Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days • Hacker News Board

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#181

Post by dominojab » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 9:46 PM UTC

dsr_ wrote: post #44

gcanyon wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For this use case there needs to be a reasonably quick way to erase/permanently lock a phone. Or maybe it needs to be something that is both 1. Less severe than that 2. Secure against personal inducements 3. More automatic. So maybe something like a paired app with a friend/someone who is beyond the reach of the authorities, and if the phone isn't unlocked in a given definable period (or it can be triggered immediate…

GrapheneOS offers hardening before first unlock, and an optional distress code that wipes the storage rather than unlocking. Currently only available for Pixel phones, 6 and later. Offers many other security-related features.

[dead]

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#182

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 9:50 PM UTC

xboxnolifes wrote: post #147

Krasnol wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a person on this planet where an unexpected hospital visit could not happen?

Wrong question. It's not about the chance of having a wipe. But if the having the wipe is worth happening on some false positives.

[deleted]

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#183

Post by mvdtnz » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 9:53 PM UTC

nradov wrote: post #168

mh- wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't had that happen on iOS, but I have woken up in the night needing my flashlight just to find my phone applying a lengthy update. I have it set to download automatically and install manually now, I believe.

You don't keep a real flashlight next to your bed?

That's a weird thing to ask.

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#184

Post by 1832 » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 9:55 PM UTC

gumbojuice wrote: post #3

It's not great news for my old phone used for wifi at our guesthouse (let's a few security cams and our smart lock get online)

Also bad news for my megayacht (use's an old android phone to monitor location and detect movement)

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#185

Post by hnburnsy » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 9:57 PM UTC

So the phone will reboot it self, but...

1) There is no developer accessible API to allow app developers to create an app to allow me to script power options (example, as an end user I want to script a restart or shut down my phone nightly).

2) Asking Google Assistant will not restart or shut down the phone.

3) Apple and Android have made it harder to shut down the phone, requiring double key press kung fu to even bring up the power menu.

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#186

Post by rtpg » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 10:03 PM UTC

rvnx wrote: post #50

greatgib wrote: post #34

It's good to have an option like that, even being a default, but there definitively need a switch to disable that if it is your own will. It's not even necessarily that good enough against cops, because in a lot of shitty countries, even some pretending to be democratics, not disclosing or at least inputting your password might be a crime severely punished. If I'm not wrong, there was a guy that had to stay years in…

Interestingly, it could also be seen the other way around; it's a potential way for Google to force deployments of system updates (potentially at the request of law enforcement). With an automatic reboot, then the update can automatically be applied without user action.

At least on iOS an update requires an explicit unlock, is this not the case on Android?

There could be secret pathways but I don’t know them.

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#187

Post by out-of-ideas » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 10:06 PM UTC

SXX wrote: post #129

crazysim wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Issue is, you kinda have a agent 007, sort of setup with the advanced data protection thing. I think you need an appropriate solution.

But all I want is "Please dont reboot my phone! Very please!" setting in options.

might have to resort to the homer j drinking bird to tap the screen (for reference https://youtu.be/R_rF4kcqLkI?t=174 )

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#188

Post by SXX » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 10:07 PM UTC

saagarjha wrote: post #175

SXX wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is super annoying on newer iOS for device that I use purely for development. Before it was possible just keep iPhone unlocked indefenitely, but now it reboots and boom I have to use TouchID again. This is again Apple being Apple making things harder without option to disable it even when development mode is on. Has anyone found a way to bypass it?

Keep an app running?

Might be I did something wrong, but even with YouTube video running via iPhone Mirroring device still went to reboot.

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#189

Post by saagarjha » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 10:19 PM UTC

SXX wrote: post #188

saagarjha wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep an app running?

Might be I did something wrong, but even with YouTube video running via iPhone Mirroring device still went to reboot.

Hmm, yeah that seems wrong. I don't get reboots on devices I use frequently; I think it is only supposed to kick in when the device is not in use for a long time (it is meant to stop police who have a locked device they will try to brute force into).

Re: Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for three days

#190

Post by beeflet » Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 10:21 PM UTC

fguerraz wrote: post #54

How about instead of patching up our societies with technology we vote for the right people / laws for once?

That plan, if implemented, may last as short as 1 election cycle. All political progress will inevitably be undone.

In contrast, technological change will forever alter the balance of power. What we should be asking is "Instead of patching society with political solutions, how about we solve fundamental problems permanently with technology?".