FAQ: Should I Lock My Phone?

Pretty much all smartphones have the capability of using a passcode or other form of lock so that no one else can tamper with the device. With nothing more than a single tap of the power/sleep button, you can secure your device so that, theoretically, no one else can access your precious information without your passcode. But, is locking your phone a good idea? I get asked this question with startling frequency by my older relatives who just don’t get the whole ‘locking’ thing. I, personally, found it a little surprising as I have locked my devices for years. Of course, locking your device while making it a bit more secure, does have some downsides and definitely isn’t going to be for everyone. Here are some of the arguments for (and against) setting up a lock on your phone to help you decide if you need to enable a lock or not.

Reasons to lock your device

Privacy – Everyone has a nosy friend or relative, so sometimes it’s nice to know that no one else will be able to use your phone without your permission. After all, you keep that phone on you constantly and it’s really a little window into your world.

Prevent unwanted apps/calls – Pocket dials are the bane of every phone owner’s existence, but putting a lock on your device will pretty much stop all chances of your smartphone calling someone or launching a battery-draining app from your pocket.

Security – Your smartphone probably has a lot of personal information on it including saved passwords and social media accounts, so keeping it locked keeps all of those apps and sites safer.

Financial information – If you do any shopping or banking on your device, then you ought to lock it so no one else can get at that information. You wouldn’t leave your wallet just lying around, would you? Why would you leave the same information unsecured on your phone?

Reasons to not lock your device

It can be inconvenient – Some people don’t lock their devices simply because it can be a hassle to enter a passcode every time you touch your device. Most phones lock automatically when they go to sleep, so if you set a lock, then you’ll be entering it every time you need to do anything on the phone.

It’s a hassle if you forget it – If you are prone to forgetting things, then locking might not be a good idea. If you set up a lock and forget what it is, getting into the phone can be a hassle.

It isn’t very secure – A lot of times, your fingers will leave smears and prints on the phone so if you have a swiping or pin passcode, potential hackers can just look at the screen. Also, if the person knows you chances are they’ll be able to figure it out.

It might not be necessary – If you don’t do any social media, banking or anything like that on your device, it might not be necessary to hassle with a lock at all. There are also apps which can require passcodes for specific apps instead of the entire device, which can be more convenient.

It’s a child’s phone – Children are notorious for forgetting things, so if your child insists on a passcode, at the very least you’ll want to make sure they tell you and you write it down.

Additional thoughts

I am sure there are dozens of other arguments for both sides and in the end it really depends on the person and your situation. Just don’t fall into the trap that locking your phone doesn’t automatically means that you have something to hide. I keep my phone locked when I’m not at home but if you were to go through it all you’d find would be games, downloaded ring tones and pictures of my cat. If you wanna see those things, just ask. In the end, it’s all about what your comfortable with. So, do you lock your device?]]>