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Unlock Your Android Phone With Open Source Wearable NFC

coop0030 (263345) writes "Becky Stern at Adafruit has created a guide on how to create an open source NFC ring or other wearable to mod and unlock your Android phone. From the tutorial: 'Unlock your phone by just picking it up! No more pesky password or gesture PIN, just scan an NFC tag! This guide covers creating an NFC ring, putting an NFC tag in your nail polish, modding your Android installation to read tags from the lockscreen, and creating an automation toolchain to unlock the phone when the desired tag is scanned.' There is also a video that demonstrates how it works."

81 comments

  1. Unlocking a phone.... by Glasswire · · Score: 5, Funny

    Boy, and I'd always heard it was a lot harder than that to get an unlocked phone

    1. Re:Unlocking a phone.... by Sneftel · · Score: 0

      No, most phones don't have locks on them. They wouldn't be much use, as phones are intended neither to hold valuable objects, nor to be secured to a particular location.

      --
      The opinions stated herein do not necessarily represent those of anybody at all. Deal with it.
    2. Re:Unlocking a phone.... by jeffmflanagan · · Score: 2

      >No, most phones don't have locks on them.
      >They wouldn't be much use, as phones are intended neither to hold valuable objects

      Are you posting from 1990? Of course phones hold valuable info and have locks on them.

    3. Re:Unlocking a phone.... by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      My phone only unlocks once it reaches 30,000 feet.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  2. Excelent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Now whoever try to get your "secret" stuff don't need to beat you with the 10$ wrench.

    1. Re:Excelent by LaughingVulcan · · Score: 1

      Yep, instead of a $10 wrench a $5 knife will now do the trick. That's progress!

    2. Re:Excelent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right, because people are kidnapped and tortured for their passwords all the time. I've started wearing a shirt with my password in bold letters just to waste less time with the wrench. If only there was a group of people who worked against the torturers, that might dissuade them.

  3. NFC Rings by mythosaz · · Score: 3, Informative

    You can grab NRC tag rings fairly cheaply at most of the Hong Kong importers.

    One of many examples:
    http://www.dx.com/p/smart-nfc-...

  4. jewelry lost too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So now the muggers will be sure to ask for our jewelry as well as cellphone and wallet.

    1. Re:jewelry lost too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      I believe asking for jewelry has been a trade standard among muggers for some time already even.

  5. Wallet by J-1000 · · Score: 2

    You can also just put an NFC sticker in your wallet. Works pretty well. Admittedly, it's often more natural just to swipe in my pattern. And if you keep your phone and wallet in the same pocket you'll be prone to butt dialing.

    1. Re:Wallet by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

      You can also just put an NFC sticker in your wallet.

      She: "Maybe we could go out for drinks on Saturday"
      He: "Let me check my schedule" - pulls out phone and waves it around near his butt - "Yeah, I'm free"
      She (disgusted): "You pig! I'll never go out with you!"

      Wallet may not be the best place for that tag, although it probably beats placing it in your belt buckle.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    2. Re:Wallet by S.O.B. · · Score: 1

      Wallet may not be the best place for that tag, although it probably beats placing it in your belt buckle.

      How about a tattoo on your johnson?

      --
      Some of what I say is fact, some is conjecture, the rest I'm just blowing out my ass...you guess.
  6. Do not want by PvtVoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't know about anyone else, but when I pick up my phone, I want it to work. Every time. This kind of interlock just adds another point of failure. Suppose a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean) are in my house, and I need to call the police?

    If these things are ever sold anywhere, by anyone, it will be the first step in a slippery slope by which the phone grabbers will gut the First Amendment right to call anybody I want, any time. How long before the FCC demands a remote kill switch?

    1. Re:Do not want by natophonic · · Score: 1

      > a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean)

      No, who do you mean?

    2. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      I don't know about anyone else, but when I pick up my phone, I want it to work. Every time. This kind of interlock just adds another point of failure. Suppose a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean) are in my house, and I need to call the police?

      In Europe you can call emergency services from a locked phone. Not sure if that feature is crippled at your place.

