In 2024, Pattern Locks Are Unsafe Secure Your Tecno Spark 20 Phone Now with These Tips

Pattern Locks Are Unsafe: Secure Your Tecno Spark 20 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.

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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 Tecno Spark 20 If You Forgot!

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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 Tecno Spark 20 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.

How to Use Google Assistant on Your Lock Screen Of Tecno Spark 20 Phone

Android has undergone numerous changes to enhance user experience and security. One notable feature that was once present was the ability to unlock phones with voice Google Assistant. However, Google Assistant has removed this feature across all versions since 2021.

While this voice-unlocking feature is no longer available, there are still many things you can do with Google Assistant, even when the Tecno Spark 20 device is locked. This tool brings an added layer of convenience to your smartphone experience.

Let’s dig deeper into how you can use Google Assistant on the lock screen and make the most out of this tool in the following article.

Part 1. What You Can Do With Voice Google Assistant

Google Assistant is a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI) developed by tech giant Google. This application is readily available on most recent mobile phone models, especially those operating on Android 6.0 and newer versions.

Although you can no longer use the Google Assistant unlock feature, you can still perform a myriad of tasks using Google Assistant. These include:

Getting the weather
Setting alarms
Playing music
Sending texts
Making a call
Asking Google for information, etc.

Enable Google Assistant on Lock Screen: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you’re eager to try the potential of Google Assistant on your lock screen, let’s walk through the simple steps on how to enable this tool.

Step 1: Open Google Assistant:

Look for “Google Assistant” and open the app.

Step 2: Ask Google Assistant to open the settings.

You can ask, “Hey Google, open the Google Assistant settings,” and it will show you the Google Assistant settings.

Step 3: Allow Google Assistant on the lock screen.

Locate the “Lock Screen” settings and make sure to switch on “Assistant responses on lock screen.”

Click here

Part 2. How To Use Google Assistant on Lock Screen

After you’ve successfully enabled Google Assistant on your lock screen, let’s see how to use Google Assistant to do certain tasks more efficiently and hands-free.

Step 1: Wake Up Google Assistant

Start by waking up Google Assistant. You can do this by saying the wake word “Hey Google” or “OK Google.” If it doesn’t work, you can long-press the home button or use any dedicated gesture to activate Google Assistant.

Step 2: Issue a Voice Command

Once Google Assistant is active, issue a voice command related to the task you want to perform. For example:

“Hey Google, what’s the weather today?”

“OK Google, set an alarm for 5 PM.”

“Hey Google, play my Spotify playlist.”

When you can still unlock with Google Assistant, you can ask it to “unlock my phone” or use any similar command.

Step 3: Interact with Responses

Google Assistant will then provide spoken responses and display relevant information on the lock screen. For instance, if you ask for the weather, it might verbally provide the current conditions and display a brief summary on your lock screen.

Part 3. Common Problems When Using Google Assistant

Unable to use Google Assistant to unlock phone is not the only drawback that users may have encountered in recent changes. Although Google Assistant on the lock screen presents a revolutionary way to interact with your phone, like any technology, it also comes with its share of challenges. Some of the common problems when using Google Assistant are:

Misunderstandings and misinterpretations

One prevalent issue users encounter is Google Assistant misunderstanding or misinterpreting voice commands. This can be influenced by factors such as background noise, accent variations, or pronunciation differences.

Limited context understanding

While Google Assistant is adept at understanding individual commands, it may struggle with complex, multi-step requests that rely heavily on context. Break down your tasks into simpler commands to enhance comprehension and execute it more accurately.

Inability to execute certain tasks

Google Assistant’s capabilities are extensive, but there are instances where it may struggle to execute specific tasks. For example, it can’t execute tasks that involve interacting with certain third-party applications or services. You can’t also unlock phone with voice Google Assistant.

Tips to Make Voice Google Assistant Recognize Your Commands

One of the most infuriating problems with voice Google Assistant is that users often encounter difficulties in having their commands accurately recognized. To enhance the accuracy of voice recognition with Google Assistant, you can consider implementing the following tips:

Speak Clearly and Naturally

Make sure that you speak in a clear and natural manner. Avoid mumbling or speaking too quickly. Enunciate your words, giving Google Assistant a better chance to interpret your commands accurately.

Use Simple and Direct Phrases

Keep your commands simple and direct. Avoid unnecessary elaboration or complex sentence structures. Google Assistant is more likely to understand straightforward commands.

Check Your Microphone

Ensure that your device’s microphone is in good working condition. Dirt or debris on your phone’s microphone can affect its performance. Clean the microphone area and try again.

Quiet Environment

Background noise can interfere with voice recognition. Try to issue commands in a quiet environment to minimize any potential confusion caused by external sounds.

Part 4. How to Unlock Android Phone Screen Without Passcode

Now, you know that you can’t unlock phone via Google Assistant anymore. But what if you accidentally forget your phone’s passcode? Is there a reliable method to regain access to your Android device without the passcode?

