Best protection methods against phone being seized while unlocked/opened?

DeletedUser622

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.wesaphzt.privatelock/

newbie24689

I keep it locked and in a pocket when outside. I use a smart watch to answer/make calls, display my shopping list, and provide GPS map navigation information when walking.

Blastoidea

newbie24689

I think this may be the best answer short of “leave it at home”.

x19382

I meant more so if law enforcement seized it while open (think Ross Ulbricht)

edent

Google Play services will lock the phone if it detects sudden movement while unlocked. I've not had my phone snatched but it did trigger when I unexpectedly ran for a bus.

phone-company

edent is this working on a device with grapheneOS?

NetRunner88

phone-company
It will not

edent

phone-company yes. I run GrapheneOS on a Pixel 8 Pro. Google Play Services will autolock the phone when it thinks it is snatched.

Vincent96

Lock it.

gta3

Vincent96 how's he supposed to lock it when its snatched unexpectedly?

Did u even read the thread?

phone-company

edent thanks i will test it later 👍

Novaliss

edent This requires a logged in Google account right?

NetRunner88

No it will not, Google Play isn't system on Graphene

edent

NetRunner88 I am literally running GrapheneOS on a Pixel 8 Pro. I have Play installed. Here's a screenshot of it detecting sudden motion and locking my phone - https://mastodon.social/@Edent/113833891003222713

AcclaimSublevel19

edent I'm pretty sure you have to give Play Services special permission for that to work. I can't seem to find which one though.

andrej567

there are two apps, MotionLock and Private Lock on fdroid, that react to acceleration.. its worth a try if it works as expected.

NetRunner88

andrej567

"Requires device admin for locking."

That's a show stopper

andrej567

NetRunner88 Hm, yes.

What is the proper way to proceed - read the sources personally and build yourself? Just curious, I am not planning to use it, if my pixel 6 is snatched, it's higher power and i can buy a new one.

hello-gos

NetRunner88 the device admin message says that the app will have access to lock the screen. What are the dangers of allowing this? Will it get more privs than locking?

schklom

Using something like Tasker and giving it device permissions, you can define triggers to do whatever you wish e.g. lock the phone / reboot / factory reset.

For example, disconnecting from your smartwatch for e.g. 1 minute could lock the phone, for 1h could reboot it, for 1 day could factory reset it.

Note that device-admin is only really necessary for locking the phone. Rebooting and factory reset can be done by making Tasker dial special (MMI) phone numbers (c.f. https://www.wikihow.com/Android-Secret-Codes#Backup-and-Reset-Codes)

Novaliss

schklom something like Tasker and giving it device permissions, you can define triggers to do whatever you wish e.g. lock the phone / reboot / factory reset.

Please refrain from suggesting ways+means as risky as Tasker in the support forums. These posts will be read as instructions by precisely the users who get themselves into real danger from following advice like the above.