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Ask HN: How iPhone saves you from being forced to unlock with face ID?

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Ask HN: How iPhone saves you from being forced to unlock with face ID?

#1

Post by cosmorocket »

I wonder if there are means to save you from being forced to show your face to iPhone to unlock any of its services if bad guys catch you and tell you to do so?

My bank app, messenger apps, photos, browser and many more are Face ID enabled. I know I can turn this off, but I don't see any advise about this case where I can be forced to show my face in front of my iPhone to access my personal data.

If I compare it to entering a 6-digits password, where I can enter it erroneously by intention to make it blocked, I feel like it's the way to go with disabling Face ID.

Should it be advised in a more accessible way to broad public?

Re: Ask HN: How iPhone saves you from being forced to unlock with face ID?

#2

Post by evan_ »

It won't unlock if you don't look at the sensor- so you can either look away or close your eyes. This behavior can be enabled or disabled in Settings -> Face ID & Passcode -> "Require Attention for Face ID".

If you hold the sleep button and either volume button for a few seconds- until the power off/emergency call screen shows- it will disable Face ID and you'll need to enter your PIN.

Re: Ask HN: How iPhone saves you from being forced to unlock with face ID?

#6

Post by cosmorocket »

evan_ wrote: post #2

It won't unlock if you don't look at the sensor- so you can either look away or close your eyes. This behavior can be enabled or disabled in Settings -> Face ID & Passcode -> "Require Attention for Face ID". If you hold the sleep button and either volume button for a few seconds- until the power off/emergency call screen shows- it will disable Face ID and you'll need to enter your PIN.

Nice about holding both volume buttons and power one! However, you need to foresee the situation where you can get in trouble, right? If you just walk along the street in a big city, you probably should do this just before you leave your home?

Re: Ask HN: How iPhone saves you from being forced to unlock with face ID?

#7

Post by ru552 »

cosmorocket wrote: post #5
ru552 wrote: post #3

Just close your eyes. The Face ID on an apple device won't unlock if you have your eyes closed.

But what if the bad guys "just" ask you not to close your eyes persuasively enough?

Try it. Use your hand to hold your eye lids up and see what happens.

edit* if you're talking about other means of persuasion, it's the same risk factor as if you had a PIN to unlock it.

Re: Ask HN: How iPhone saves you from being forced to unlock with face ID?

#8

Post by evan_ »

cosmorocket wrote: post #6
evan_ wrote: post #2

It won't unlock if you don't look at the sensor- so you can either look away or close your eyes. This behavior can be enabled or disabled in Settings -> Face ID & Passcode -> "Require Attention for Face ID". If you hold the sleep button and either volume button for a few seconds- until the power off/emergency call screen shows- it will disable Face ID and you'll need to enter your PIN.

Nice about holding both volume buttons and power one! However, you need to foresee the situation where you can get in trouble, right? If you just walk along the street in a big city, you probably should do this just before you leave your home?

I think the idea would be you do that casually in your pocket before handing your phone over to a police officer or TSA or whatever.

if you're expecting to be mugged (!) or you're traveling through a hostile political environment you should probably just disable Face ID altogether.

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