alt.hn

3/19/2026 at 8:54:09 PM

GrapheneOS: Duress Pin/Password

 https://grapheneos.org/features

by davikr

3/20/2026 at 5:38:09 PM

The main critique I’ve seen of the duress pin is that it causes undue trouble. The obvious counter argument is that if you genuinely have the need for a duress pin, it’s worth its weight in gold. If the severity of the charge or physical punishment (in countries without due process) would in any way be less by NOT having xyz data on your phone, then it’s helped. Say, the difference between 10 years for destruction of evidence and 80 years for espionage.

by wps

3/20/2026 at 6:11:16 PM

It also doesn’t have to be used against a government.

by dangus

3/20/2026 at 6:24:51 PM

For sure, but these LARP situations are mostly based on defending against a highly motivated and powerful entity like the government.

But other situations like against thievery, domestic abuse, or brute force deterrent (ie: setting a simple duress code that is likely to be triggered, say 1111), it has the potential to work well.

Graphene brings out some of the best of android. Profiles are first class citizens, private spaces within the owner profile (I think all profiles can have them now?), and app pinning are great.

by wps

3/20/2026 at 3:45:32 AM

I've heard that duress pins/passwords and false roots and the like aren't actually helpful. IIRC the argument was that if they're familiar with your OS they're familiar with the duress pin capabilities.

But even if that's the case, there's no way to tell if a duress pin was used, right? And if you're in a place with weak legal processes and they decide possibility=guilty, then the duress pin doesn't make things worse, right? I.e. if they wanted to do something to you, then "lack of evidence due to duress pin" is no different than just "lack of evidence" i.e. the pin at least doesn't make things worse...

by rendaw

3/20/2026 at 5:32:31 AM

Simple, "if you try to enter the duress pin, you and your family and your friends, will be beaten to death, and I will make you watch them die one by one, unless you tell me the real pin, and then kill you next"

Increasing the extreme and cruelty of violence. It always works. That also means the "investment" of each action will have higher stake, though.

It is not an intimidating thought experiment, it is being used in the 2026 Iranian Protest by the IRGC

by stevefan1999

3/20/2026 at 10:55:00 AM

Even in that scenario, having the duress pin option does not make things worse. It's functionally equivalent to smashing the phone, just easier to do with one hand.

i.e. whatever they do to you if you wiped the phone via duress PIN, they would already do to you if you managed to smash the phone.

by piaste

3/20/2026 at 7:13:20 AM

Okay I'm IRGC, and I think this guy has some information. So I threaten him. He gives me his PIN. I get into his device, and can't find the information.

Did he wipe his device? Or did I get the wrong guy? I'm convinced he had the information, so whether he used the duress PIN or not I'm going to go through with the torture...

Also, even if you're right, then that would mean that the duress PIN is useful in places that aren't Iran right? Like the US? Canada?

by rendaw

3/20/2026 at 10:44:36 AM

Is the wiping functionality implemented so inconspicuously that you can't tell the device has been wiped?

by avra

3/20/2026 at 11:56:24 AM

Well, it doesn't sound like it haha... AFAICT it just wipes it, so I assume you'd get a blank OS when you logged in? Or maybe it wipes it and just doesn't log in.

Actually I just watched this video and it sounds like it actually says "Wrong PIN" before deleting the OS entirely. There's a comment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41xbhw8N7NE&lc=UgzwdYjkLuGIb...

> could have simply unlocked the device without giving access to anything, and in the meantime, deleted everything. Instead, freezes up in a super obvious way and says it’s loading a different operating system; basically making it obvious that you’re trying to erase all the evidence

A reply said

> I've checked their forums, and I'm not really into their arguments against it.

Now I'm curious... the GrapheneOS guy has strong opinions strongly held so I'm surprised he'd agree to half-implement something.

by rendaw

3/20/2026 at 7:13:05 PM

These kinds of threats should, really, only strengthen our resolve. After all, they clearly demonstrate the opposition's danger should they succeed.

by rexpop

3/20/2026 at 6:15:36 PM

It’s just an optional feature that could be used in a much less extreme situation.

It could be used in a situation where that infinite escalation of violence isn’t likely to happen.

E.g., a petty thief who says “gimme your pin”

Once they have the phone unlocked they don’t care that it’s wiped.

by dangus

3/20/2026 at 6:44:28 AM

Source?

by MemesAndBooze

3/20/2026 at 1:26:36 AM

Should be https://grapheneos.org/features#duress to get to the proper section.

by garciansmith

3/20/2026 at 2:25:34 AM

The Duress PIN/Password section is

https://grapheneos.org/features#duress

HN automatically uses canonical links for submitted pages when it can find them, and when it does the # and what follows in submission URLs aren't included. So to provide the full URL, you need to include it in a comment.

by mitchbob

3/20/2026 at 3:45:32 AM

For people that don't know.

Duress PIN is a feature started by security systems. Entering the dress code would seam as if the security system was disabled while in the background it would contact the security company to send in the police.

by yndoendo

3/20/2026 at 3:46:17 AM

Maybe generally, but in this case it seems like it just wipes the device.

by rendaw

3/20/2026 at 2:09:10 PM

I wonder if being able to block access to/hide specific apps, e.g. banking apps or whatever could be a good idea here?

by dtm987654123