Pattern lock is a total waste of time

[peterb23]

Don't know if anyone has had the misfortune to get locked out of their hero by entering the incorrect pattern lock but it happened to me today. Not sure how as the phone was in my pocket but somehow the pettrn was entered wrong multiple times and the pattern lock security kicked in.

The first shock was that my Gmail username / password would not unlock the phone and that I was facing a factory reset in order to get access.

Apparently this is a known bug but it is not seen as critical by Google.

links: - Issue 3006 - android - Google credentials don't unlock phone after failing too many pattern attempts - Project Hosting on Google Code
Issue 4784 - android - Google credentials don't unlock phone after failing too many pattern attempts - Project Hosting on Google Code

Losing access to the phone is a massive pain but the real shocker to me was just how easy it was to circumnavigate the security on the phone and get access to everything.

If someone nicks your phone and you're expecting the screen pattern to protect you then you're in for a shock. Here's how easy it is for someone to get past it.

1: try random patterns until the phone locks
2: reboot the phone
3: call the mobile from another phone
4: answer the call
5: hang up from the other home while hammering the "home" button
6: er, that's it...security passed and your phone data wide open

(this method is taken from the posts on the google forum)

Not what I'd call exactly secure

 

[Sub101]

1: try random patterns until the phone locks
2: reboot the phone
3: call the mobile from another phone
4: answer the call
5: hang up from the other home while hammering the "home" button
6: er, that's it...security passed and your phone data wide open

(this method is taken from the posts on the google forum)

Not what I'd call exactly secure

If you actually try any of these yourself then youll find they really dont work....

But your point is valid, the issue of having to factory reset needs to be resolved.

When I locked my phone I was able to reset with my normal gmail password though....

 

[Barbara]

Don't know if anyone has had the misfortune to get locked out of their hero by entering the incorrect pattern lock but it happened to me today. Not sure how as the phone was in my pocket but somehow the pettrn was entered wrong multiple times and the pattern lock security kicked in.

The first shock was that my Gmail username / password would not unlock the phone and that I was facing a factory reset in order to get access.

Apparently this is a known bug but it is not seen as critical by Google.

links: - Issue 3006 - android - Google credentials don't unlock phone after failing too many pattern attempts - Project Hosting on Google Code
Issue 4784 - android - Google credentials don't unlock phone after failing too many pattern attempts - Project Hosting on Google Code

Losing access to the phone is a massive pain but the real shocker to me was just how easy it was to circumnavigate the security on the phone and get access to everything.

If someone nicks your phone and you're expecting the screen pattern to protect you then you're in for a shock. Here's how easy it is for someone to get past it.

1: try random patterns until the phone locks
2: reboot the phone
3: call the mobile from another phone
4: answer the call
5: hang up from the other home while hammering the "home" button
6: er, that's it...security passed and your phone data wide open

(this method is taken from the posts on the google forum)

Not what I'd call exactly secure

That's assuming that someone who steals your phone knows the phone number in order to have someone call the phone. I wouldn't say that it is equivalent to Fort Knox but it's still a gate that someone has to try to find the key before they can get past it.

 

[alostpacket]

I just wish it wouldn't keep trying to unlock and call emergency numbers from my pocket. I mean seriously, what kinda party is going on in my pocket that it needs emergency help? Nervermind, don't answer that.

 

[peterb23]

If you actually try any of these yourself then youll find they really dont work....

But your point is valid, the issue of having to factory reset needs to be resolved.

When I locked my phone I was able to reset with my normal gmail password though....

Worked no problem for me on a t-mobile htc hero / g2 touch. Bypassed the lock straight away.

 

[peterb23]

That's assuming that someone who steals your phone knows the phone number in order to have someone call the phone. I wouldn't say that it is equivalent to Fort Knox but it's still a gate that someone has to try to find the key before they can get past it.

That's true.

But I suppose they could stick the sim in another phone and dial themselves - think I'd better start using the sim PIN as well.