Pattern Locks Are Unsafe: Secure Your OnePlus Nord 3 5G Phone Now with These Tips

Pattern locks have been available for about as long as people can remember, and they have been hugely popular with people thanks to how easy it is to simply swipe your screen and unlock your smartphone, as against, say, keying in the 4-digit PIN/ 6-digit PIN. However, pattern locks are easy to crack, and today, we bring you all you want to know about pattern locks and how to create a hard pattern lock. Further to this, we also tell you how to move beyond pattern locks and what to do in case you forgot the hard pattern lock you just set and are unable to unlock your smartphone.

Part 1: What You Need to Know About Pattern Locks

Pattern lock is an Android-only feature that makes it easy for users to have a modicum of security on their smartphones. Most users do not prefer using and remembering a PIN to unlock the smartphone. Creating a pattern makes it easier, somehow.

There is a 9-point grid on which you swipe your finger from point to point, in any direction, and when you take your finger off, that pattern you swiped becomes the key to unlock your smartphone.

Pattern locks were exceedingly common only a few years ago, and they are not recommended for use any longer due to concerns (mentioned later in the article).

1.1: Popularity and Usage

Old habits die hard, or so they say, right? That’s because it is true. We are creatures of habit, and pattern locks have been around for a long, long time. We are accustomed to pattern locks. So, even with even easier technologies such as fingerprint recognition and face recognition, we tend to gravitate towards the familiar old pattern lock.

The only thing is, there is a reason why pattern locks are no longer the preferred option to use for unlocking your smartphones. As it happens, that reason is security, and it can be very easy for humans to take a swipe (pardon the pun) at your pattern lock. And guess what? The research conducted suggests that they would get it right with an unsettling accuracy.

1.2: Advantages and Drawbacks

With on-the-go lifestyles, our smartphones have become indispensable and contain some of the most sensitive aspects of our lives – IDs, credit and debit cards in digital wallets, photo and video memories, business documents – you name it, the smartphones have it, on the go. This has opened our lives up to the public at large, and if someone steals our smartphone or, best case, finds it, the only barrier preventing them from being privy to all that wealth of our sensitive information is that screen lock – the pattern lock that we set on our smartphones. That’s it – the single pattern lock stands between malicious actors and our data. You might be beginning to realize just how crazy this is.

Advantages of Pattern Locks

There are two advantages to using pattern locks. One, they are better than nothing. Two, they are easy to use. And that’s about it. There is no third advantage to pattern locks. We might think we set a hard pattern lock that nobody could guess, but, as research proves, we might be thinking too low of human prowess.

Disadvantages of Pattern Locks

Security, or rather, the lack of it, is the lone disadvantage of using a pattern lock. What good is a pattern lock that can be easily deciphered? Sure, they are easy to use, and they are better than not having anything, but would you really want to protect your life’s data with something that could be, as researchers found out, breached in under 5 attempts? We don’t think you do!

The research found that 64% of test subjects who were shown videos of people unlocking their phones could correctly guess a 6-point pattern lock, that too after viewing the video only once! That number shot up to 80% if they were allowed to see the video again. That is simply astounding and a nightmare for security. When it comes to PINs, only 11% could guess a 6-digit PIN after viewing the unlocking video once, and that number shot up to 27% when they could see the video two times.

Part 2: How To Create a Hard Pattern Lock (Including Remembering Complex Patterns)

Now, if you must continue using a pattern lock, let’s help you know how to create a hard pattern lock that would not be as easy to decipher as easy pattern locks. For that, you should know how people use pattern locks, the kind of pattern locks they create, and the ones that are the most commonly used pattern locks. That way, you can avoid those fallacies and create a hard pattern lock for your smartphone.

2.1: The Pattern Locks People Use Most Commonly

Marte Loge, an M.Sc. Computer Science student, gave a presentation on pattern locks at DEFCON 23 and made a bold claim. She said, “Tell me who you are, and I will tell you your lock pattern.”

She presented the following statistics to support her claim:

• - In her research, she found that 77% of people started with one of the 4 corners when creating a pattern lock.
• - 44% of people started with the top-left dot and 15% with the top-right, while the bottom-left was preferred by 14% of her test subjects.
• - People set 5-point pattern locks on average, and most users were content with a 4-point pattern.

These are some of the most common pattern locks people create:

• - patterns in the shapes of alphabets,
• - patterns in the shapes of numerals,
• - patterns in any other simple shape, such as square, triangle, star, etc.

