Stop Using Face ID

https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/why-you-should-stop-using-face-id-right-now?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=B

27•speckx•1h ago

Comments

runjake•48m ago

If you have Face ID enabled, you can put your iPhone in hard-lock mode and require a passcode by pressing and holding the side (aka power) button and either of the volume buttons for a couple seconds.

It will pop up an emergency screen, but just tap the power button once more to cancel it.

I'm fortunate to be in a position where I don't attract negative attention from law enforcement, but this is still muscle memory to me.

Edit: You can also do the same thing by quickly pressing the side button alone five times.

Edit 2: mcc1ane beat me while I was editing!

mcc1ane•46m ago

or 5 times the lock (power) button only

tessela•35m ago

… or you can just close your eyes, and move your face around. The device will not unlock if you're not looking at it and after 3 or 4 tries will ask for the password.

telotortium•31m ago

Both of these methods have an undesirable side effect for me, which is that it immediately pops up the passcode dialog saying that a passcode is required to activate Face ID. Depending on the situation, that could be construed as an attempt to actively interfere with a police investigation, which could bring consequences of its own. It would be better if it silently dropped you to the normal lock screen, and only showed the passcode dialog when you attempt to unlock the phone normally.

Another thing I've often wished for with kids is a mode that removes all notifications and widgets from the lock screen - the only things you should be able to do is to unlock the phone and emergency calls. You can remove most notifications with the right Focus, but not notifications to control playing music/video apps, for example, nor any other widgets you happen to put on your lock screen.

reflexe•22m ago

Or even better: turn off the device. Cracking cold/BFU (before first unlock) devices is not supported in many cases by tools like Cellebrite [1].

[1] https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/updated-cellebrite-iphon... : support matrix from 2024, in many cases only AFU (after first unlock) is supported.

autoexec•35m ago

Stop using biometrics generally.

MattDamonSpace•18m ago

Too useful

10729287•13m ago

And also more secure unfortunately, when you need to unlock your phone in public for example.

autoexec•4m ago

The same public where you're constantly leaving your finger prints, where your face is being constantly recorded and scanned into multiple facial recognition systems, where your DNA is being constantly shed? When everything needed to unlock your phone can be taken off of your corpse you're not really "secure".

gruez•11m ago

No, because for most people, the alternative to "no biometrics" isn't "secure password/pin", it's a weak password (eg. 1234 or the S pattern that half the people with a pattern lock uses) because the ergonomics of a secure password are terrible.

nathanaldensr•3m ago

This is the advice I give to everyone who comes to me for digital security advice. I let them know that building habits of using lengthy PINs (my own personal PIN is far more than four or six digits) takes some time to get used to but makes them immune to device seizure and court-ordered biometric unlock (this is specific to US law).

samename•7m ago

How many times do you unlock your phone a day? For some people it’s over 100+ times a day Face ID is convenient, useful and secure. The alternative? People will use short numeric passcodes that are easy to bypass with devices like Cellulite.

Instead, we should push for laws and protections around our private devices. The 4th Amendment actually protects our personal effects and imo this biometric loophole is illegal.

As the other commenter pointed out, in the meantime, practice how to quickly lock your phone - and better yet, when in dangerous situations, leave it behind or turn it off.

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