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In case anyone is wondering what Lockdown Mode on Apple Devices does (it's not just disabling biometrics): https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105120
this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2026
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Privacy
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Pho es need a Burndown mode by default. Enable it, and it will continue to operate normally for 6 hours or so, during which time you can disable Burndown. But if you don't, it automatically wipes your data.
No doubt it would be illegal and no manuf would ever actually do it, because it could be construed as destroying evidence. But an automatic Burndown would give you the plausible deniability that you just happen to have a new secondhand phone which hasn't yet been set up.
Most android phones you can wipe remotely. Obviously this doesnt help if someone has seized your phone and immediately put it in a Faraday cage
Do they return the device afterwards like “oh well, here ya go then” durp durp. Or do they keep it “for evidence” out of spite?
Why would they give you your shit back? They're cops, not humans.
I once met a guy who robbed a bank with a fake gun. (There was once an article somewhere but this was maybe 12 years ago.) He did some time in prison and he said they gave him the fake gun back afterwards.
They beat you to death with the phone and then rape your wife with it.
Stop calling them authoritarian
To get back the seized property, owners must prove it was not involved in criminal activity.
Well, that just sounds amazing and not at all exploitable
Seems a bit opposite of the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing
Lol
Seized property under rico works the exact opposite, you have to prove your property innocent.
Natanson said she does not use biometrics for her devices, but after investigators told her to try, “when she applied her index finger to the fingerprint reader, the laptop unlocked.”
Use biometric security at your own risk.
I've never used this. Not in the entire time I've owned phones and computers.
For those protesting ICE right now, do NOT use face recognition or finger prints. Turn that shit off and never turn them back on.
Just don't. No pussyfootin' around. Every single person the US has access to is a possible "suspect" for anything it claims.
Act like it, citizens. Protect yourself, then help others to do likewise.✊🏼
So basically, the reporter said she doesnt use it, but that was just a lie she got called out on?
Or it was setup at one point by whomever assists her with IT and she forgot. Lots of possibilities when you're dealing with humans
That makes the most sense. It was probably set up the day she got it as part of the onboarding process and then she never used it and forgot about doing something that took 30 seconds several years ago.
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every time such a storie appears i assume its a cover lie / marketing for apple.
on Android, you can Press and hold the power button. a menu with 4 options will appear, the top right is the lockdown.
To enable it on Samsung devices
Mine doesn't even have the option. Seriously made a mistake with going samsung.
It's been a while since I had a Samsung, but iirc there's an option to add it to your power menu.
More importantly, rebooting or powering off the phone is more secure anyways. You should just do that in 99% of circumstances.
My phone decided to change what holding the power button does at some point, so watch out for that.
For those wanting to ensure theirs does the same, at least for Samsung, it's under:
Advanced Features > Side Button > Long Press
This does not work on all android phones. Does nothing on the OnePlus.
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Six presses on the power button and iPhones disable biometrics. I believe for most threat models, biometrics is better than typing a passcode, between the hotspots of fingerprints and shoulder surfing risk. Lock out biometrics before sleeping or other leaving unattended scenarios if raids are a risk
Not sure about the laptops; probably best to do a password there.
turning the phone off also disables the biometrics if you turn it on again, it requires whatever lockout method you used previously
between the hotspots of fingerprints and shoulder surfing risk
If ICE is close enough to you to shoulder surf you, they are close enough to manhandle you, shove you and """assist""" you into touching your privates (aka biometrics).
Biometrics are an issue because in most jurisdictions (not just the US but globally), you can't be coerced to provide your password/passcode - but absolutely nothing stops LE from forcing you to provide biometric data to unlock the device.
That’s the point of the biometric lockout. Most people are not in a situation where they can be compelled at any second to unlock their device; however if they’re pulled over or on community patrol, they can press six times and it disables the biometrics.
Tried this on my pixel and it opened the emergency call menu.
On pixel it's double tap the home screen.
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Just tested it and can confirm it works. For those that don't have their phone handy or are worried about trying it:
- Just 5 presses is enough. You could do 6, or just spam the power button to make sure you've got at least 5 in. Any presses after the 5th don't do anything different
- when you do it, it opens up a menu with options to:
- Power off
- Make an emergency phone call to 911 (there is no option to select an emergency contact. It just calls 911 immediately)
- Show emergency medical info
- Afterwards, you need to enter in your pin/passcode to unlock your phone. I have Face ID and the ability to unlock my phone via my Apple Watch. Both methods are disabled until I unlock my phone with my code.
Just to clarify and expand a bit: It’s 5 presses not 6, and you can do it in your pocket because it gives you a haptic feedback signal when it works, of a quick vibration in a unique pattern.
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Remember iPhone users: 5 quick presses of the side button will disable biometric unlock and require a PIN.
Or just turn off the biometrics on the lock screen to begin with. It's not nearly the income it seems
Isn’t the Washington Post state media now anyway?
when Jeff Bezos bought them and began to interfere with their editorial independence, they certainly lost integrity
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