Neil Hughes
Apple's iOS 11 includes a new security feature, with a few button presses making it impossible to unlock your phone with Touch ID, as well as giving a quick option to dial 911. Here's how to use it.
Editor's note: this article was first run in June during the iOS 11 beta process. It has been updated to reflect the official release of the operating system.
The new iOS 11 feature might allow iPhone owners who find themselves in a dangerous situation to ensure their phone cannot be forcefully unlocked with a fingerprint. It will also make it easier to contact emergency services if the person is in danger or threatened.
To access it, in iOS 11, a user must just press the lock/power button five times quickly. Pressing five times does not automatically dial 911, but it presents the user with an option to do so.
The new security feature also temporarily disables Touch ID, requiring users to enter a passcode to unlock their device. This would prevent a would-be thief or attacker from forcing a user's fingerprint onto the iPhone's home button to unlock it.
Previously, a user would need to completely restart their phone, or to purposefully attempt to unlock multiple times with an unrecognized finger, to have a password be required on demand.
For more on the new features included with iOS 11, see AppleInsider's ongoing Inside iOS 11 series.
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18 Comments
5 times are too many. I'd prefer to press it 3 times.
I rather Apple to fix problem with IOS to disassociate device from apple-id account when customer drops device from his/her credentials to sell to someone by removing passcode,turn-off "find my iPhone" to remove from iCloud,and than complete reset of device.
I'm glad I tested this. I don't want my name and other details listed under Medical ID when someone presses the Sleep button 5x fast. I also don't want any messages showing up on the lock screen when Touch ID isn't enabled, but I really dislike that it won't access contacts but instead list the phone number or email address of the sender ("Bob sent you a message" contains less information than "1-718-555-1234 has sent you a message").
Interesting. I wonder if this is a response to police pulling over people and getting them to use their finger print. If police pull you over now you can press this 5 times and not have to worry about having them make you use your finger...