reason for it is the local police here have a habit of taking your phone if you film them and it's an offence to not provide them with the unlocking code .... so why not give them one that actually gives them nothing?
Is that possible?
Related
Is there a way to add text to either the slide or the PIN lock screen? Basically I want to add a note saying "If found call (xxx)xxx-xxxx" I want the security of the PIN lock but if I lose my phone and an honest person finds it they'll have no way to contact me to return it.
I'm using Warm 2.2.
I tried Widget Locker but its too clunky with the PIN unlock. The banner hex-edit method doesn't have enough space. I'm considering just adding text to the picture I use as wallpaper but then it would look weird when I was actually using the phone. And there is no way I'm giving up my transparent clock for an opaque one to hide it! It would also show up on other home screens. I've returned many a phone I've found on the street and it'd be almost impossible with a PIN locked phone.
Thoughts?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
On some ROMs it's possible to use a different background for the lock screen, you could try adding that in or seeing if Myn would be willing to do it.
WaveSecure can place a screen above your lockscreen. it does cost money, but that was the only solution i found when i was looking. perhaps Gingerbread will be of help when it hits.
you can look into Tasker. it may have an SMS based alert solution you could implement.
CyanogenMod has this feature built-in. You can put custom text on your lock screen.
CM: 9,001. Sense: Still zero.
Dear Sirs,
Here's something which, as far as I can see, hasn't been addressed by any ROM:
WHY are the lockscreen and security screen two separate things in Android?
Okay, hear me out.
You're a security-conscious chap, so you want to protect your phone with a pin number / password / pattern. So you set it up. BUT! You hit the screen-on button, and the lockscreen comes up. You swipe to open the lockscreen, and only then does the security screen come up, with its prompt asking for a pin or whatever. So you enter that, and then finally you can get into your phone, after an assortment of keystrokes, rendered all the more annoying by the extraneous lockscreen. What's the point?
Having a security screen, under these conditions, renders the lockscreen completely extraneous, and it is 'design inefficient'.
Why (oh why) is there not an option to remove the lockscreen and have just the security prompt screen? This would appear to be a extremely simple and logical feature to offer.
I hate to bring up iOS (which I hate), but with iOS the security screen is the lockscreen. And additionally, once you've entered your pin, iOS will open up without you having to press "OK"!
It just seems like this is an area where Android isn't at all well thought out. Is there anything that can be done about this?
There are apps that can do this (No lock, alot of others), and CM7 has that feature built into it.
I'm sorry to say that they do not.
All the apps that do this, including 'No lock', remove the lockscreen along with everything else, so any security is also removed.
Where in CM7 is the option to switch off lockscreen but retain the security screen?
Hey 314, good call on CM! 'Disable lockscreen on security' is exactly what I'm talking about.
Now, if only all the other ROMs could provide that, we'd be cooking.
Next: to remove the need for the ridiculous 'OK' following pin entry!
I was thinking it would be nice to have full apps as options for the lock screen rather than just widgets. Just like I can pull up the camera from the lock screen by swiping to the left, I would like to choose an application for swiping to the right. For example I use the Google Play Music app a lot and would like to access it without having to (pattern/pin/etc) unlock my phone every time. I feel like it would be a useful feature.
What does everyone think?
PS. I can put up screenshots/images of the idea if my description is not clear.
Then you risk giving access to that app to anybody who picks up the phone, which may not be a big deal to some people. Even though people SHOULD realize that, some wont, and they would complain. It would then be called a "security issue".
I understand that but it would be up to the user's discretion what app they put there. I wouldn't care if people had access to my music app, just like I don't care about the camera app. Furthermore it would be nice if it was natively supported by Android so that app developers could implement settings for how apps behave when on the lock screen. This way we can curb some of the security issues by having the ability to disable certain features/sections of said app.
hoott said:
I was thinking it would be nice to have full apps as options for the lock screen rather than just widgets. Just like I can pull up the camera from the lock screen by swiping to the left, I would like to choose an application for swiping to the right. For example I use the Google Play Music app a lot and would like to access it without having to (pattern/pin/etc) unlock my phone every time. I feel like it would be a useful feature.
What does everyone think?
PS. I can put up screenshots/images of the idea if my description is not clear.
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Click to collapse
To hell with apps on lockscreen, lets put apps to buttons !
/s
At what point does it cease to be a lockscreen anymore? I'd love a lockscreen with all of my apps, widgets and even access to the app drawer... Oh wait...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
I was given Widgetlocker by a friend (He gave me a 10$ Google Play Gift Card) yesterday. I noticed that Widgetlocker doesnt have a Pattern or Pin Lock option on it, and I get my stock lockscreen on my Galaxy S3 immediately afterwards, which seems incredibly redundant.
