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Securing a travel iPhone

blog.filippo.io

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Re: Securing a travel iPhone

#2
I thought I once read that, since Touch ID relies on fingerprints, a US court order can compel you to provide those, thus forcing you to unlock an iPhone in question.

This, as opposed to a passcode-only configuration, which a court order cannot compel you to give (I believe since this would fall in the category of 'forcing you to testify against yourself').

If that is indeed the case, I imagine it would make better sense to leave Touch ID disabled, unlike what this article suggests.

Re: Securing a travel iPhone

#3

I thought I once read that, since Touch ID relies on fingerprints, a US court order can compel you to provide those, thus forcing you to unlock an iPhone in question. This, as opposed to a passcode-only configuration, which a court order cannot compel you to give (I believe since this would fall in the category of 'forcing you to testify against yourself'). If that is indeed the case, I imagine it would make better s…

Yeah, fuck Touch ID. In my opinion, a computer security feature that works when you are unconscious is not a computer security feature.

Re: Securing a travel iPhone

#4

I thought I once read that, since Touch ID relies on fingerprints, a US court order can compel you to provide those, thus forcing you to unlock an iPhone in question. This, as opposed to a passcode-only configuration, which a court order cannot compel you to give (I believe since this would fall in the category of 'forcing you to testify against yourself'). If that is indeed the case, I imagine it would make better s…

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/10/31/judge-rules-suspect-c...

Court decision from 2014.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/05/iphone...

First known application since then.

Re: Securing a travel iPhone

#5

I thought I once read that, since Touch ID relies on fingerprints, a US court order can compel you to provide those, thus forcing you to unlock an iPhone in question. This, as opposed to a passcode-only configuration, which a court order cannot compel you to give (I believe since this would fall in the category of 'forcing you to testify against yourself'). If that is indeed the case, I imagine it would make better s…

I leave it enabled, then power the phone off before interacting with The Man, like when going through customs. Touch ID is disabled on a fresh boot until you enter your passcode, so that basically turns it off temporarily. This is briefly mentioned in the article.

Another thing you could do is set it up with an unusual finger, like the middle-finger of your non-dominant hand. After five failed tries, Touch ID is disabled until you enter your passcode, so you can use the wrong finger five times when they ask you, and disable it that way. Say you're sweating too much or something (a common cause for real Touch ID failures for me).

It all depends on just how paranoid you are and what you want to defend against.

Re: Securing a travel iPhone

#7
post #5

I thought I once read that, since Touch ID relies on fingerprints, a US court order can compel you to provide those, thus forcing you to unlock an iPhone in question. This, as opposed to a passcode-only configuration, which a court order cannot compel you to give (I believe since this would fall in the category of 'forcing you to testify against yourself'). If that is indeed the case, I imagine it would make better s…

I leave it enabled, then power the phone off before interacting with The Man, like when going through customs. Touch ID is disabled on a fresh boot until you enter your passcode, so that basically turns it off temporarily. This is briefly mentioned in the article. Another thing you could do is set it up with an unusual finger, like the middle-finger of your non-dominant hand. After five failed tries, Touch ID is disa…

Having got sick of damp fingers blocking Touch ID I added my nose as one of the options. No more lockout during dish washing.

Re: Securing a travel iPhone

#8
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I leave it enabled, then power the phone off before interacting with The Man, like when going through customs. Touch ID is disabled on a fresh boot until you enter your passcode, so that basically turns it off temporarily. This is briefly mentioned in the article. Another thing you could do is set it up with an unusual finger, like the middle-finger of your non-dominant hand. After five failed tries, Touch ID is disa…

Having got sick of damp fingers blocking Touch ID I added my nose as one of the options. No more lockout during dish washing.

This works? Genius!

Re: Securing a travel iPhone

#9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I leave it enabled, then power the phone off before interacting with The Man, like when going through customs. Touch ID is disabled on a fresh boot until you enter your passcode, so that basically turns it off temporarily. This is briefly mentioned in the article. Another thing you could do is set it up with an unusual finger, like the middle-finger of your non-dominant hand. After five failed tries, Touch ID is disa…

Having got sick of damp fingers blocking Touch ID I added my nose as one of the options. No more lockout during dish washing.

Are noses sufficiently different from one another that someone else's nose won't be able to unlock your device?
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