    3. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know about anyone else, but when I pick up my phone, I want it to work. Every time. This kind of interlock just adds another point of failure.

      Just type in the darn PIN code then. It's not the *only* way to unlock a phone.

    4. Re:Do not want by OverlordQ · · Score: 2

      > Suppose a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean) are in my house, and I need to call the police?

      You mean the emergency call button that is on every recent smartphone?

      --
      Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
    5. Re:Do not want by oodaloop · · Score: 2

      Suppose a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean) are in my house, and I need to call the police?

      No, I don't. But if you want to call the police, on your and anyone's phone, just dial emergency. That's available on every phone with no login.

      If these things are ever sold anywhere, by anyone, it will be the first step in a slippery slope by which the phone grabbers will gut the First Amendment right to call anybody I want, any time.

      Whoah, which Constitution are you reading? The one written a hundred+ years before the invention of the phone? You do not have any right to call anyone you want any time you want.

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    6. Re:Do not want by OzPeter · · Score: 2

      Its as if I heard the sound of hundreds, nay thousands of *whooshes* all at once.

      Well played sir.

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    7. Re:Do not want by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 3

      No we don't. We're going to need more info to see if you're referencing associates of yours, or are maybe some kind of racist, since the ignorant conservatives use "thug" as code for black people, and we don't know if you're one of those awful people.

      I have never in my life heard the word "thugs" used as a "code for black people". That's the honest truth.

      I have, however, heard people who call themselves "progressives" use the term as a code for conservatives. That's also just the honest truth.

      Disclaimer: I am not a "conservative," so don't waste everybody's time by going there.

    8. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ignorance and racism in the same post? Shocking!

    9. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You seem to misunderstand the purpose of this mod. It is not meant to be an additional piece of security; it is meant to allow you to unlock you phone in a simpler, possibly quicker manner. You can still unlock your phone with a swipe or passcode, both of which you would need to do anyways if you had to call the police.

    10. Re:Do not want by camperdave · · Score: 2

      I don't know about anyone else, but when I pick up my phone, I want it to work. Every time.

      Then you shouldn't get a cell phone. What you should get is a psychotherapist to help you deal with your paranoia issues.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    11. Re:Do not want by efitton · · Score: 0

      You honestly read the grandparent and don't believe they weren't stereotyping? The fact that the grandparent was moderated to "funny" is a separate, disturbing fact in and of itself.

    12. Re: Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure "thug" refers to niggers. Not black people in general.

    13. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's a comment on Gun Locks. Ahaha, most people are stupid.

    14. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Suppose a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean) are in my house, and I need to call the police?

      Why would you want to call more police to your house?

    15. Re:Do not want by AvitarX · · Score: 3, Informative

      I actually thought the grandparent was satire about gun safety (similar system for a smart gun caused death threats recently).

      You may or may not think it's funny, but I highly suspect the mods knew what was going on and thought it was funny, the poster I think clearly does not think like was posted.

      I'm not particularly disturbed by the mod, anymore than Jonathan Swift proclaiming we need to eat the poor.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    16. Re:Do not want by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 2

      You honestly read the grandparent and don't believe they weren't stereotyping? The fact that the grandparent was moderated to "funny" is a separate, disturbing fact in and of itself.

      Yes, I honestly read GP and I don't see any "stereotyping".

      I have honestly read your comment, and I do see stereotyping.

      Since when is "you know who I mean" a racist comment? In my opinion, assuming it was racist is both racist and paranoid.

      But that's just my opinion.

    17. Re:Do not want by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Suppose a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean) are in my house, and I need to call the police? "

      the police will find your body when they arrive.

      The LAST thing you reach for is a phone if your home is being invaded.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    18. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Any extra time added by this device would surely pale in comparison to the response time of the police, but nice try.

    19. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone who wants a cell phone shouldn't be allowed to have one.

    20. Re:Do not want by Medievalist · · Score: 1

      > a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean)

      No, who do you mean?

      KALI WORSHIPPERS!

