Skip to main content

Siri could be giving up your secrets, even if your iPhone is locked

http://www.digitaltrends.com/features/dt10-clothing/
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

If physical locks can be picked, it stands to reason that our digital locks can be broken, too. And sometimes, it doesn’t even take a mastermind hacker to access information protected by a password. In fact, iPhone owners may be horrified to find out that their trusty personal assistant is giving them up. That’s right — Siri, whom you’ve always trusted to help you out in a tight spot, may not be as loyal as you think.

A Twitter user recently discovered that even a locked iPhone can reveal many of your secrets — or at least quite a bit of your personal information. As @afronomics_ explained in a series of tweets, after she found a locked iPhone in a bathroom and tried to return it to its rightful owner, she found out just how much Siri was willing to divulge when it comes to her owner’s data.

Recommended Videos

“I asked siri what’s my name,” @afronomics_ tweeted, “It pulled up her info. Cool. I asked Siri who do I call most. Pulled up her recent calls. Cool.” More like yikes.

https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833780462967455749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

And that’s not the only information Siri was willing to give up. The Twitter user was able to find her recent call log, her notifications, her first and last name, where she lived, and the location of her car. “It was that easy,” @afronomics_ wrote, noting that she could’ve asked for directions to the iPhone owner’s car and home. Truly a frightening thought.

https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833782347308867585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

But don’t worry, friends. Not only was the iPhone returned to its rightful owner, but the finder also gave her a few tips on how to ensure that Siri wouldn’t be so loose-lipped. All you have to do is head over to Settings, navigate to Touch ID & Passcode, then under “Allow Access When Locked,” turn off Siri, Today’s View, and Notification View. Because you have enough to worry about on a daily basis without worrying about what Siri is telling strangers about you.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Clicks changed my mind about using a keyboard with my iPhone 16
A person holding the Clicks Keyboard case.

I made a solid attempt to type my story on the original Clicks Keyboard case on Clicks itself, but it turned out to be an ambitious target, as I found typing on it slow and a bit frustrating. Physical keyboards on phones are pretty unusual these days, and my fingers were simply not used to the process, while the keys themselves just didn't quite work for my typing style.

It made me wary of the revised Clicks Keyboard case for the latest Apple iPhone 16 series, to the point where I had put off giving it a try over a few other things. But the time came to put it on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and try it out. So, has anything changed? Well, you’re reading words typed on it, and I’m pleased to say it's a considerable improvement over the first model. It has changed my mind about the merits of using a physical keyboard with my touchscreen iPhone.

Read more
2024 was a huge rebound for smartphone sales, but not for the iPhone
Photo of the rear of the iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S24 Ultra, OnePlus 12 and Pixel 9 Pro

After two years of decline, smartphone sales are projected to rebound strongly in 2024. However, IDC (via Bloomberg) shows this growth does not extend to Apple, which is expected to see only modest year-over-year gains.

The market tracker forecasts that smartphone sales will grow by 6.2% this year, pushing total units sold worldwide to 1.24 billion. In contrast, Apple is anticipated to experience only a 0.4% increase in iPhone sales.

Read more
Apple’s folding iPhone may actually be happening
iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium.

The idea of a folding iPhone has circulated the web for quite a while now, with many estimates placing its arrival in 2026. Apple has filed numerous patents, all of which point toward the idea of a folding device, but there hasn't been anything that pointed toward it being an in-development project rather than just an exploratory probe. Now, new information from a trusted source suggests that could be about to change.

Apple has recently entered the "formal development process with display manufacturers," according to Yeux1122. The tipster says their source for this information is an unspecified supply chain source. The original post is in Korean, so all our information comes via Google Translate.

Read more