Help Nexus 4 difference between pin password and pattern?

[mm43]

I want to set up a 4 digit number for my lock screen on my nexus 4.
But am not sure how to do it.
How do I start?
Which one is it Pin, Pass code or Pattern?

Plus do I drag across the numbers or tap?
Don't want to get locked out.

 

[Fuzzy13]

I want to set up a 4 digit number for my lock screen on my nexus 4.
But am not sure how to do it.
How do I start?
Which one is it Pin, Pass code or Pattern?

Plus do I drag across the numbers or tap?
Don't want to get locked out.

You have to confirm anything you do so unless you have an extremely short memory span, you'll know what you entered.

Pass code is pin. Pattern is pattern. Drag the points for pattern and draw out your pattern. Youll be asked to confirm it.

 

[Skyroket]

Pattern combination not secured as pin codes. My friend was able to unlock my phone by holding it at the right angle to see the finger prints. He was just showing me how unsecured pattern combinations are.

How many times you unlock the phone just to see something and then locking it down with out touching the screen?

 

[Fuzzy13]

Pattern combination not secured as pin codes. My friend was able to unlock my phone by holding it at the right angle to see the finger prints. He was just showing me how unsecured pattern combinations are.

How many times you unlock the phone just to see something and then locking it down with out touching the screen?

Android Pattern-Lock Security Outsmarts FBI Security Team

 

[czechplastik]

Android Pattern-Lock Security Outsmarts FBI Security Team

This. Fascinating stuff.

 

[Fuzzy13]

This. Fascinating stuff.

Aint it though. Nearly fell out when I read that originally. 0_O

 

[chrlswltrs]

Pattern combination not secured as pin codes. My friend was able to unlock my phone by holding it at the right angle to see the finger prints. He was just showing me how unsecured pattern combinations are.

How many times you unlock the phone just to see something and then locking it down with out touching the screen?

Just keep your screen really dirty so there are fingerprints everywhere

 

[mm43]

You have to confirm anything you do so unless you have an extremely short memory span, you'll know what you entered.

Pass code is pin. Pattern is pattern. Drag the points for pattern and draw out your pattern. Youll be asked to confirm it.

Sorry am an oldie so still confused
Ok say I wanted the drag my finger across from 1 to 2 to 3 to 6 is that pattern or pin?
Which is the one I would tap also?

 

[Hook]

Sorry am an oldie so still confused
Ok say I wanted the drag my finger across from 1 to 2 to 3 to 6 is that pattern or pin?
Which is the one I would tap also?

I haven't set this up, but I believe you won't see numbers if you ask to use a pattern, just nodes to trace between. If you ask for a pin, you get numbers and you tap them, you don't drag.

I think the password option allows more complex alphanumeric combinations.

 

[sdrawkcab25]

Sorry am an oldie so still confused
Ok say I wanted the drag my finger across from 1 to 2 to 3 to 6 is that pattern or pin?
Which is the one I would tap also?

Pattern is connecting dots (no numbers); pin is a 4 digit pin, you press each number once, just like an ATM machine. Pass code is a word/number password, like you would enter to get into a desktop PC or what you use to login to your email.

 

[jhawkkw]

I haven't set this up, but I believe you won't see numbers if you ask to use a pattern, just nodes to trace between. If you ask for a pin, you get numbers and you tap them, you don't drag.

This is correct. You will get a 3x3 grid with no numbers of which you slide your finger from node to node to create a pattern. You are not allowed to use the same node twice though.

 

[mm43]

You are not allowed to use the same node twice though.

Twice?

 

[mm43]

Pattern is connecting dots (no numbers); pin is a 4 digit pin, you press each number once, just like an ATM machine. Pass code is a word/number password, like you would enter to get into a desktop PC or what you use to login to your email.

Thank you Now why can't there be FAQs for these things somewhere lol
Not everybody is technically minded Though I do try

 

[sdrawkcab25]

Thank you Now why can't there be FAQs for these things somewhere lol
Not everybody is technically minded Though I do try

An Overview of Android Lock Screen Security Options [Beginners' Guide] – Droid Life a beginners guide

http://www.droid-life.com/tag/android-beginners-guide/

 

[mm43]

An Overview of Android Lock Screen Security Options [Beginners' Guide]

 

[SiempreTuna]

My PIN is actually 5 digit, so 10x more 'secure' than a 4 digit PIN.

Even so, I don't think that you're ever 'locked out' when you get the PIN wrong, so anyone patient enough to enter up to 100,000 numbers is going to get in.

If you're really concerned about security, an 8 letter password would be a lot more secure - like around 16 billion times more secure*

As everyone else has noted, unless you're religious about cleaning (or dirtying) your screen, the pattern is often no more than a minor inconvience and at best would require some 10,000 attempts - actually less since you can't have double 'digits' .. can't be arsed to do the math.


* assuming you can include numbers, other characters and it's case sensitive

 

[mm43]

My PIN is actually 5 digit, so 10x more 'secure' than a 4 digit PIN.

Even so, I don't think that you're ever 'locked out' when you get the PIN wrong, so anyone patient enough to enter up to 100,000 numbers is going to get in.

If you're really concerned about security, an 8 letter password would be a lot more secure - like around 16 billion times more secure*

As everyone else has noted, unless you're religious about cleaning (or dirtying) your screen, the pattern is often no more than a minor inconvience and at best would require some 10,000 attempts - actually less since you can't have double 'digits' .. can't be arsed to do the math.


* assuming you can include numbers, other characters and it's case sensitive

What happens if you are locked out? Can you enter your gmail password or anything?

 

[Fuzzy13]

What happens if you are locked out? Can you enter your gmail password or anything?

Don't get locked out

 

[jhawkkw]

What happens if you are locked out? Can you enter your gmail password or anything?

Yeah, generally after a number of failed attempts they will prompt you for Gmail info. There are other ways of getting in as well though. So even an amazing password isn't full proof.

 

[SiempreTuna]

Did not know that ..

I'm surprised I haven't been caught out, given how dyslexic my fingers are ..