      They want the sacrificial ring, for Swami Clang.

    21. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do know that outside your country, there's a whole world full of people, right?

    22. Re: Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That only fits if you're a murican retard

    23. Re:Do not want by efitton · · Score: 1

      Having taught in both inner city, predominantly black schools and rural, predominantly white schools I will cop to being paranoid about racism. I see the looks, and hear the comments when people hear where I have taught. I am well aware that many racists know that they can't explicitly verbalize their racist thoughts and so couch them in a slightly twisted way and give a nudge and a nod and a "you know what I mean." So I will cop to be a bit sensitive to matters of race (maybe even a bit paranoid). That said, I am consistently surprised by how naive and sheltered most of the Slashdot membership is about racism. Or maybe they will also tell me that the Confederate flag isn't a symbol or racism. I enjoy that one every damn school year. As for assuming the grandparent was racist, how the hell is that racist? It has nothing to do with the race of the grandparent, it has everything to do with what they said and how they said it.

      And it is possible that I am missing a level of sarcasm and satire with the grandparent. Maybe they are actually advocating for gun locks with biometric recognition. That said, my experience with people who say "you know who I mean" has been universally negative. In an actual conversation I frequently need to wait for less than five minutes before you hear about how "those people don't know their place anymore."

    24. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Suppose a bunch of thugs (you know who I mean) are in my house, and I need to call the police?

      Why would you need to call them, when they're already in your house?

    25. Re:Do not want by MikeBabcock · · Score: 1

      You know you can dial 911 without unlocking the phone, right?

      --
      - Michael T. Babcock (Yes, I blog)
    26. Re:Do not want by napulist · · Score: 1

      I have never in my life heard the word "thugs" used as a "code for black people". That's the honest truth.

      You do know that a big part of something being "code" for something else is so that people who don't know the code don't realize it's being used that way, right?

      Unless you've been living under a rock, it is probably not true that you have never heard the term used this way. I think it is true that you are fairly ignorant about racism/racial code words in present day America, which I would hope would lead you to do a cursory search about the topic instead of posting your ignorance as some kind of an anecdotal evidence, bafflingly rewarded with upvotes.

      It's one thing to not be up to date on, say, who will be offended if you don't address them as "zhe", but you seem to be pro-actively denying the existence of a fairly widespread racial slur, which seems indefensible to me.

    27. Re:Do not want by walshy007 · · Score: 1

      I think slashdot just has higher standards of evidence of racism etc than some other places.

      For it to be true it has to be blatent and with very little possibility of error "you know what I mean" doesn't constitute that. There are plenty of other interpretations.

      You have to try to not assume malice (or even ignorance) in these things. Come to them from the best possible light they could be from your perspective and goals.

      Using a certain style of language can associate people with things that they shouldn't necessarily be associated with. Best to not assume ill will or malice

      I think a fair portion of slashdot comes from a pragmatic line of thinking, nobody gives a crap about what race or sex a person is so long as the job gets done and well at that.

      We've all encountered oversensitive people before and it can be a right pain in the ass and loss of efficiency trying to deal with them.. there's a tendency to not like enforced inefficiency from above. Things that affirmative action programs and the like can enforce.

  7. Missed opportunity by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 1, Troll

    Instead of putting the chip and antenna in her nail polish, she could have put it in her nose ring.

  8. Given that my wife just found her wedding ring... by natophonic · · Score: 1

    ... two days ago that had been missing for over six months, not sure how enthusiastic I'd be about this.

  9. Getting an NFC tag to play with by Fencepost · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you don't happen to have any NFC tags around, Shell gas stations with their Circle K convenience stores are using them as their new "loyalty" tags. You won't be able to write to them, but you can certainly read the ID out of one.

    --
    fencepost
    just a little off
  10. Re:Given that my wife just found her wedding ring. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're wife didn't go back to her lover's place for six months to get it off the night stand?

    Sad that their relationship seems to be breaking down.

  11. NFC? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A no fucking clue ring? Isn't that a man's wedding band?

    1. Re:NFC? by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      A no fucking clue ring? Isn't that a man's wedding band?

