Security feature: Phone wiping after x wrong password attempts
- I know this has already been discussed a lot, but I still don't quite get the rationale behind BlackBerrys completely wiping themselves after a wrong device password has been entered x number of times.
For example, most people do not expect a phone to wipe itself, so if colleagues start guessing your password for fun, couldn't they just wipe it by accident? Same with kids etc. I have a device password on my new Classic and I'm afraid such a scenario might happen sometime...
Also - doesn't that make it much easier for thieves? If someone steals a "regular" smartphone, that just locks itself - the phone is unusable for that person so the motivation for stealing it is probably relatively low in the first place. Also iPhones can still be looked up using Find my iPhone and also wiped remotely in a worst-case scenario.
On the other hand, if someone steals a BlackBerry, and the device just conveniently resets itself after 10 wrong password entries - they get a factory restored phone ready for set up, no work required! I'm guessing that means I'd then also lose the ability to locate the phone using BlackBerry Protect? Therefore the motivation for stealing a BlackBerry is much higher.
Or am I seeing something wrong here?WES51 likes this.02-22-15 11:37 AMLike 1 - The motivation behind the wipe after 'x' tries is to dissuade thieves who are after the data on the device, not the device itself, IMO.
Posted from my Classic02-22-15 12:06 PMLike 3 -
- Hi Paul360!
The following are my views regarding your questions.
Our phones are very personal devices with which we transact a lot of things. And BlackBerry has been known to be very particular with keeping important info about you and your work to be as private as possible. BlackBerry used to be popular to the business circles, though at present even a teenager can enjoy the features of the device.
Since the phone is a personal tool, you're not supposed to leave it in the hands of a colleague or a child. If an adult colleague accidentally misses the first attempt of a password, he/she should refuse using the remaining attempts. But if he/she insisted on consuming the 10 attempts, then something is wrong. Why is he so eager to unlock your phone without asking for your help to unlock it yourself?
With regard to a child, you may let him/her use your phone without a password. As long as you don't have important files saved in the phone and contacts that may be dialed accidentally. That would be the case if that BlackBerry phone was not intended for a daily driver for an adult user... only a toy.
BlackBerry Protect is a very helpful feature especially if the device was stolen. You can read on it on the Help section.
"If your device is stolen, you can remotely lock it, change the password, or delete all of the data from your device."
You cannot totally eliminate the possibility of having your phone stolen. Even if the data are wiped, and the phone can be used by the stealer, at least your private info will not land in the hands of the criminal. And that's what's most important. And I doubt if the stealer can truly use the phone since your device PIN is associated only to your BlackBerry ID.
Posted via my Pretty WhiteBerry Passport SQW100-1/10.3.1.2267 (from10.3.0.1418)02-22-15 12:24 PMLike 0 - Since the phone is a personal tool, you're not supposed to leave it in the hands of a colleague or a child. If an adult colleague accidentally misses the first attempt of a password, he/she should refuse using the remaining attempts. But if he/she insisted on consuming the 10 attempts, then something is wrong. Why is he so eager to unlock your phone without asking for your help to unlock it yourself?
With regard to a child, you may let him/her use your phone without a password. As long as you don't have important files saved in the phone and contacts that may be dialed accidentally. That would be the case if that BlackBerry phone was not intended for a daily driver for an adult user... only a toy.
This is the part I'm still a bit worried about: can I use BlackBerry Protect to locate my phone after someone has used all password attempts?02-22-15 12:45 PMLike 0 -
Posted via CB1002-22-15 12:52 PMLike 0 - Probably not.
I'm not sure, ... maybe the BB Protect is linked to the PIN of the Blackberry device.
Anyway, ... A BB only costs about 600$ ... the data on it could (is) worth MUCH more than that. If I ever lost my phone, I would be at least "happy" to know that the data on it has been wiped (and yes, ... encryption on my phone is active .. as well as .. and more importantly, on the SD card as well).world traveler and former ceo likes this.02-22-15 03:17 PMLike 1 - I know this has already been discussed a lot, but I still don't quite get the rationale behind BlackBerrys completely wiping themselves after a wrong device password has been entered x number of times.
For example, most people do not expect a phone to wipe itself, so if colleagues start guessing your password for fun, couldn't they just wipe it by accident? Same with kids etc. I have a device password on my new Classic and I'm afraid such a scenario might happen sometime...
Also - doesn't that make it much easier for thieves? If someone steals a "regular" smartphone, that just locks itself - the phone is unusable for that person so the motivation for stealing it is probably relatively low in the first place. Also iPhones can still be looked up using Find my iPhone and also wiped remotely in a worst-case scenario.
On the other hand, if someone steals a BlackBerry, and the device just conveniently resets itself after 10 wrong password entries - they get a factory restored phone ready for set up, no work required! I'm guessing that means I'd then also lose the ability to locate the phone using BlackBerry Protect? Therefore the motivation for stealing a BlackBerry is much higher.
Or am I seeing something wrong here?
Posted via CB1002-22-15 05:54 PMLike 0 - Word... :-D
A device - no matter how bad it may be to replace it financially - is "just a device". Sure it is a bad thing to lose it, but my data (using my phone as my business phone as well as my private Blackberry) is my data. No matter if used businesswise or privatewise.
So if it stolen, lost... I wouldn't want that data falling into the wrong (i.e. not my) hands.
Posted via CB1002-22-15 06:42 PMLike 0 - This auto wiping feature also made me a bit nervous so I just ensure I have my data backed up at all times.