Don't get me wrong, the application is great, and I haven't had any issues aside from this so far.
Is there any way to force Widgetlocker to use a pattern or pin lock? Or alternatively is there a way to add a camera shortcut on the stock touchwiz lockscreen?
You probably have to disable the stock lock screen for it to not show up after, or maybe a setting on widget locker, and I think the only way to get a camera shortcut is to use ripple on stock lockscreen
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
serio22 said:
You probably have to disable the stock lock screen for it to not show up after, or maybe a setting on widget locker, and I think the only way to get a camera shortcut is to use ripple on stock lockscreen
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
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Click to collapse
Well that bites. I suppose I will live without it, Its not like it takes me more than 1-5 seconds to draw my pattern/pin anyway.
Its really like that for a reason.
If you can access the camera w/o using your pin/pw/pattern, it makes using the security features pointless.
From camera you can open gallery/messaging and from there you can get to your contacts and dialer. So if someone stole or found your phone they'd have unsecured, easy access to most of your stuff.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using xda premium
DocHoliday77 said:
Its really like that for a reason.
If you can access the camera w/o using your pin/pw/pattern, it makes using the security features pointless.
From camera you can open gallery/messaging and from there you can get to your contacts and dialer. So if someone stole or found your phone they'd have unsecured, easy access to most of your stuff.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use lightning launcher ultimate (which has lock screen) and after clicking an app, it displays the stock pattern screen, then takes you to your shortcut, thereby security is still useful, choppy!
sonatamartica said:
I use lightning launcher ultimate (which has lock screen) and after clicking an app, it displays the stock pattern screen, then takes you to your shortcut, thereby security is still useful, choppy!
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Click to collapse
Actually WidgetLocker works this way too.
Enable pin/pattern on phone and ensure the option in Widget Locker to disable the stock screen is not checked.
Completely remove the swipe to unlock button and don't replace it. You'll have a blank WidgerLocker lock screen with a clock.
Long press and add apps and widgets. Change security to lock screen immediately. Power power button. Click a widget on homescreen. You'll be prompted to enter the pin/pattern! You have access to all your apps on the locker screen, with pin/pattern security simply by disabling the slide to unlock button. You're welcome (albeit months and months late.)
DocHoliday77 said:
Its really like that for a reason.
If you can access the camera w/o using your pin/pw/pattern, it makes using the security features pointless.
From camera you can open gallery/messaging and from there you can get to your contacts and dialer. So if someone stole or found your phone they'd have unsecured, easy access to most of your stuff.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using xda premium
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Click to collapse
I realize this thread is old but I feel compelled to contribute my .02 for the benefit of those like me who's search for help on this topic leads them here.
It seems to me the OP is simply pointing out the fact that Widgetlocker doesn't offer a PIN or pattern unlock feature like those found in most other lock screen replacement apps. IMHO this a CATASTROPHIC omission by the devs of what I believe is an otherwise-outstanding app! I mean it -- I LOVE this app! The fact that something so simple and avoidable is keeping me from being able to use it pains me gravely. To be clear, yes, it appears WL can be set to give deference to system PIN/pattern security as mentioned in another post but someone please explain to me how doing this doesn't defeat the point of installing the app in the first place!
I agree that there are potential security concerns in having lock screen shortcuts bypassing the pin/pattern lock; I however disagree that such a thing necessarily "makes using security features pointless." Let's be frank. Some of us have much bigger security concerns than worrying about who might be snooping through our pictures or contact lists, but even in the event that such things are the aggregate of one's sensitive "stuff" there are ways to achieve essential functionality without turning over the keys to one's deepest, darkest secrets. One could, for example, simply download a basic camera app without a gallery link, or a standalone dialer app with a null (or decoy) contact list. With a bit of hackery one needn't even give up the comfort or utility of full-feature apps in this regard. Failing this, there are still plenty of other apps one might want quick and unfettered access to which do NOT pose an inherent security risk (i.e. music player, flashlight, weather, stopwatch/timer, calculator, universal remote, fruit ninja, etc.). What's the point of having shortcuts/widgets on the lock screen if you have to unlock your device to access them? Why not just use the shortcuts/widgets on the home screen if you're going to go to the trouble to make an effort commensurate to that end anyhow?
I thought that 4.4.2 was properly implementing the Lockscreen widgets where the access to things like Camera is provided so that you can quickly record a photo/video without having to enter your PIN or pattern but when you need to actually see those images, you will be asked to enter PIN or pattern. That's how it works in all phones (at least my wife's HTC One).
