TO lock a phone or not

[Stump bumper]

This is a debate I have had at work, thought I would get some opinions here. I work in transportation and we give the drivers cheap flip phones for company business that can't be locked. Several times I have had State Police(Texas every time) call me because I put my number under Emergency on every phone, I did that for the driver to call in case of Emergency. Over the past couple of years I have had drivers involved in head on collisions, two heart attacks and one stroke and got calls as soon as the medavac was taking off.

The question is when I tried to get the managers to do this (they are on the road 60% of the time) everyone refuses to take the keypad lock off their phone. I personally don't lock my Iphone and have my wife under Emergency. I find this is the first place Police and hospitals look for information today but not even the FBI can crack a smartphone code to get your information if you lock it. If I am unable to give information I want the first responders to have all my information and to me that is more important than someone being able to read my text messages.

What are your opinions on locking your phones and why is it so important. Where else on your body are your phone numbers?

[Stein]

Personally I lock mine because I carry it in my pocket and I got tired of accidentally pocket dialing people.  It would happen a lot.  If it wasn't for that I wouldn't lock it.  If the manager's phones are company phones maybe you can at least have labels printed that can be stuck on the back of the phone that says "in case of emergency please contact xxx xxx-xxxx.

[MOPanfisher]

I don't lock mine, I do push the button to put it to sleep before I pocket it.  As long as I do that I have never had a problem.  

[JestersHK]

I recently went through this with a coworker who was killed in a motorcycle accident.  I work in the mobility space and his family reached out to me as his personal iPad was locked and they had pictures on there which were not backed up to his computer... Previously there were still a few security holes on iOS that you could exploit and get the data pulled off of there, but unfortunately he was on the latest iOS which to my knowledge has not been cracked.  

Apple really needs to allow folks to designate a next of kin option or someone who can legally take ownership to where they can have a secondary unlock code for them.  Its a shame that we have all this technology but not a method in place to recover irreplaceable pictures and videos from a deceased family members device.

[vonreed]

I never lock my phone, and like you, don't understand why so many people do.  I carry my phone in my pocket all the time(several different phones) and never have had a problem butt dialing people.  Maybe some people have some really important info on their phones, but maybe some just don't want someone to see what they're doing on their phones. 

[Blll]

1 hour ago, MOPanfisher said:

I don't lock mine, I do push the button to put it to sleep before I pocket it.  As long as I do that I have never had a problem.  

This. I'm not holding secrets on my phone and if someone looks at my pictures of fish its ok with me. My wife locks hers up like a drum.

[Mitch f]

I was under the impression that with an iPhone you could still call 911 without unlocking the phone. See the bottom left 

[bfishn]

1 hour ago, Stump bumper said:

...Where else on your body are your phone numbers?

Right where they were before I carried a phone around. Behind the driver's license and the picture of Raquel.

[jpb2187]

1. A lot of companies require a passcode on the device if you are synced with their mail server. 

2. If you utilize Apple Pay, or have other sensitive info stored on your phone it is a smart idea to have a passcode. 

3. You can have a passcode set up on your phone and still call 911 AND access an emergency contact number, your name, family/friends name and contact info, blood type, weight, etc.

4. For those concerned with government overreach... a passcode is legally protected way to secure your data, and you as an individual are not required to provide that passcode, HOWEVER the fingerprint lock on your iPhone is not protected. Law enforcement can force you to open your phone with your fingerprint. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I keep mine locked, I use Apple Pay and Touch ID.  My wife's info in the emergency screen and she know my passcode.