Apple’s new patent allows you to bypass security locks based on location

A recently filed Apple patent suggests the firm is preparing a new iOS tool that would allow users to by-pass the security locks when they’re in an assigned location. The smart lock would allow users to access their phones without using Touch ID and pass code settings when they’re in familiar environments, such as home, work or in the car. The Wi-Fi or GPS-based tech would adjust the security settings depending on where the user is. According to the patent filing, different levels of security would be required in different environments. For a regularly visited place like the supermarket, a passcode or fingerprint verification. In an unfamiliar location or a crowded place, heightened security settings could be enacted.

Smartphone locking is often seen as a necessary but sometimes annoying tool. Punching in a PIN code or even using the newer fingerprint scanners can be a pain when just tooling around at home or sitting in a car. It appears Apple is looking into this issue. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple on Thursday, which details technology that can sense users’ locations and then modify their phone’s unlocking code — a smart lock, so to speak. The idea is for an iPhone to be able to recognize users’ typical locations, like their home, work, and car, based on GPS or a known WiFi network. Then, the system will adjust the level of security to unlock their phones. For example, at home, possibly no passcode would be required; in a place users go often, like a grocery store, there might be a fingerprint or simple code; and in faraway or crowded places, a higher security threshold would be necessary to unlock the phone. “Because some locations may be inherently more secure, such as a user’s home or office, these locations may be considered ‘safe’ and require less stringent security,” Apple wrote in its patent application. “It can be desirable to have decreased security requirements when the mobile device is at a secure location. Conversely, some locations may be considered higher risk or ‘unsecure.’ In these locations, it can be desirable to implement stronger security protections.”