To Lock or Not Lock Your Phone

[mexexpat]

We got our first Smart Phone a few months ago.

Earlier this week I was walking near our home in Mexico and happened upon a lit-up cell phone in some tall grass next to the sidewalk. If it wasn't "on" I am not sure I would have noticed it.

I took it home and looked at recent texts and they were to "Mom" so I texted "Mom." It was her son's phone; Mom was in Arizona and her son was on vacation here in Mexico with his family. Mom texted her granddaughter's phone and we connected and the phone was returned.

If the phone had been locked and needed a password or fingerprint to open, I would not have been able to contact the owner. OTOH, if turned on and picked up by an unscrupulous person with access to the owner's business/financial information, who knows what could have transpired.

So, what do you do....lock or not? We have been locking ours since we got it but now wondering if that is the best solution.

 

[RunningBum]

I put a msg on my lock screen with my email address, and my son's contact info. Keeps the phone secure but I'll get it back if someone good finds it, as long as they notice the message.

 

[gauss]

+1 Agreed, I don't lock my phones either. I do have all my passwords centrally stored on lastpass so that I can quickly change them if needed. And as I just mentioned on the other thread, I maintain a security freeze at all 3 credit bureaus.

-gauss

 

[Just_Steve]

Lock, Lock, Lock. To much stuff on phone, I'd rather buy a new phone than allow strangers, including the govt to look in my phone.

 

[mexexpat]

I put a msg on my lock screen with my email address, and my son's contact info. Keeps the phone secure but I'll get it back if someone good finds it, as long as they notice the message.

OK. Now I just have to figure out how to do that. I am still learning the ropes of Smart phones.

 

[RunningBum]

On my Moto Andoid phone, I got to Settings, Security, and hit the settings wheel on Screen Lock. In there is the Lock screen message. It may change between android versions and is almost certainly different for iPhones, but that should be the general place.

 

[Jerry1]

OK. Now I just have to figure out how to do that. I am still learning the ropes of Smart phones.

+1

Especially now that the phone works with a finger print. Before that, it was a pain, but still kept it locked.

 

[mexexpat]

I did it!!! Set up message on Lock Screen. Put it in both English and Spanish. Mil gracias!

 

[FrankiesGirl]

Locked but the lock screen has the option for emergency contact and it's got my husband's info (name/number).



I don't save passwords for banking/financial info, but my email is easily accessable on my phone, and since it would be super easy to do a "forgot password" reset with the email, there is no way I'd feel comfortable having the phone unlocked.

 

[street]

Don't lock and have had phones for 20 years.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

If it’s an iPhone be sure to set up the “find my phone” app. I’m not sure what the droid counterpart would be.

 

[Just_Steve]

If it’s an iPhone be sure to set up the “find my phone” app. I’m not sure what the droid counterpart would be.

Not only can you find your phone but if you can't recover then you have the option to brick the phone.

 

[audreyh1]

I put a msg on my lock screen with my email address, and my son's contact info. Keeps the phone secure but I'll get it back if someone good finds it, as long as they notice the message.

Exactly.

The son could have also found his phone via the app.

I have way too much sensitive info on my phone. I have to lock it.

I can brick it remotely if necessary.

 

[tmm99]

Locked but the lock screen has the option for emergency contact and it's got my husband's info (name/number).



I don't save passwords for banking/financial info, but my email is easily accessable on my phone, and since it would be super easy to do a "forgot password" reset with the email, there is no way I'd feel comfortable having the phone unlocked.

+1

 

[Dawg52]

I've never locked but this is probably a good idea. So set up as suggested. PIN number with email and emergency number on the lock screen. I have an android phone fwiw.

 

[97guns]

Yes I lock, if I lose it I’m not sure if the OP would find it, could be the cartel next time

 

[Cobra9777]

I keep mine locked with a lock screen message so good samaritans like the OP can contact me. My phone uses facial recognition to unlock, but I can also use the fingerprint sensor or a swipe pattern.

I use PassWordSafe. Lost a phone about 2 years ago in the Dominican Republic. I used the Google 'Find My Device' function for several days, but it never showed up. I lost it during a driving rainstorm near the beach, so pretty sure it was fried or washed out to sea. I changed all my important passwords in PassWordSafe.

 

[CaptTom]

If it’s an iPhone be sure to set up the “find my phone” app. I’m not sure what the droid counterpart would be.

Same thing, "Find my Device."

For the lock screen message, if that's still a thing, just put "ICE:" (In Case of Emergency) and the phone number you want them to contact. Or "If found call:"

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Plus, if you use the Google Pay app (which was Android Pay and something else before that) then you HAVE to lock the phone...no choice in the matter. But, that's not a bad thing, IMHO.

 

[CardsFan]

I put a msg on my lock screen with my email address, and my son's contact info. Keeps the phone secure but I'll get it back if someone good finds it, as long as they notice the message.

I never thought of that, and will implement soon.

I was trained by Megacorp to lock the phone, and still do. As said above, with finger print access it is fairly painless.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Genius, a message in the lock screen!

I have to lock mine. Loads of sensitive info, such as my early-retirement.com password, client names, and an email file with all my password hints in it. Sort of encrypted (just hints) but still.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Frankly, in this day and age I can't imagine anyone wouldn't have a passcode on their smartphone. Might as well leave the new Mercedes unlocked in the worst part of town.

 

[donheff]

I put a msg on my lock screen with my email address, and my son's contact info. Keeps the phone secure but I'll get it back if someone good finds it, as long as they notice the message.

I did essentially the same thing. I use a picture of DW and myself as the photo that comes up when the power button is depressed. I used a photo editor to add a message. The message that comes up is: "ICE call Barb on xxx-xxx-xxxx." ICE is an acronym for in case of emergency. I'm about as likely to be found unconscious next to my crashed bike as to lose the phone but either way a helpful Samaritan could find a contact.

 

[COcheesehead]

I lock. Would rather lose the phone, which is actually hard to do with the find my phone feature, than lose everything on my phone to a stranger.

 

[Alan]

I also lock my smart phone but have the contact number on the lock screen.