      National Football Conference

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  12. Re:Given that my wife just found her wedding ring. by oodaloop · · Score: 1

    I bet if you put the NFC in her wedding ring and made it the only way to unlock her phone, she'd be less prone to lose the ring!

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  13. Is It Objectification...? by Bob9113 · · Score: 0

    If I say, "Chicks who root their phones are hot," is it objectification?

    If so, is it: A. because I used the word, "chick," B. because I'm focusing on a single characteristic, rooting a phone, instead of the whole person, or C. because I'm implying that the most important thing about a woman rooting her phone is that it increases her sexual attractiveness?

    1. Re:Is It Objectification...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If I say, "Chicks who root their phones are hot," is it objectification?

      If so, is it: A. because I used the word, "chick," B. because I'm focusing on a single characteristic, rooting a phone, instead of the whole person, or C. because I'm implying that the most important thing about a woman rooting her phone is that it increases her sexual attractiveness?

      I'd say (C) is the primary problem (going straight to the person's value as a sexual object is the definition of objectification), although the other two aren't great either.

    2. Re:Is It Objectification...? by PPH · · Score: 2

      It's objectification only if you think it adds any accessor methods to them.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    3. Re:Is It Objectification...? by nitehawk214 · · Score: 2

      It's objectification only if you think it adds any accessor methods to them.

      I prefer functional girls.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
    4. Re:Is It Objectification...? by cstacy · · Score: 1

      It's objectification only if you think it adds any accessor methods to them.

      I prefer functional girls.

      Yeah, they don't have any side effects or hidden state.

      Enjoy your tail calls!

    5. Re:Is It Objectification...? by walshy007 · · Score: 1

      (going straight to the person's value as a sexual object is the definition of objectification)

      Actually it has to do with their sense of agency. Agents can affect their surroundings, whereas things simply happen to objects, they are victims unable to affect anything.

      In this sense a lot of people self labelling themselves as feminists are objectifying women a lot at times.

  14. Re:Given that my wife just found her wedding ring. by Charliemopps · · Score: 2

    The mailman was clearly on medical leave.

  15. It's easier than you might think. by Stealth+Dave · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've been doing this on my Galaxy S3 for over 9 months now using an NFC tag glued to my watch band. All you need is a rooted phone running Android 4.0.3 and above and a willingness to install an XPosed plugin or two. This link has all the details:

    http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/modules/mod-nfc-unlocking-based-t2478163

    TL;DR Steps:

    • ROOT YOUR PHONE (You'll have to Google this one yourself)
    • Install XPosed Framework
    • Install NFC Lock Screen Off Enabler module (you can find it in the Modules section of the XPosed Installer app)
    • Turn on NFC in lockscreen or screen off modes as desired
    • Register your NFC Tags to unlock your phone

    Much easier (and safer, IMO) than installing a modified system apk, and this method can also survive system upgrades provided that you maintain root. It will launch whatever action is set for that NFC tag (link, text, app, whatever), but you can use another XPosed module to supress the "Empty Tag" message on empty tags, if you so desire.

    The Adafruit link from TFA has some interesting ideas on how to squeeze your NFC tag into some interesting places, and you can also buy some pretty small NFC tags on your own. I bought 20 Midas nTag NFC tags on Amazon for $13 with Prime shipping, and they measure 19mm x 12mm. You can shave another 2mm off of either dimension if you're very careful with the trimming. That was more than small enough to fit on the clasp of my watch, or on the back of a plastic watch band.

    --
    Evil is as eval("does");
    1. Re:It's easier than you might think. by ElectraFlarefire · · Score: 0

      I'm already running that, been fiddling with it.. And with my implantable NFC tag(https://dangerousthings.com/shop/xnt-ntag216-2x12mm-glass-tag/) showing up two days ago.. I'm looking forward to saying good-bye to both keys and unlock screens forever! Or at least until I find something I can't enable.. :)

  16. I'm in love by ememisya · · Score: 1

    This is simple, and brilliant. Also much better than injecting an NFC tag under your skin, which was the previous approach to the same idea last I read. Kind of the downside of a male dominated tech industry, nobody thinks up stuff like nail polish :)

    1. Re:I'm in love by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      I've been using black nail polish for years to cover blue LEDs on consumer electronics.