Fortunately, Wondershare Dr.Fone offers a straightforward solution for precisely such scenarios. It provides a simple and effective way to unlock your Android phone screen through Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock when the screen lock is forgotten or becomes inaccessible.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

The Best UnlockJunky Alternative to Solve Your Screen Locks

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Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
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If you are wondering how to unlock your Android phone screen without a passcode with Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Launch the Screen Unlock Tool

Open the latest version of Wondershare Dr.Fone on your computer and connect your phone device using a USB cable. Once connected, navigate to the Toolbox > Screen Unlock to access Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock tool.

Step 2: Select Android for your device type.

As the Dr.Fone Screen Unlock tool supports both Android and iOS, you will need to indicate the specific device you are using. Opt for the Android option if you are unlocking an Android device. Then, continue to choose “Unlock Android Screen” on the next screen.

Step 3: Remove Screen Lock Without Data Loss
In this step, you will be directed to select your device brand. Choose the Android device brand you are using and opt for “Remove without Data Loss” if you don’t want to lose your data.

Step 4: Define Device Details

Next, make sure to check and confirm the Brand, Device Name, and Device Model to unlock your Android screen. Tick the checkmark that says you agree with the warning and are ready to proceed. Click “Next” to unlock your screen.

Step 5: Confirm to Unlock Screen

Type “000000” continue by clicking Confirm.

Step 6: Put Android in Download Mode

Dr.Fone will then guide you to put your Android device into Download Mode according to the model you have identified. After you have followed the instructions, Dr.Fone will automatically lead to the next screen to proceed the unlocking process.

After that, you can monitor the progress and wait for a few minutes until it shows “Unlocked successfully.”

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Conclusion

Google Assistant is a versatile virtual assistant that is designed to help you with a wide range of tasks and make your daily life more convenient. Accessible on most modern Android devices, it enables users to perform several tasks through voice commands.

However, if you are looking for ways to unlock phone with Google Assistant, this function is no longer available. Google Assistant unlock feature has been discontinued since 2021. But in case you’ve forgotten the screen lock passcode, you can use Wondershare Dr.Fone Screen Unlock tool to regain access to your Android phone. This tool facilitates the unlocking process without data loss, featuring a user-friendly learning curve.

How to Unlock Tecno Spark 20 Phone with Broken Screen

Seeing as the only way to control your Tecno Spark 20 deviceis the touch screen, a broken device can cause you a lot of worries. Most people think that there is no way to get their device to work again let alone be able to unlock it if the screen is broken or cracked . It is, however, important to find a way to unlock the broken device so that you can gain access to your data and create a backup to restore to a new device.

In this article, we are going to look at a few simple ways you can unlock an Android device with a broken screen.

Here is a video for you to learn how to unlock Android phone or access phone with broken screen:

Method 1: Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB)

For this method, you will need your device and access to a PC. It is the most powerful method to unlock a broken Android device. It will however only work if you have enabled USB debugging on your android phone. If you haven’t, skip this method and see if method 2 or 3 might be of help.

ADB creates a bridge between the PC and your device which can then be used to unlock the Tecno Spark 20 device. Here’s how to use this bridge.

Step 1: Download the Android SDK package on your PC. You can download it here: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html . Extract the ZIP file on your PC.

Step 2: Download the necessary drivers for your device. The USB drivers for your device can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

Step 3: Launch Command Prompt on your PC and change the location of the ADB file. Type in the following into Command Prompt; cd C:/android/platform-tools

Step 4: Connect the Tecno Spark 20 device to your PC using USB cables. Enter the command “ ADB _device_” (without quotation marks). If your phone is recognized, you will see numbers in the Command Prompt message.

Step 5: Type in the following two commands. You will need to type in the second one immediately after the first. Replace 1234 with your password.

ADB shell input text 1234
Shell input key event 66

Step 6: Your phone will now be unlocked and you can proceed to back up its contents.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

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Method 2: Using a USB Mouse and the On the Go Adapter

This is a great solution if you don’t have USB debugging enabled on your device. You will need your device, an OTG adapter and a USB mouse. It involves connecting the Tecno Spark 20 device to the USB mouse using the OTG adapter. Check if your device can be connected to a USB mouse. You can find an OTG adapter online, they are relatively inexpensive and very useful.

Before we begin, it is a good idea to ensure your device is sufficiently charged because the Mouse may drain your battery.

Step 1: Connect the Micro USB side of the OTG adapter to your device and then plug in the USB mouse to the adapter.

Step 2: As soon as the Tecno Spark 20 devices are connected, you will be able to see a pointer on your screen. You can then use the pointer to unlock the pattern or enter the Tecno Spark 20 device’s password lock.

You can then go about backing up the contents of your device.

Method 3: Using your Samsung Account

This method is a reliable way to unlock a Samsung device that has a broken screen or is not working correctly. While it is highly effective you will need to have a Samsung account registered with your device. The problem is that not many Samsung device users have registered their devices with the service. If you are among the lucky few who have, here’s how to use your account to unlock your device.

Step 1: Visit the https://findmymobile.samsung.com/login.do on your PC or any other device and log in with your account information.

Step 2: Select your device from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

Step 3: You should see the option “Unlock my screen” on the sidebar. Click on it and you will get instructions on how to access your device.

Conclusion

Being unable to unlock your device is never a good place to be. We hope one of the above solutions will work for you. You can then gain access to your device and back up the files and contacts. This way your life doesn’t have to be disrupted- you can just restore the backup on a new device or the old one once the screen is fixed.