Apple has implemented a new feature in iOS 11 that allows users to quickly call emergency services when rapidly pressing the sleep/wake button five times in a row. Intended or not, this feature also disables Touch ID and requires the user to enter his passcode to gain access to the phone again, something privacy enthusiasts will see as a great feature.
For most people, using a passcode or Touch ID authentication on the Lock screen is enough for keeping an iPhone secure from intruders. On the other hand, many share their passcodes with those near and dear to them or give their unlocked iPhones to others to show off photos or videos.
If you’re worried about someone rifling through your data when they shouldn’t be, and you fall under either of the two scenarios above, then a new jailbreak tweak called Bio Locker by iArrays might be worth checking out.
iOS has had the same boring numeric passcode interface for what seems like an eternity, but other operating systems like Android let users ‘draw’ patterns to unlock their device instead.
Although most people are using Touch ID to unlock their Apple devices today, jailbreakers can now use a new free jailbreak tweak dubbed Musubi by iOS developer c0ldra1n to bring an Android-inspired pattern passcode interface to iPhones and iPads.
Whether you’re using Touch ID or a passcode to secure your device, a new jailbreak tweak dubbed Callisto Pro (iOS 10) by iOS developer ijapija00 provides a host of new features for customizing the passcode-entry experience.
It's jam-packed with both aesthetic and functional features, letting you not only customize the way your passcode keypad looks and feels, but also the way it keeps your device protected.
Among the slew of interface changes iOS 11 brings to the table, one of first things you’ll notice after picking up a device with the new operating system installed on it is the redesigned passcode keypad.
If you like the way it looks, but you won’t be upgrading this Fall in order to keep your jailbreak, a new free jailbreak tweak dubbed Creamy (iOS 10) by iOS developer ijapija00 can be used to mimic the aesthetics of the iOS 11 passcode keypad on your jailbroken device.
Devices that don’t support Touch ID or just aren’t utilizing the feature typically resort to passcodes as the next best form of security. On the other hand, there tends to be a rather annoying delay after pressing the Home button before the passcode interface finally appears.
A new free jailbreak tweak dubbed Accelerated Unlock by iOS developer Youssef Mikhail does away with this unwanted delay and makes unlocking your device seem faster.
AppLocker by iOS developer Ori Kadosh, is one of the most popular app security jailbreak tweaks in Cydia, and it has been updated this week with full support for iOS 10.
AppLocker lets you create a password that you will use to access your apps; it's requested every time you launch an app, and if you can’t provide it, you can't use the app.
If you have a jailbroken iOS device that you share with guests or other family members, then Guest Mode 2 by iOS developer Ian Burns is a jailbreak tweak that might be worth installing.
This tweak lets guests use your device without knowing your passcode, but securely and with limited privileges, similarly to that of the guest user on macOS.
Whenever your iPhone passcode is entered incorrectly too many times, a message eventually pops up that says “iPhone is disabled.” This prevents the device from being used for a temporary period of time and is intended to deter people who try to gain unauthorized access to your device and personal information.
On the other hand, the stock message is pretty bland, and a new free jailbreak tweak called GoAway by iOS developer gilshahar7 paves the way to new ways of customization by letting you change the message and other information that gets displayed after too many wrong passcode attempts.
A team of researchers from the United Kingdom's Newcastle University have demonstrated how criminals could steal your passcode simply by tracking the motion of your phone. Don't worry, Apple issued patches last year to prevent anyone from collecting sensor data, but Android users remain at risk of having their passcodes stolen if they visit a rogue website or tap a malware link. Although Google is aware of the issue, they're still looking into a fix.
Have you ever noticed that when you respring your jailbroken iOS 10 device, the passcode screen always appears after it boots back up?
A new free jailbreak tweak release called CanYouLikeNot by wizages prevents the passcode screen from appearing after every respring, which might be preferred on devices that are Touch ID-enabled.
Most modern Apple mobile devices are Touch ID-enabled and rarely get any passcode button screen time at all; nevertheless, any time your Touch ID sensor decides not to work correctly, or when rebooting your device, you will be introduced to it from time to time.
For those who see the passcode input screen more than others, a new free jailbreak tweak called PassButtonStyle by developer CydiaGeek will let you customize the appearance of your passcode buttons.