![]() Pixel phones support PIN codes as long as 17 digits. By default, Android only asks for a four-digit PIN, but you can make that much longer. Next, you can strengthen your phone’s protection. This might include social security numbers, passport images, or other forms of ID, as these criminals can do even more damage if they have easy access to that information. It also wouldn’t be a bad practice to avoid storing sensitive data on your device, such as in notes apps or your photo library. So even if it’s not all that likely to happen on Android, what can you do to protect your phone, and your account?įor one, You can also stick to using biometrics – like your fingerprint – to avoid snooping eyes from seeing your PIN in the first place. Our sign-in and account-recovery policies try to strike a balance between allowing legitimate users to retain access to their accounts in real-world scenarios and keeping the bad actors out. In a statement to WSJ, a Google spokesperson said: ![]() These organized crime groups are targeting iPhone users, it seems for the higher resale value of the phones.Īs you can hear in the video, the detective in Minn. Google’s process, notably, first prompts you to input your current password first, but using the “forgot password” option allows the PIN to be used instead. Google permits this as the password change request is coming from a device that “is yours,” but there’s no further verification beyond your PIN. Mishaal Rahman highlighted how this works on Twitter, with an option in Google account settings to use your Android phone’s screen lock to change the account password. Related: Apple should invest in anti-theft security features for iPhone and iPadįrighteningly, this can also happen on Android phones, as a PIN is all that’s needed to change your Google account password. And further, some of these criminals enabled Apple’s Recovery Key feature, which effectively locks users out of their account without the stolen iPhone. WSJ’s Joanna Stern used the example of “the fog of a late-night bar scene full of young people, where predators befriend their victims and maneuver them into revealing their passcodes” as one scenario where this could happen. How? On iOS, users are able to use their phone’s PIN to change the password to their Apple ID, and getting a PIN is as easy as watching the phone’s owner input the number, or tricking the phone’s owner into sharing their PIN. Using the passcode (PIN) on the iPhone, the criminal who stole it was able to change the account passwords and access other accounts, all without knowing the owner’s passwords. These weren’t cases of advanced hacks, but rather a simple security loophole. Last week’s WSJ report cited experiences of iPhone owners who had their iPhones stolen, only to later see their Apple account compromised, the password changed, and further accounts – including bank accounts – accessed as well. Your Google account could be compromised if a criminal stole your Android phone and its PIN, but there are ways to protect yourself.ĩto5Google has a rebooted newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and other tidbits. But that’s not something exclusive to iOS. ![]() A report from The Wall Street Journal last week sounded the alarm on an obvious, but frightening issue on iPhone that would allow a criminal to take over your Apple account.
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