Apologies If I can’t list specific 3rd Android OS here. I know you can’t on some reddit privacy subs due to some beef between devs I guess. I’ll take down if needed :)

Regardless, Ive been running GOS for a while and just found out theres a feature that allows you to use biometrics while still requiring your pin on the initial lock screen. One of my concerns with biometrics is that in some jurisdictions, law enforcement can force someone to open their phone through face ID or thumb print.

I’ve been using this feature that allows you to use biometrics but when you are on the lock screen, it still requires your pin. I thought this was really cool because it allows me to use biometrics only to unlock my apps while still adding an extra layer of protection to the unlocking of the device itself. Obviously slightly Inconvenient depending on your worries/threat level, but I just wanted to share this in case anyone else was interested and didnt know about it! Very cool!

EDIT: I just re-read my screenshot and it looks like fingerprint unlock is not correlated to using fingerprint for app unlocking. If this is the case then I’m not quite sure what the actual benefits are here. Please feel free to clarify!

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  • Telorand@reddthat.com
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    8 hours ago

    Nice! That’s pretty cool, and law enforcement is a reason I stopped using my fingerprint to unlock my phone. Having an extra layer of security, even if just a technicality in the case of being forced to use my print, is nice.

    • wintermute@discuss.tchncs.de
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      6 hours ago

      Can’t confirm it, but I remember reading that it also has a “duress” PIN that you can use if being forced to unlock, that erases the entire phone.

    • JackAttack@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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      7 hours ago

      Same here. Although I have no real reason with my threat level. But I could see how it could be relevant for some people. I also liked the idea because regular people could potentially use your thumb print when sleeping or something so this stops that Initial unlock.