8 Practical Privacy Tips for Your Android Phone - The New York Times

8 Practical Privacy Tips for Your Android Phone - The New York Times


8 Practical Privacy Tips for Your Android Phone - The New York Times

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 07:45 AM PST

A screenshot of the Passcode settings screen on Android.

Why: If you lose your phone, you don't want a stranger going through its contents, whether that consists of sensitive emails from work, mobile banking apps, or personal messages and photos.

What to do: Determining which of the various options to use for unlocking your phone is a complicated decision and depends on your circumstances. Most people can use biometric locks (a fingerprint or face scan) to unlock their phones, but if you are in a circumstance where someone may try to unlock your phone with your fingerprint, or if you have sensitive data on your phone that you don't want police to access, consider disabling that feature and using only a passcode. In 2019, a judge in Northern California ruled that law enforcement can't force you to unlock your phone with your face or fingerprint, but that same year a judge in Illinois ruled the opposite. Until this issue is resolved, it's best to stick with a passcode in light of these scenarios. Even without your phone, law enforcement can gain access to some information stored online through third parties, so be mindful of what you do with your data.

If you haven't set a passcode on your phone, it's time to set one up. Go to Settings > Security > Screen Lock.

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