Lock the screen so a lost phone stays just a lost phone
Set a screen lock so a stranger who finds your phone cannot open it.
Your phone is not really a phone. It is your mail, your bank, your photos, and your address book in one pocket-sized box.
If it slides out of your pocket in a taxi and it is unlocked, whoever picks it up can read all of that. If it is locked, they mostly have a shiny rectangle they cannot use.
A screen lock is a short code, a fingerprint, or your face. Modern phones ask for it in a second, and most days you will barely notice it.
There is a second half to this: auto-lock. That is how long the phone waits before locking itself when you set it down. One or two minutes is plenty.
Key points
- A screen lock turns a lost phone into just a lost phone.
- Passcode, fingerprint, or face all count.
- Auto-lock should be one or two minutes, not never.
- Avoid codes tied to your birthday or address.
- Leave the lock on all the time, including at home.
What to remember
- The real settings on your phone look very close to this.
- Safety that runs by itself beats safety you have to remember.
- Write the code on paper at home if you need to. Paper in a drawer is safe.
Try this
Open Settings on your phone this afternoon, find Security, and check that a passcode is required and auto-lock is two minutes or less.
Practice: Lock the screen so a lost phone stays just a lost phone. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.