7 ways to unlock your Android device

Android smartphones and tablets can be unlocked in a variety of ways.

If you are an Android user, you should already have chosen your favorite method to unlock it. We are all habitual creatures, but it's not a bad thing to look for other safer and more convenient ways.

Here are various ways to unlock your Android smartphone, but there may be some that you can't use on your Android device.

Choose an unlock method

With Pixel 2, you can easily change the unlocking method. Open the app list screen, tap Settings, scroll to Security and location information, then tap Screen lock in the Device security section.

However, do not press the gear icon to the right of the Screen Lock option. This is only used when you want to make special settings.

Option 1: Do not lock

Convenience: Astronomical convenience

Safety: lowest

Those who choose this method may have a very extreme life. You must be living in an environment where you never take your smartphone out of the house and no one else can touch it.

Of course, "unlocking" is the fastest way to log in to your device. And, of course, it's also the least secure. It's not protected in any way.

Option 2: Swipe

Convenience: Easy to check notifications. Quick access to your device.

Safety: Low

"Swipe" is different from "Unlocked" in that one screen is pinched by the time the device is unlocked. Yes, it's a lock screen (in this case, it may not be a lock).

Personally, I find swiping more convenient than "no lock". With "Unlocked", you have to swipe the screen from top to bottom to see the notifications, but with a swipe you can see the list of notifications just by pressing the power button on your smartphone.

Option 3: Pattern

Convenience: Depends on the speed with which you can trace with your finger

Safety: Harder to guess than other methods

Personally, I feel that "patterns" are safer than PINs. This is because it cannot be inferred in relation to your personal information.

With a PIN, a friend who knows you well may guess your birthday, your pet's birthday, or a number you might use, such as a simple number such as "1234" or "0000". I have.

The pattern is to trace the nine dots in a particular order, but who knows the shape of your favorite Tetris block?

Also, even if it is known, it is almost impossible to guess if it changes its shape a little. This means that complex patterns are much safer than PINs. However, the more secure the pattern, the harder it is to unlock it yourself.

Option 4: PIN

Convenience: Depends on the length of the PIN

Safety: Due to the difficulty of guessing the PIN

Oh, the PIN is reliable. A PIN is a reasonable security measure that balances security and convenience.

Entering a PIN is faster than tracing a pattern with your finger, and for that matter, you can log in much faster than entering a regular password with a mixture of alphabets and symbols. The security of your PIN depends on how lazy you are.

Of course, anyone can easily guess a PIN such as "1111" (even if you look over your shoulder, you can easily find it). On the other hand, a complex 7-digit PIN is much harder to guess (unless it's your phone number).

Option 5: Password

Convenience: not at all

Safety: Very high, depending on the number of digits

If you're a masochist, it may not be a pain to enter a complex combination of letters, numbers, and symbols every time you try to log in to your device.

It's much more secure than PINs and patterns, but it's also incredibly annoying. However, just because it's hard to enter a 25-digit password each time you're prompted, setting a short, simple password increases the risk of guessing.

As long as you're using a website from your desktop or laptop that doesn't log in often, rather than a smartphone that you use all the time, it's a good idea to use a long password or password manager.

Bonus option: Pixel Imprint

Convenience: There is no better way than this

Safety: Are there any great spies around you?

You can bet. You are sure to use your fingerprint to log in to your device. This option is not in Android's Device Security section, Screen Lock, but is independent as Pixel Imprint.

If your device has a fingerprint sensor (hopefully), you can unlock it by holding your smartphone in your hand and touching the right place with your finger.

On my Pixel 2, the big warning "Fingerprints can be less secure than strong PINs, patterns and passwords", but for now, a friend has fingerprinted from my laptop. I haven't had any incidents of collecting, reproducing my fingerprints with tape and glue, and trying to break into my smartphone.

Everyone is busy in their lives.

If you want to use your fingerprint for login, you need to add a backup authentication method (PIN, pattern, password). According to Google, Android requires a preliminary authentication method if:

Bonus option 2: Smart Lock

Convenience: Convenient unless you are wearing sunglasses all the time

Safety: High

Feeling like having fun?

If you want to set a screen lock anyway, why not tap Smart Lock in the Device Security section and try out different kinds of fun authentication techniques.

Smart Lock includes a [carry detection function] that detects when you are carrying (or driving) and unlocks the device, a [trusted place] that unlocks when you are in a specific place, and a device. It lists methods such as Recognized Faces to unlock by staring at you.

Each method changes the balance between convenience and safety.

For example, I would set my home as a "trustworthy place" but not an apartment, dormitory, or workplace (misplaced my smartphone in a shared space or go to the bathroom). Someone may touch your desk smartphone in the meantime).

It is also recommended to authenticate with your own face. Perhaps you don't have a malicious twin, and your friends won't mischief you with a mask that looks exactly like you.

Of course, you never wear sunglasses anytime, anywhere like Bono, right?

Image: Lifehacker US

Source: YouTube, Google

David Murphy --Lifehacker US