    2. Re:I'm in love by ElectraFlarefire · · Score: 0

      I don't know.. I'm getting my implant because it makes it very hard to break and /very/ hard to loose! It also makes the range very short so it's hard to steal an unwanted scan of.. A single $100 implantable NFC tag will last much longer than 10 tags attached to your nails that keep growing... :)

    3. Re:I'm in love by sexconker · · Score: 1

      The tag you bought is smooth glass and it WILL move around in your body and cause problems.
      Then there's the danger of it being damaged.
      I seriously recommend that you do NOT go ahead with your plan.

    4. Re:I'm in love by nitehawk214 · · Score: 2

      I've been using black nail polish for years to cover blue LEDs on consumer electronics.

      The real question is; why do you have blue LEDs on your fingertips?

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
    5. Re:I'm in love by ElectraFlarefire · · Score: 0

      Compared to some of the other stuff I've done and had done to me this is pretty safe. At least it's not removing slivers of metal. And I know folks with this and much more extensive body-mods done and they have no problems. It's done in a very specific location I intend to follow the advice of
      And the smooth glass might make it easier to move, it also makes /much/ easier to remove later and reduces the chance of damage, or at least damage that will still leave me with a hand afterwards.. And of course, if it causes problems, it'll come out and will be a failed experiment.

      I've lost too many keys, tags and forgotten too many passwords for this to not be useful.

    6. Re:I'm in love by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 2

      For wanking purposes. It's like fucking a router.

      or

      Why not? ;)

      --
      This is the sig that says NI (again)
    7. Re:I'm in love by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      For wanking purposes. It's like fucking a router.

      or

      Why not? ;)

      I suppose a lot of people need an internet router for wanking purposes...

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  17. Inject an rfid chip into your hand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That seems most reasonable to me. i dont wear rings but i do wear hands ... uptil now anyway

  18. Pebble by phorm · · Score: 2

    Pebble has an app that does something similar with Bluetooth. So long as your Pebble (watch) is in range and connected via BT, the phone is unlocked. As soon as it loses the connection it's back to pin-unlock mode.

  19. Pick up phone to unlock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Android doesn't have this as an option?

    That's funny. The next release of Blackbery's OS (10.3) will have this.

    1. Re:Pick up phone to unlock by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      The idea here is that the phone only unlocks for you. If it unlocks for anyone that picks it up... well that isn't much of a lock, is it?

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  20. Re:Given that my wife just found her wedding ring. by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

    You're wife didn't go back to her lover's place for six months to get it off the night stand?

    Sad that their relationship seems to be breaking down.

    "You are wife"?

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  21. Motorola Skip by JStyle · · Score: 2

    For a number of motorola phones, this feature is already available. For $10, you get a clothing clip and 3 RFID stickers. Tap the phone to any of them, and it unlocks.

    http://www.motorola.com/us/mot...

  22. Mugger business plan by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 1

    1. Lure a new victim using latest NFC Android smartphone
    2. Chop off hand wearing NFC ring and holding the smartphone
    3. ???
    4. Profit!

  23. Security by manu0601 · · Score: 1

    How secure is it? How easy is it to impersonate the NFC tag?

  24. NFC implant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since yesterday i'm using xNT implant to unlock my phone and its as fast as 5 point gesture unlock i used previously.
    and i wont forget to wear my wing ...maybe if i forget to bring my hand ....

  25. Subdermal implant by hobarrera · · Score: 1

    I'd very much have a [professionally installed] subdermal RFID implant in my hand. There's no way I can loose it, and no matter the situation, I can always unlock my phone.
    There's no such thing as "I got so drunk I lost my hand last night.". In case of really nasty accidents, you always have the classic pin-code anyway.