To understand how this is a security nightmare, the possible combinations for a 4-point pattern are a measly 1624, whereas by adding just 1 more point to the pattern and creating a 5-point pattern, the number of possible combinations becomes 7152, an increase of 5528 combinations. In stark contrast, creating a 9-point pattern would give you over 140,000 possible combinations!

2.2: How to Create a Hard Pattern Lock

Knowing what most people do when creating a pattern lock, it becomes easy to avoid those mistakes and instead create a hard pattern lock for oneself.

• - Do not start creating a pattern lock from any of the 4 corners of the grid.
• - Never use your first initial as your pattern lock.
• - Never use the shape of a numeral as your pattern lock.
• - Use all 9 points on the grid to create your pattern lock, and contrary to popular belief, you can go over the connecting lines several times, creating a hard pattern lock that would not be as easy for people to decipher!

Part 3: Going Beyond Pattern Locks

You might think that now that you have set a hard pattern lock, you are good to go. Hardly. Technology has evolved, so have methods to break into your device.

Step 1: Set a 6-digit PIN

The minimum you should do today is set a 6-digit PIN to unlock your phone. Consider this a necessary investment into the safety of your data residing on your smartphone.

Step 2: Use Fingerprint Recognition (or Face Recognition on Apple Devices)

All modern smartphones released over the last decade have come with fingerprint recognition. Using fingerprint recognition requires you to set a 6-digit PIN and then set a fingerprint to unlock your device. You can set additional fingerprints, too.

This way, your device is the most secure it can be today. In case your fingerprint is not recognized for any reason, the phone falls back on the 6-digit PIN that you can enter and unlock your phone.

While face recognition is available on both Android and Apple devices, it is truly secure only on Apple devices. This is why Apple iPhones released after the iPhone X in 2017 have come only with Face ID. They fall back on a minimum 6-digit PIN (called Passcode in Apple world) to unlock in case the face does not get recognized in the first attempt.

Part 4: How To Unlock Phone If Hard Pattern Lock Forgotten

Just in case you set a hard pattern lock and promptly forgot that abstruse pattern you just set, we have a tool for you to quickly unlock your phone in case of a forgotten hard pattern lock: Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Remove the Hard Pattern Lock on Your OnePlus Nord 3 5G If You Forgot!

• Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
• Bypass the FRP lock of Samsung without a PIN or Google account.
• Everyone can handle the lock screen without any tech knowledge.
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate.

4,008,671 people have downloaded it

Download the latest version of Dr.Fone from the Wondershare website and launch the app.

Step 1: Click Android under Toolbox > Screen Unlock.

Step 2: Click Unlock Android Screen.

Step 3: Select your device manufacturer.

Step 4: Prepare your device to unlock the screen.

When the greyed Next button becomes available, click it and wait for your device to be unlocked.

All data on the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device is wiped under this method. Select Samsung phones may be unlocked without data loss. Check this list for devices that may be unlocked without data loss.

Closing Words

Whether it is an easy pattern lock or a hard pattern lock, the fact is that pattern locks are antiquated and a security nightmare. A minimum 6-digit PIN must be used, and using fingerprint recognition is the preferred way to go for Android devices. Using fingerprint recognition will require that users create a 6-digit PIN. On Apple devices launched after 2017, there is Face ID, Apple’s marketing term for face recognition. If you did indeed still set a hard pattern lock, only to promptly forget it, use Wondershare Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock (Android) to seamlessly unlock your phone right now.

6 Proven Ways to Unlock OnePlus Nord 3 5G Phone When You Forget the Password

Smartphones are mushrooming in today’s world, and it is like everybody is using these kinds of phones. Android phones are the most popular phone used by millions of users across the globe. As an Android user, I am sure you are keen to protect the data on your phone or prevent an unauthorized person from using it. One method to protect your phone data is to lock your phone screen. This is a good feeling since you will be the only one accessing your phone since you may not share the password with your child or even your spouse.

Unfortunately, this usually ends up forgetting the Android lock password. You may enter all the passwords you know, and your phones get locked. What will you do? In this article, we will learn how to unlock Android forgotten passwords in six ways.

You can watch the video above about how to unlock your Android Phone!

Way 1. Try Face or Fingerprint to Unlock OnePlus Nord 3 5G Phone

How to unlock your phone when you forget the password? If you’ve forgotten your Android phone’s password, the best way to unlock it is to use your device’s built-in biometric authentication features, such as face unlock or fingerprint unlock.

