this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2026
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Explain Like I'm Five

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Hello everyone, I'm hoping to gain some insight regarding a privacy concern. I'm always mindful of the possibility that my biometric fingerprint, which I use regularly, could be accessed by someone if I were compelled to use it. For context, I'm not a criminal or particularly tech-savvy, and I'm relatively new to the world of privacy and FOSS applications. I currently use a Samsung phone. I've found that enabling Lockdown mode at night without needing to restart my device prevents anyone from accessing my phone while I sleep. However, my concern stems from a different scenario. Recently, while shopping, I experienced a sudden medical episode and lost consciousness for about ten minutes. During that time, shopkeepers assisted me. I'm worried that in such a vulnerable state, if someone were to misuse my biometric data, they could gain access to all my passwords and personal information, which feels unsafe. While I do value the convenience of biometrics, I'm seeking alternative solutions. Is there a way to prevent my phone from being opened using my fingerprint, even in urgent situations, without completely disabling biometric authentication? Thanks in advance.

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[–] Redacted@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 day ago

At least in the us afaik the pin lock is the only method police cant get passed easily (they likely still can, but still) if you use your face or your finger to unlock your phone they can and will just hold you down and get into your phone.