PIN screen can be easily bypassed on WP 8.1

[Jazmac]

Good tip.
But this is something I wouldn't have considered using as a PHONE lock. You never locked the phone, just the sim. I haven't seen what happens if someone got hold of your sim and attempted to get information from it though. Maybe the sim pin will do what you expect then.

 

[DavidinCT]

And you don't find that problematic? Is this how it also works with other mobile OS-es, iOS, Android?

I remember that on whatever previous phones I have (this is my first WP one), if you didn't know the SIM PIN you didn't get into the phone - period.

Your NOT locking the Phone. Your locking your SIM, if you try to make a phone call, find your contacts that are stored on your SIM, you wont be able to access it.

This is how it works, there is no security hole here.

Nothing to see here people, move on...

 

[anon(8141431)]

OK, so one important thing to note here:
- I am not talking about the Lock Screen Password protection
- I mean the SIM card PIN

So, it is normal that if you do not use the "Lock Screen Password" and someone steals your phone, they can simply bypass the SIM card's PIN and access your phone, emails, accounts...?

The Sim card pin is only meant to protect information on the sim, not the Phone. It is so that no one else can use your sim card.

 

[dariohead]

Thank you all for comments!

Well, I totally understand the difference between SimCard and Lock Screen now, and it's a great advice about the "30 minute idle" option before asking for a lock screen pin.

I just think that from usability/security point of view, it would be nice to have an option that "binds" this together, so no SIMcard PIN or no SIMcard at all - block the mobile phone use totally.

 

[Lee Power]

My old Sony Ericsson K750I could be set so if your sim card was removed or a different sim card was inserted, the phone when switched on would ask for a user set pin to unlock the phone so it could be used.

 

[Shayan Hossein zad]

it should work like this
even if what you are suggesting for binding this two together were applied all it took was taking the sim card out!!
and they would have access to your phone

 

[Michael020]

Surely - everyone should use the phone pin while laying the phone out of his Hand. But everyone can easily bypass this "security setting": Any unauthorisied person just have to turn off the phone an than turn it on.... So - there is no security by using Windows Phone 8.1.

 

[Lee Power]

Turning the phone off then turning it on again will just require phone pin to be entered. If you also have a sim pin set the phone will require that first before asking for the phone pin.