Face unlock uses your device’s front-facing camera to recognize your face and unlock your phone. And fingerprint unlock uses your device’s fingerprint scanner to recognize your fingerprint and unlock your phone. Both of these methods are very secure. And they can quickly and easily unlock your phone without having to remember your password.

However, you must use the face or fingerprint unlock correctly on your Android phone. The tips below can prove helpful:

• Step 1: Make sure your face or fingerprint is registered correctly on the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device.
• Step 2: Make sure the lighting is adequate and your face is clearly visible.
• Step 3: Make sure the distance between your face and the camera is not too far.
• Step 4: Make sure your finger is clean and dry before putting it on the fingerprint sensor.
• Step 5: Try to use the same angle and position of your face or fingerprint every time.
• Step 6: Try to use the same lighting conditions each time you use the face or fingerprint unlock.
• Step 7: Make sure your device is up to date with the latest security patches.
• Step 8: Make sure that your device is not rooted or running any custom ROMs.

If you are still unable to unlock your device, you may need to follow the solutions below.

Way 2. Unlocking Forgotten Password on Android Phones Using Dr.Fone Screen Unlock

Dr.Fone is an all-in-one tool that allows you to completely recover lost files from your Android device and unlock Android forgotten passwords. This cross-platform software can unlock a phone on which you forgot the Android password. This inbuilt feature allows you to remove the Android forgotten password while safeguarding your Android device’s data files. Above all, as the best phone unlocking software , it is cost-effective and easy to use.

• It can remove 4 screen lock types - pattern lock , PIN, password & fingerprints.
• No tech knowledge asked everybody can handle it.
• Work for Samsung Galaxy S/Note/Tab series, LG G2/G3/G4 , Huawei, Xiaomi, Lenovo, etc.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

The Best Tool to Unlock Android Phone Forgot Password Without Any Hassle!

• Completely unlinked from the previous Google account, it won’t be traced or blocked by it anymore.
• Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
• Bypass Android FRP lock without a PIN or Google account.
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate.

4,008,669 people have downloaded it

Attention: When you use it to unlock Huawei , Lenovo, and Xiaomi, the only sacrifice is that you will lose all the data after unlocking.

Well, in a few minutes, you will unlock your Android phone’s forgotten password with ease. First, download Dr.Fone and install it on your computer. Thereafter launch it and follow these steps.

Step 1. Select the Unlock Android Screen Option

Once you have opened the program, select the “Screen Unlock” option directly. Next, connect your Android-locked phone and click on the “Unlock Android screen” button on the program window.

Step 2. Select Your Device Brand

After this step, you will be guided to another screen where you need to choose the brand of your device.

Step 3. Enter Download Mode

You will need to put your device into Download Mode for unlocking. Depending on your device’s brand and model, the instructions for doing so may vary.

Step 4. Observe the Unlock Process

The screen displays the progress of unlocking, downloading drivers and configuration files. Once the entire process is complete, you will be able to access yours forgot password Android device without having to enter any passwords.

Way 3. Use Google Find My Device to Remotely Unlock Your Android Phone

You can use Google Find My Device to unlock your Android phone remotely with another Android phone. All you need is the Google account and its password bound to unlock Android phone forgotten password.

Note: You must have enabled Find My Device on your device before proceeding.

• Step 1: Open the Find My Device app or visit android/find .
• Step 2: Sign into your Google account.
• Step 3: You can select the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device you want to unlock and tap on the “Unlock” button.
• Step 4: Your device will then be unlocked.

Please remember that this feature is only available for Android 5 and above in case Android forgot password.

Way 4. Reset Your Android and Remove the Password Using “Forgot Pattern” (Android 4.0)

There are several ways that you can reset Android after you forgot your password. You can reset using a google account or perform a factory reset.

This feature is available on Android 4.0 and older versions. So if you are using Android 5.0 and above, you can opt for the Screen Unlock tool or other ways as mentioned in this article.

• Step 1. Enter the wrong pin on your android phone five times.

• Step 2. Next, tap on “Forgot Password.” If it is a pattern, you will see “Forgot Pattern.”
• Step 3. It will then prompt you to add your Google account username and password.

• Step 4. Bravo! You can now reset your password.

Way 5. Factory Reset Your Android and Remove Password

If you are not successful with the above method, you can opt to perform a factory reset. This method should be the last option since you will lose data that has not been synced to your Google Account. It is wise to remove your SD card before performing the Android reset.