How come we can not get this feature in S4? I thought this is what they fixed in 4.4.2 but I am still not able to select Lockscreen widgets if I use PIN or pattern.
devsk said:
I thought that 4.4.2 was properly implementing the Lockscreen widgets where the access to things like Camera is provided so that you can quickly record a photo/video without having to enter your PIN or pattern but when you need to actually see those images, you will be asked to enter PIN or pattern. That's how it works in all phones (at least my wife's HTC One).
How come we can not get this feature in S4? I thought this is what they fixed in 4.4.2 but I am still not able to select Lockscreen widgets if I use PIN or pattern.
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not sure about pin or pattern, but i have a camera icon in bottom right of my screen and it opens straight to camera...
diptenkrom said:
not sure about pin or pattern, but i have a camera icon in bottom right of my screen and it opens straight to camera...
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Click to collapse
You see that icon only because you are not using the secure access lock like a PIN, password or pattern lock.
One of the advertised features of the 4.4.2 on Samsung S4 was to bring the Camera icon to the Lockscreen. Wasn't it?
devsk said:
You see that icon only because you are not using the secure access lock like a PIN, password or pattern lock.
One of the advertised features of the 4.4.2 on Samsung S4 was to bring the Camera icon to the Lockscreen. Wasn't it?
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Technically they DID bring it to the lockscreen. You just have to have your lock screen set on a specific unlock method. It's actually kind of obvious why the camera icon is only on the swipe method. All the other methods require extra security and a bigger layout for the number pad/keyboard/and pattern circles. Plus if you're going to have that kind of extra security in locking your phone, it's dumb to be able to bypass that with a camera widget. Somebody can get ahold of your phone and load the camera up without even unlocking the device and easily go through your gallery. And who knows you might be able to get to your homescreen by hitting home from within the camera app after loading it. Then the person has full access to your phone.
Personally I don't see the big deal of 4.4 having a camera icon on the lockscreen. You were always able to add shortcuts to your lockscreen so why not just add your camera app to one of those shortcuts? Meh.
brian117 said:
Technically they DID bring it to the lockscreen. You just have to have your lock screen set on a specific unlock method. It's actually kind of obvious why the camera icon is only on the swipe method. All the other methods require extra security and a bigger layout for the number pad/keyboard/and pattern circles. Plus if you're going to have that kind of extra security in locking your phone, it's stupid to be able to bypass that with a camera widget. Somebody can get ahold of your phone and load the camera up without even unlocking the device and easily go through your gallery.
Personally I don't see the big deal of 4.4 having a camera icon on the lockscreen. You were always able to add shortcuts to your lockscreen so why not just add your camera app to one of those shortcuts? Meh.
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Wait...I think you are confused. The ability to add widgets to the lockscreen was always there since 4.2. You just had to move to this insecure method of "swipe to unlock". This is not new in 4.4.2.
What was supposed to be new in 4.4.2 update for Samsung TW was what has been a feature in almost all phones since 4.2, and that is to do it securely i.e. allow opening the camera app and allow to take photos and record video but don't provide access to the gallery or the phone. When the user wants to access anything inside the phone, he/she has to enter the PIN/password/pattern. That's how it worked in any sane phone circa 2012/13.
devsk said:
Wait...I think you are confused. The ability to add widgets to the lockscreen was always there since 4.2. You just had to move to this insecure method of "swipe to unlock". This is not new in 4.4.2.
What was supposed to be new in 4.4.2 update for Samsung TW was what has been a feature in almost all phones since 4.2, and that is to do it securely i.e. allow opening the camera app and allow to take photos and record video but don't provide access to the gallery or the phone. When the user wants to access anything inside the phone, he/she has to enter the PIN/password/pattern. That's how it worked in any sane phone circa 2012/13.
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Yeah I am aware it's been available since 4.2. I get what you're saying now, my bad.
If you are rooted, you can try an Xposed module called Samsung Multiple Widgets. This allows you to access the camera if you are on a PIN unlock screen. I've had success on 4.3. The module, for me, isn't working correctly on 4.4.2. You can try it yourself.
Vigz said:
If you are rooted, you can try an Xposed module called Samsung Multiple Widgets. This allows you to access the camera if you are on a PIN unlock screen. I've had success on 4.3. The module, for me, isn't working correctly on 4.4.2. You can try it yourself.
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Click to collapse
That module is broken and its dev has been saying "anytime" now for sometime. He is a busy guy! So, I don't expect that to change.
That was the reason why I was excited about KK update for TW, hoping that Samsung will finally do it. But alas, no luck!