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Things the guys who stole my phone have texted me to try to get me to unlock it - Gothamist (gothamist.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/technology

202 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This is a very entertaining and educational article, giving insights into the methods used by thiefs to try and get access to your phone data.

I don't like Apple but it's great that their security is so good when it comes to this.

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[–] Nurse_Robot 45 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (59 children)

I guess just anecdotally. I have a pixel 7, I'm pretty confident I could factory reset the device without 3rd party authentication. Also, from the tech channels I follow, I think I could recover my data if I forgot the password. Android has always felt more "free"and customizable, and I love it for that. But I also think that freedom allows for more exploits. It's a trade off that's worth it to me, personally. But if I had illegal shit to hide on my phone, I'd probably do it on an apple device.

Edit: just checked. I can completely bypass all my locked down Google Pixel settings to factory reset my phone pretty easily if I press the right keys in the right order. It would be pretty easy to steal and resell my phone.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

The encryption on Android devices is pretty strong, as long as you use a good screen lock you should be fine. Yes they can reset you phone, but accessing your data is a whole other level.

If I had illegal shit on my phone, I wouldn't send it to apple servers by using an iPhone. They are the first who would comply with a surpena. I'd use GrapheneOS on a Pixel and use an obvious duress pin like 1234. If entered it wipes your encryption keys and avoids restoring your data.

And if it gets stolen, it is gone and I'd get a new one. This is the cost of having proper opsec.

Edit:

But I also think that freedom allows for more exploits.

This is a common misconception called security through obscurity

[–] barsquid 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Does it have to be a specific version Pixel? Just any Pixel?

[–] devnull406 3 points 5 months ago

Any of them still receiving security updates would be fine.

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