Android and iPhone features to fight phone thieves

[Jan]

Best smartphone features to combat thieves

Android smartphones and iPhones have several useful features that protect them against use and data exfiltration by thieves — including locking mechanisms and location tracking.

Many apps and services available on smartphones require sensitive or personal data and documents to function properly.

 

[Bliksis]

None of this will prevent your phone from being stolen

 

[Dups!]

None of this will prevent your phone from being stolen

Sadly, that is true.

I do like the direction Android 15 has taken on this issue, though.

 

[Blu82]

It is worth taking a look at the Android Microsoft launcher's hidden application feature. You can hide specific applications behind a specific gesture and pin code but still receive their notifications which is extremely useful for banking applications.

 

[Bliksis]

Sadly, that is true.

I do like the direction Android 15 has taken on this issue, though.

Yeah, but still, potentially losing a R25k+ phone...still a bummer.

A phone being locked, erased, useless and tracked will not deter a dom dief.

 

[Charlesjjm]

"While Apple does not offer fingerprint readers on its iPhones, its facial recognition feature, Face ID, is regarded as far more advanced and secure than the options on Android.
...
Apple says that its system is so meticulous that there is only a one-in-one million chance that another random person will have features similar enough for Face ID to fool them into thinking they are the verified user."

I know a certain someone that won't like this part.

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

"
Apple says that its system is so meticulous that there is only a one-in-one million chance that another random person will have features similar enough for Face ID to fool them into thinking they are the verified user."

How did they test this?

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

How did they test this?

Industry standards.

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But with 3D detection, the error rate according to Huawei is 1:1,000,000, this should not be so easy.

 

[chan0o]

Title had me thinking the new Android/iPhone incorporated the "Hezbollah pager lost and found" feature

 

[Lupus]

How did they test this?

They found a million people and on the millionth and 1 person it worked.

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

Industry standards.

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Similarities on fingerprints? Probably one in multiple billions? So the below, is hogwash.

"While Apple does not offer fingerprint readers on its iPhones, its facial recognition feature, Face ID, is regarded as far more advanced and secure than the options on Android.

 

[xrapidx]

Twice now I've been saved by location services
1. Late last year - accidentally put my phone on the roof of the car strapping the kids in- wife left for school drop off but my phone didn't make it, dropped about 2km from the house. I realised as I came into the house.

Some oomie picked it up - and I traced it to Builders Warehouse, had pretty much given up at that point as it started showing across the road - when suddenly my watch connected to it while I was standing next to a car - turns out it was in the car, waited for the owner to return who was stunned how fast I tracked it.

2. Last week Friday - phone fell out my pocket and onto my vehicle side step - dropped off about 5km from the house. Realised when I got to the destination. Raced back, almost beat up a vagrant as he was standing exactly where it was supposed to be (he kept saying he has it but its now his), he turned out to be innocent, the location jumped 200m... moved on - again almost gave up as ring was on silent - when suddenly my watch connected and I could make it ring. There it was in the middle of road, with cars flying by. (lost my drivers license though)

 

[neoprema]

I have always insured my iPhones and i keep them syncing everything possible even on 5G/LTE - every photo i take , every video, and backups at least once a day. if they wanna steal it they can have it, its activation locked to my iCloud account so i dont care anyway i'll claim for a new one.

Its my data i'm worried about mainly. The device is insurable.

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

Similarities on fingerprints? Probably one in multiple billions? So the below, is hogwash.

50k...

 

[PsyWulf]

Yeah, but still, potentially losing a R25k+ phone...still a bummer.

A phone being locked, erased, useless and tracked will not deter a dom dief.

It does feel ****ing good though that they can only make a few hundred from it,why give them the full retail value

 

[neoprema]

Similarities on fingerprints? Probably one in multiple billions? So the below, is hogwash.

FaceID uses a very advanced algorithm (not just vanilla image based) that's not just based on your face, it mapping contours, looking for liveness and can even figure out what you wear most often. It also learns how your looks change, and if not entirely happy that your look matches its expected data it will prompt for further authentication via your pin, which it does rarely anyway as it adapts to your facial changes almost magically.

Comparing FaceID to what Android has is like comparing a Lamborgini Gallardo to a Toyota Corolla.

 

[Swa]

FaceID uses a very advanced algorithm (not just vanilla image based) that's not just based on your face, it mapping contours, looking for liveness and can even figure out what you wear most often. It also learns how your looks change, and if not entirely happy that your look matches its expected data it will prompt for further authentication via your pin, which it does rarely anyway as it adapts to your facial changes almost magically.

Comparing FaceID to what Android has is like comparing a Lamborgini Gallardo to a Toyota Corolla.

But it's still less secure than fingerprints?

 

[Lupus]

But it's still less secure than fingerprints?

Not according to Apple

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

But it's still less secure than fingerprints?

How so?

the error rate according to Huawei is 1:1,000,000, this should not be so easy.

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https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/26/google-pixel-6a-fingerprint-issue-my-friend-unlocked-my-phone.html

Google says the phone was tested to meet the standard of an unverified fingerprint unlocking with a probability of one in 50,000.

1:1,000,000 > 1:50,000

 

[Swa]

How so?

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/26/google-pixel-6a-fingerprint-issue-my-friend-unlocked-my-phone.html

1:1,000,000 > 1:50,000

I think that's a bit conservative while Apple is being too ambitious. If it was 50,000 I can commit any crime and get off.