GrapheneOS protections against data extraction from locked devices
by Cider9986 on 7/26/2026, 5:57:22 AM
Comments
by: prmoustache
What GrapheneOS is missing is a complete backup and restore solution so that people can preventively wipe their smartphone before crossing the border. It would be nice to have the possibility to backup/restore every app and their data from an ssh/sftp server the way google/apple users do with google cloud / icloud. I'd rather wipe my smartphone, only add a couple of direct contacts, a copy of my passport and the pdf of my plane tickets, take the plane and cross the border with a smartphone with very little but real personal data they already know and be able to provide my PIN/password to law enforcement if they ask for it, abiding with law if such a law exist (which is the case in my home country), than using a duress and risk prosecution.<p>Sure that doesn't protect your data from any other attack vector but it allows you to travel with less risk of getting detained by law enforcement of a country you are visiting. You get asked your password, you can give it, and they see a phone that is used like a dumbphone. If you get questioned for that a simple "my phone died yesterday, a friend just gave me his old pixel". If you need more stuff/information during your travel you would basically only need to remember the passphrase to access a password manager or a remote ssh server but you can restore only the stuff you need when travelling and and wipe again at any moment.<p>Having said that maybe it is better to set this up some way but not have it builtin so that law enforcement doesn't expect that any grapheneos user would have his data on an sftp server somewhere by default. Otherwise we are back to point 0 where they would ask to connect to it and restore to a phone they own. Oh and have a dummy google account you only used to purchase a couple of silly stuff on amazon, aliexpress and shein and random subscription of various "non risky subjects" on youtube. The gmail address would quickly be filled with enough spam to look genuine.<p>I am travelling abroad in 3 weeks for a month and I am seriously considering wiping up my grapheneOS phone before flying. I am wary that I could be targeted at a border just for having a google pixel with grapheneOS. Or maybe I should just leave my main phone at home and only travel with a new empty 150€ phone with only my main family emergency contacts. I don't remember ever being asked to show my smartphone at a border but you never know when it will happen. Thanksfully until you reboot it there is nothing that shows from the lockscreen that it is not running the regular google pixel android.
7/26/2026, 9:09:13 AM
by: rzk
I think this has been posted in response to this news story [1] to clarify that GrapheneOS has strong protection against data being extracted even without a duress PIN/password.<p>On a related note, a recent article [2] also describes how GrapheneOS helped a journalist protect his work and his confidential sources citing the 18-hour auto-reboot feature that returns the device to Before First Unlock (BFU) mode, where keys cannot be extracted.<p>[1] <i>A US man is being prosecuted after allegedly using a GrapheneOS duress PIN to wipe his Pixel during a border search</i> – <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/23/cop-city-protester-phone" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/23/cop-city-pro...</a><p>[2] <i>A Journalist had his mobile phone seized. Did using GrapheneOS protect his data?</i> – <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Journalist-Richard-Medhurst-had-his-mobile-phone-seized-Did-using-a-secure-phone-protect-his-data" rel="nofollow">https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Journalist-Richard-Me...</a>
7/26/2026, 8:32:14 AM
by: LoganDark
It does not look like he wiped the phone himself or destroyed any evidence. Law enforcement did by attempting to use the PIN.
7/26/2026, 8:55:11 AM
by: robotswantdata
Relevant xkcd <a href="https://xkcd.com/538/" rel="nofollow">https://xkcd.com/538/</a>
7/26/2026, 8:26:11 AM
by: LoganDark
Wow, I did not know Android had a password length limit of 16. The password I typically use for my devices nowadays is longer than that, but for Android I always just used pattern lock.
7/26/2026, 8:56:49 AM