I've been getting a lot of accidental wakes in my pocket since I started using 10.3.X devices. First with my old passport then now with the classic. I started using the picture lock option to prevent it from accidental calls, photo taking, etc while in the pocket but this morning I pulled out the device from my pocket and the screen was notifying me that I have entered my password incorrectly 5 times! I just dread the day I'll pull out a wiped device from my pocket
So just backup every now and then just to be on the safe side
Posted via CB1002-22-15 09:28 PMLike 0 - This auto wiping feature also made me a bit nervous so I just ensure I have my data backed up at all times.
I've been getting a lot of accidental wakes in my pocket since I started using 10.3.X devices. First with my old passport then now with the classic. I started using the picture lock option to prevent it from accidental calls, photo taking, etc while in the pocket but this morning I pulled out the device from my pocket and the screen was notifying me that I have entered my password incorrectly 5 times! I just dread the day I'll pull out a wiped device from my pocket
So just backup every now and then just to be on the safe side
Posted via CB10
Posted via my Pretty WhiteBerry Passport SQW100-1/10.3.1.2267 (from10.3.0.1418)02-22-15 09:43 PMLike 0 - This auto wiping feature also made me a bit nervous so I just ensure I have my data backed up at all times.
I've been getting a lot of accidental wakes in my pocket since I started using 10.3.X devices. First with my old passport then now with the classic. I started using the picture lock option to prevent it from accidental calls, photo taking, etc while in the pocket but this morning I pulled out the device from my pocket and the screen was notifying me that I have entered my password incorrectly 5 times! I just dread the day I'll pull out a wiped device from my pocket
So just backup every now and then just to be on the safe side
Posted via CB10
Posted via CB1002-22-15 10:43 PMLike 0 - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_monkey_theorem
If you could pocket -type Blackberry by accident, you will find your picture in the above wiki.
Z30-Z10-9900-Playbook02-22-15 11:16 PMLike 0 - I'm pretty sure that BlackBerry Protect is tied to the device imei or pin.
If your that worried about wiping your device, keep it backed up via Link.
Crack-a-lackin' since '08Chris Chin likes this.02-22-15 11:31 PMLike 1 - Hahaha, I didn't know there was a step in the end to type "blackberry" before it actually gets wiped, I thought it would just do it automatically on the 10th wrong try. That's good to know then
It actually happened again just a few mins ago. Maybe because my shorts are too thin? I'm a bit stumped. I know I can easily avoid this by switching off the swipe to wake option but it's really one of my favorite features and oddly never had a problem with it until the passport and the classic. I noticed with these 2 new devices, the swipe to wake is very sensitive and wakes faster than the older devices. You can hardly enjoy the animation anymore. I could also just get a holster but too stubborn to use one. Oh my first world problems I think i'll try pocketing it screen out, i've read in another thread that it helps minimize the problem too.
Posted via CB1002-23-15 01:18 AMLike 0 - Hahaha, I didn't know there was a step in the end to type "blackberry" before it actually gets wiped, I thought it would just do it automatically on the 10th wrong try. That's good to know then
It actually happened again just a few mins ago. Maybe because my shorts are too thin? I'm a bit stumped. I know I can easily avoid this by switching off the swipe to wake option but it's really one of my favorite features and oddly never had a problem with it until the passport and the classic. I noticed with these 2 new devices, the swipe to wake is very sensitive and wakes faster than the older devices. You can hardly enjoy the animation anymore. I could also just get a holster but too stubborn to use one. Oh my first world problems I think i'll try pocketing it screen out, i've read in another thread that it helps minimize the problem too.
Posted via CB10
Posted via my Pretty WhiteBerry Passport SQW100-1/10.3.1.2267 (from10.3.0.1418)02-23-15 01:29 AMLike 0 - By the way, I was referring to your Passport, if you're still using it. Screen lifting and frame twisting were reported by others. And we're just speculating that maybe because of the width of the device and it's built make it vulnerable to such.
Posted via my Pretty WhiteBerry Passport SQW100-1/10.3.1.2267 (from10.3.0.1418)02-23-15 01:56 AMLike 0 -
- After 5 wrong attempts, you have to type "blackberry" to even be allowed to try a sixth time. Wiping by accident doesn't happen. Ever. It will only happen when someone is trying to unlock on purpose or trying to wipe on purpose.03-04-15 10:44 PMLike 0
- I wonder what Apple has to say about this anomaly. Well its bananas. I think we should just be grateful. I don't allow people to use my device and a "child" shouldn't be handling a device that requires maturity, if you raise your kids to behave you won't have this issue and if someone steals an unlocked device the imei can't be blocked so either way your device is more prone to theft. Thankfully it shipped with a old SOC ain't nobody checking for a Blackberry unless they are "in the know" thus they can't possibly be thieves
Sent from my: SM-N910T/SQC100-4 PIN:2BFE4937 T-Mobile 4G LTE Facebook.com/UnFazedRebel03-05-15 12:02 AMLike 0 - If you want to wipe your phone on purpose, you also have to type in Blackberry.
Z30-Z10-9900-Playbook03-05-15 12:05 AMLike 0 - I am curious enough for test this when a new leak drops.
As far as I know protect is tied to your bbid. When the phone gets wiped it erases your id. I think after a wipe protect will stop seeing that device.
Posted via CB1003-05-15 12:18 AMLike 0
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Security feature: Phone wiping after x wrong password attempts
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