If you have an Apple or an Android phone—and you probably do—you have the option of locking your phone using a PIN code. With most of these phones, you can choose a four-digit PIN or a six-digit PIN.

Guess how long it would take a computer to brute-force an 8-number password. The answer: instantly. That's according to Hive Systems' Password Table, which shows how shockingly quick passwords of ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst. Sometimes, the most critical security threats are right there ...

Instruments in smart phones such as the accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity sensors represent a potential security vulnerability, according to researchers. Instruments in smart phones such as the ...

A secure Android phone is a healthy Android phone. If you’re like me, the primary line of defense for your phone is a PIN. Sure, you may also use your phone’s fingerprint sensor or face unlock, but it ...

It’s no secret that smartphone PIN codes are not perfect, but new research suggests they might be next to worthless. A team of scientists at Newcastle University in the U.K. was able to guess a user’s ...

Can bad actors use your stolen phone PIN to change your Google account password? Sadly, yes, they can, and recent reports have explained how this is possible. Some people might be aware of this threat ...

All of you should have a PIN code or some other form of authentication on your smartphone, preventing unauthorized people from accessing your device and serving as a security measure for theft. But ...

Katie is a UK-based news reporter and features writer. Officially, she is CNET's European correspondent, covering tech policy and Big Tech in the EU and UK. Unofficially, she serves as CNET's Taylor ...