You can unlock your Android phone, i.e., Samsung, Oppo, or Vivo, by factory resetting it with these steps:

• Step 1. Turn off your Android phone.
• Step 2. Hold the Volume (-) and Power/Side buttons simultaneously.
• Step 3. When the phone vibrates, release the Power button and hold the Volume Down button.
• Step 4. Use the Volume (-) button for the “wipe data/factory reset” option. Then press the Power/Side button to confirm.
• Step 5. Tap the “Yes – delete all user data” option and the Power button to confirm.
• Step 6. After the reset, select “reboot system now” and tap the Power/Side button to restart your device.
• Step 7. Your phone will now be unlocked, and the password will be removed.

Way 6. Unlock Samsung Phone with Samsung’s Find My Mobile

The best way to unlock Android forgot password on Samsung is to use Samsung’s Find My Mobile service. This service allows you to remotely unlock your device, reset the lock screen password, and even disable the lock screen altogether.

• Step 1: To use this service, you must first log into your Samsung account on a computer or mobile device;
• Step 2: Once logged in, you can locate your device, select the “Unlock” option;
• Step 3: Enter your new password. Once unlocked, you can access your device with your new password.

FAQs About Android Unlock

1. Is there any universal code to unlock the Android phone?

No, there is no universal code for unlocking Android phones. They are different from stable SIM pins. Due to mobile device security, only users themselves can set up a unique password on their Android phone. So, it’s impossible to unlock an Android phone with a so-called universal code.

2. How to reset your Android phone password after the unlock?

• Step 1: Open your Samsung phone and go to the Settings menu.
• Step 2: Select the Lock Screen and Security options.
• Step 3: Select Screen Lock Type.
• Step 4: Select the Password option.
• Step 5: Enter your current password, then tap Continue.
• Step 6: Enter your new password twice, then tap OK.
• Step 7: Your new password will now be in effect.

3. Don’t you have face or fingerprint unlock? Let’s set them up.

• Step 1: Go to the Settings app on your Samsung phone.
• Step 2: Tap on the “Lock Screen” option.
• Step 3: Select “Screen Lock Type.”
• Step 4: Choose the “Fingerprints” or “Face unlock” option.
• Step 5: Follow the instructions on your screen to set up the desired unlock feature.
• Step 6: When you’re finished, you’ll be able to unlock your phone using either your fingerprint or your face.

4. How to unlock an Android phone without data loss?

There are several ways how to unlock Android phones without data loss . One of the most recommended ways is that you can set up the method to unlock with a fingerprint or face. Because it has an official guarantee, and you don’t need professional skills. Moreover, if your phone has Android version 4.0 or even older, unlocking your phone via “Forgot Pattern’ will also help you finish the goal.

The methods discussed above in Way 1 or Way 2 can guide you better into unlocking your device using this tool.

Conclusion

To conclude, when you have an Android Password forgot the phone at hand, this guide can offer you several useful perspectives. However, it is advisable to perform Android password recovery using Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) . This software is fast, safe, and ensures that you have a better phone experience.

Unlocking the Power of Smart Lock: A Beginner’s Guide for OnePlus Nord 3 5G Users

Google constantly comes up with features to simplify the way users interact and complete tasks on the Android platform. One of the most important features that techies loved to debate about was the Smart Lock Android, a secure password manager functioning in sync with a Google account on the Android phone.

Part 1: What is Android Smart Lock?

Android Lollipop added a feature called Smart Lock, and the feature was devised as a smart tool to prevent the Android phone from locking once it was initially unlocked. In other words, the feature overrides an Android phone’s Lock Screen feature, thereby saving users the need to enter passwords every time the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device locks.

If you’re at home, it’s likely your android phone is locked out if you haven’t accessed at for some time. Smart Locks solves the problem in many ways. It allows you to allocate trusted places. Once you within range of the trusted places, your phone won’t lock. Trusted devices come next. Smart Lock is assigned to Bluetooth and Android NFC unlock devices.

Finally, trusted face unlocking is the ultimate face recognition system that unlocks your Android device as soon as you look at it across the front-facing camera. A face unlock first introduced with Android Jelly Bean and has been significantly improved in later versions.

Turning On Smart Lock

The feature is enabled by first accessing settings. For example, in a Samsung Galaxy S6:

Tap on Settings, which is the gear symbol.

• • Click on Personal and tap on Security.
• • Go to Advanced and tap on Trust agents and make sure Smart Lock is turned on.

