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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[โ€“] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

At US border, if you refuse to unlock your phone you are immediately put into custody. All this bullshit is suprisingly ineffective with a gun pointed at your head.

[โ€“] hornywarthogfart@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

GrapheneOS has a panic pin you can setup that when entered fully wipes the phone. You lose whatever was on it but that is the best "defense" I have seen so far.

Edit: not sure how thorough the wipe is but it would likely prevent access except through forensics.