Is your Android screen lock safe? Cyber expert makes stunning claim: Report

David Schutz, the cybersecurity expert, has claimed that the vulnerability can allow anyone to bypass the screen lock feature and unlock the smartphone. According Schutz, all the miscreant needs is a SIM card and the access to the device to unlock it.

Updated on: Nov 15, 2022, 13:02:46 IST

By HT News Desk

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Is your Android phone's screen lock really safe? A cybersecurity researcher's claim on vulnerability affecting Google Pixel phones might cause concern among Android phone users.

David Schutz, the cybersecurity expert, has claimed that the vulnerability can allow anyone to bypass the screen lock feature and unlock the smartphone. According Schutz, all the miscreant needs is a SIM card and the access to the device to unlock it, Livemint reported.

The best AndroidThe cyber security expert also demonstrated how he managed to unlock the Android device. (pexels.com)

“I found a vulnerability that allowed me to unlock any @Google Pixel phone without knowing the passcode. This may be my most impactful bug so far. Google fixed the issue in the November 5, 2022 security patch. Update your devices!" Schutz tweeted.

The cyber security expert also demonstrated how he managed to unlock the Pixel phone. He claimed to have forgotten his SIM PIN and entered three incorrect codes. After the SIM card locked itself, Schutz says he entered the PUK code available on the SIM card to unlock it. The cyber expert says he ended up on the home screen of his phone.

Calling the experience weird, David Schutz said he repeated the process and the result was same.

“As I did before, I entered the PUK code and choose a new PIN. This time the phone glitched, and I was on my personal home screen. What? It was locked before, right? This was disturbingly weird. I did it again. Lock the phone, re-insert the SIM tray, reset the PIN… And again I am on the home screen”, he mentioned in his blog post.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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