Reply to post: Herd Immunity

UK fuzz want PINCODES on ALL mobile phones

Aslan

Herd Immunity

Rather like vaccines if you vaccinate 95% of the population the effects are nearly the same as 100%. If every phone starts with a pincode lock on it then thieves will know that there's a lock on just about every phone and be forced to act accordingly. That will likely lead to less phones stolen in the short term.

Longer term 3 months to a year out the question will be how good is the phones security? Will locking a phone with a pin code stop thieves from using the phone and retrieving the data. Given the current state of phone security at this time I'd say the answer is no.

Security of phones and computers has been improving continually, but we aren't where we need to be with either yet.

POST COMMENT House rules

Not a member of The Register? Create a new account here.

  • Enter your comment

  • Add an icon

Anonymous cowards cannot choose their icon