Smartphone lock screen methods

[crossy]

Was just having a quick conversation with someone - a water cooler moment - and the topic of securing smartphones main screen came up. As far as I can see there's a variety of methods on offer:

• PIN code (4-6 digits);
• Pattern swipe (Android);
• Picture unlock (Face Unlock);
• Fingerprint (iPhone5 and Galaxy S5);
• Other pattern-based methods (e.g. LG's Knock Code).

The thread of the conversation was to wonder if there's any that are better than the others.

For my own point, fingerprint and camera sounds good, but they've proven far too easy (imho) to bypass with sausage/tape or photo's respectively. Pattern swipes are maybe possibly guessable via the grease trail, and to an extent PIN code similarly. LG's Knock Code seems to be better than pattern swipe but not as good as PIN - which seems to be the best method of those on offer.

Anyone got any opinions? Or is there are other (3rd party) methods that people swear by?
(maybe this'd be a good topic for a Question Of The Week?)

At present I've got a PIN code set on the SIM, but nothing on my current phone - which is probably dangerous given the access this would give to contact list and email.

[heinsmit]

Nothing beats PIN/pattern - keep it to yourself, simples

[frownbreaker]

The Blackphone has good security
There are high security lock screen on the Play Store.

You could consider an encrypted file system as it is easy to image a phone flash memory (Android)
Also use disk digger to see what you can recover from a delete phone. Factory wipe is safe on most Andriod phones though.

[Ttaskmaster]

To unlock my phone's screen, you just swipe the bar down.
However, to reach that stage you must first get the phone off me!!

[virtuo]

To unlock my phone's screen, you just swipe the bar down.
However, to reach that stage you must first get the phone off me!!

Same here, if someone has hold of my phone without me knowing, then I'm probably dead anyway.

[abaxas]

As with all passwords, the main issue security concern is forgetting it.

[Xkoiul]

I like to download the Lock apps and use Double lock screen

[dturtill]

pin number for me and we have that at a rule on all work phones they must be secured with a pin as no other method is approved

i found different issues with other methods

face unlock - not very fast when out and about
fingerprint unlock - needs to be very carefully swiped on the S5

didnt mind pattern unlock just didnt like the grease trails

[Peter Parker]

Swipe pattern.

This is worth a read on that subject - http://arstechnica.com/security/2015...lock-patterns/