• • Under Screen Security tap Smart Lock.
• • Here, you need to enter your Screen Lock. If you haven’t done so, set up a password and PIN by following the on-screen prompts. The screen Lock is needed every time you have to change the Smart Lock settings.

Within Smart Lock, there are three options for setting the system. You can set up trusted devices, trusted face, and trusted places individually, combining two or all three at the same time. You can choose just one trusted face, but you have the option to set up as many trusted devices and trusted places as needed.

Part 2: Turn On Smart Lock For Android with Trusted Devices

You can decide on a trusted device to be paired with Smart Lock Android.

For example, you can set up a Smart Lock for Bluetooth in your Android Bluetooth settings. It can also be done for Android NFC unlock devices. Examples include the Bluetooth system in your car, NFC unlocks, android sticker on the car’s phone dock, or Bluetooth in your watch.

• • Go to Settings.
• • Tap on Security and then Smart Lock.
• • Existing paired options are listed under Trusted Devices.
• • Initially, trusted devices will show None.

Tap on Add Trusted Devices.

The next screen is the Choose Device Type.

Since you have already paired Bluetooth, it will ask you to choose the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device from the list.

• • As an example, let’s take the case of LG HBS800. It may show Not connected until you add it.
• • It will show up under Trusted devices in the Smart Lock menu.
• • When you turn the added device on, Smart Lock now unlocks the Android mobile.

Similarly, other Bluetooth and NFC unlock android supported gadgets can be added under the list of Trusted Devices.

Part 3: Turn On Smart Lock For Android With Trusted Locations

You can also add locations or addresses to Smart Lock Trusted Locations, and the phone unlocks automatically as soon as you arrive at the desired location. For example, you can set up your home or work address under Trusted Locations.

Check current settings first.

On a new Android phone, visit Settings>Personal.

Then Lock Screen and Security.

Then Secure Lock Settings.

Tap Smart Lock.

Tap on Trusted Places.

Tap on Add Trusted Places

• • Initiate the Google Maps app on the Android phone. Make sure the Internet and GPS are on.
• • Pick a place.

• • Click on Settings.
• • Click on Edit home or work. You can now add or edit the required addresses.
• • As an example, click on the Enter work address.
• • You now have the option to type in the address or use the address listed on Google Maps as the required work address.

• • A successful addition is listed and can be edited under the Edit work address.
• • Close the Google Maps app.
• • The work address is automatically propagated and configured with Smart Lock settings.
• • Go back to Settings> Security> Smart Lock> Trusted Places.
• • The work address you added is now listed under Work.

• • However, it is not yet configured as a Smart Lock option. Tap the location once, and it is enabled.
• • The switch along the address to the right turns blue, indicating it is enabled.
• • The work address is now listed under Trusted places for Work.

• • The phone is now configured for the work address and will unlock whenever you are at the location.
• • Since it works on Google Maps, the feature works through an Internet connection.

Part 4: Turn On Smart Lock For Android With Trusted Face

The feature recognizes your face and then unlocks the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device. Once you set up the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device to recognize your face as a trusted face, it will unlock the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device as soon as it recognizes you.

PRECAUTION:  At best, this can be the first level of security, as one who resembles you to some extent can unlock the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device. Photographs are not stored in the system. The device does hold necessary data to recognize your face, and the security level is determined by how good the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device is configured. The data is not accessed by any app or loaded onto a Google server for backup.

Setting Up Trusted Face

• • Go to Smart Lock and tap Trusted Face.
• • Tap on Setup. Follow on-screen instructions.

The device begins to gather data about your face. The trusted face icon appears. As a backup, in case Smart Lock does not recognize your face, use the manual system by applying the PIN or password to unlock the OnePlus Nord 3 5G device.

In case Trusted Face is not required, tap on reset Trusted Face appearing under the Trusted Face menu. Tap on Reset to reset the option.

How To Improve Facial Recognition In Your Bluetooth and Android NFC Unlock Devices

• • If you feel facial recognition is not up to the mark, go to Smart Lock and tap on a Trusted face.
• • Tap on Improve face matching.
• • Tap on Next and follow instructions on the screen to complete the task.

Smart Lock Android is a great feature and is only going to improve on time. With added security measures being introduced by Google for Bluetooth and NFC unlock android devices, including configuration to Google maps and Gmail, the feature may be one of the most important features to overcome constant blocking of devices even in protected places.

Video on How to Remove Android Lock Screen Without Data Loss

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