Pattern-Drawing + Fingerprints = Bad Security

[jrokwitdacapitals18]

Screen lock is a epic fail IMO . When r we gonna get other screen lock apps ?

[inportb]

can they perform a remote factory reset on the phone

Whoa, now that'd be scary. A better idea would be to install an SSH-like server on the phone. You'd then login yourself, snap some pictures of the thief and his buddies, then wipe the data.

[Student]

If They Got Your Phone They Would Still Have To Figure It Out And Then After A While It Would Lock And Ask For Your Email And Password (Can't Remember How Many Time Dam That's "Noobish") So You Really Have Nothing To Worry About.

[xyrcncp]

wow...seriously? weak.

That's what I thought. I just wipe my phone afterwards....

[robmpulse]

It depends on how you use your phone. If you unlock it just to check to see if you have any messages, then you may not have any other inputs on the screen to "wash out" your pattern.

I always try to wipe my phone across my shirt immediately after locking it (pressing the end call button) that usually wipes off any patterns or at least smudges it enough you can not guess it by just looking at it.

Also not using a simply 4 dot pattern will also help keep anyone from guessing your pattern by looking at the smears.

I love the unlock pattern as it's very easy and very quick to unlock. You just have to be smart about it.

It's no different then when you had to turn the dail on your locker lock so it does not sit in the same position on the last number it needed to unlock.

[dandv]

It depends on how you use your phone. If you unlock it just to check to see if you have any messages, then you may not have any other inputs on the screen to "wash out" your pattern.

Exactly.

I've filed an issue on Android Google Code's page. Please vote for it to have this fixed. What was wrong with the good old PIN scheme?

[paul roberts]

nobody has ever guessed my pattern.

[Iceberg]

There are alternate applications that change the lock screen, but all in all go grab Wave Secure.

You can lock the phone from a website, wipe the data, etc etc etc.

[InsightGoalie]

There are alternate applications that change the lock screen, but all in all go grab Wave Secure.

You can lock the phone from a website, wipe the data, etc etc etc.

You beat me to it... I'll also recommend Wave Secure. Free membership if you do it before the end of this month.

[NKevin]

Can developers write a replacement for the pattern screen lock? I've just started working with the SDK, and don't see any sample code, etc.

I'd like to write one that simulates the high-security door keypads, where each button is an LED and the positions are "Scrambled" each time the keypad is accessed, like this one:

This one is the Schlage Scramble Keypad, I found another vendor, with an animated GIF.