Attention Android Users — Activate This New Privacy Setting to Help Keep Thieves Out of Your Phone

An added security feature of the Android system - enhanced PIN code privacy protection, which can effectively prevent voyeurs from stealing your PIN code. Even if you do not change your mobile phone usage habits, it can improve the security of your mobile phone and make it more difficult for thieves to start.

One of the common tricks used by mobile phone thieves is to observe others entering unlock passwords or PIN codes. They do not need high-tech means, and they can get your password by just observing and memory, thereby stealing your phone. Once the password is leaked, your phone will face various risks.

A Wall Street Journal report reveals that some new technologies designed to protect other devices and accounts will instead make you more vulnerable to this voyeuristic crime. For example, Apple allows users to reset their Apple ID password using the password of an iPhone or other trusted device. Once the thief obtains your iPhone password, he can lock your Apple ID account, reset biometric information, access bank apps to transfer money, use Apple Pay to shop, read your emails, and more.

While the investigation involves iPhones, the same vulnerability exists on your Android phone. If an attacker sees your PIN code, or uses social engineering to trick you into revealing your PIN code, the consequences will be unimaginable. The Android system is the first to launch this new security feature that the iPhone does not yet have: PIN code hiding.

This new feature, called "Enhanced PIN Privacy", protects your PIN by turning off the animation effect that appears every time you click on a number.

Conditions of use

Currently, the "Enhanced PIN Security" feature requires Android's latest quarterly platform version (QPR), namely Android 13 QPR3. But QPR3 is still in beta at the moment, and you need to install the latest beta to use this feature immediately. If you do not have a beta version installed and are using a Google Pixel phone, you can register for the Pixel Android test plan.

You can also wait until the next Pixel feature update, which is expected to be released in June 2023. It is not clear when this feature will be logged on to other Android devices.

After registering the device to participate in the test program, you will receive new updates soon. Go to Settings -> System -> System Update. If the update is available, follow the on-screen prompts to update your device.

Turn on the screen lock settings

To enable the new Enhanced PIN Privacy feature, go to Settings -> Security & Privacy -> Device Lock. Then, click the gear icon next to "Screen Lock".

Enable enhanced PIN privacy

You will find the "Enhanced PIN Privacy" switch in the screen lock settings, which will "disable animation when entering the PIN". Turn it on to activate the feature. If you want to restore the animation, just go back here and turn the switch off.

Unlock your phone more securely

From now on, whenever you unlock the device with PIN code, you will not see the button animation on the keyboard. However, if you enable haptic feedback, you will feel the vibration every time you press it. Even better, the number you press does not appear above the keyboard when you touch it. The following is a practical demonstration:

When Enhanced PIN Privacy is enabled, no animation or digital preview is displayed.

Previously, the PIN code unlock screen would display the pressed number at the top and then convert it to a dot when the next button is clicked, as shown in the figure below. Now, it always shows up as a dot, which makes it difficult for any potential thief around to see your phone's PIN when you enter it.

Before, you'll see animation and digital previews.

Cover photos, screenshots and GIFs courtesy of Tommy Palladino/Gadget Hacks

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