Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
PIN
- A pin number is a number passed password which consists of at least 4 digits and
less than 17 on Android. It's easier to guess than a full fledged password since there are
only 10 possible values for each digit.
Password
- A password involves a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters
to keep people out. The only problem with this option is that inputting a good password
may mean typing 10 or more characters every time you take your phone out. It can become
a bit of a pain depending on how often that is.
NFC Unlock -
It stands for near-field communication unlock and typically involves car-
rying around a tiny shirt or sleeve clip that can communicate with your phone. In order to
unlock your phone, you would click the button on that clip and your phone unlocks once it
receives the signal. While this definitely keeps anyone out who doesn't have that clip with
them, it also means you'll have a painful experience should you lose it or if someone man-
ages to take both the clip and the phone.
Face Unlock
- With this option, your Android device scans your face and compares it to
the original face to make a match and unlock your phone. While it may be quick and prom-
ises to only store the facial data on the phone, it's also considered to not be as secure as
a pattern, PIN, or Password since it's an imperfect technology that may unlock for similar
faces that aren't yours.
