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As someone else already pointed out, angle doesn't matter. Try using the fingerprint scanner with your phone upside down.

If you're really that worried about security, use a long password and don't enable TouchID.

This is true. I can unlock my Plus with the proper finger set at any angle to the sensor.
 
I realized that if I was ever robbed of my phone and killed, the perp could use my fingers to unlock the phone and get all my data. The dilemma is that I like the convenience of the fingerprint unlock and I didn't want to stop using it.

Here is my solution:
1. Set the phone to delete all data after 10 attempts.
2. Don't use the thumb, you have 10 fingers (hence the genius of Apple setting the number of attempts to 10!!)
3. For the finger you do use, set it at a different angle, so even if they guess the right finger, they have to also guess the correct angle.

Voila! A more secure phone.

When researchers used an artificial finger (complete with thumbprint and all), Touch ID wouldn't register it, because the capacitative ring failed to detect the potential difference from the finger, since the finger is dead.

Even if they cut off your finger, they wouldn't be able to unlock it.
 
If being robbed, killed, and having your dead fingers used to unlock the contents of your iPhone is a very likely possibility for you, then owning an iPhone is the least of your worries right now.

Address the issues that make your life that dangerous, OR the issues that make you think it's that dangerous. Then, worry about whether you want an iPhone.

The place where I volunteer does expose me to those possibilities, and I am not willing to give that up because of a phone. But I don't want to expose others which is why I am concerned about the data on the phone.

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When researchers used an artificial finger (complete with thumbprint and all), Touch ID wouldn't register it, because the capacitative ring failed to detect the potential difference from the finger, since the finger is dead.

Even if they cut off your finger, they wouldn't be able to unlock it.

But how long do you have to be dead or de-fingered for that capacitative difference to be ineffective? I doubt that I would be killed and then the perp would wait for my body to be de-capacitatified before trying to access my data.
 
The place where I volunteer does expose me to those possibilities, and I am not willing to give that up because of a phone. But I don't want to expose others which is why I am concerned about the data on the phone.

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But how long do you have to be dead or de-fingered for that capacitative difference to be ineffective? I doubt that I would be killed and then the perp would wait for my body to be de-capacitatified before trying to access my data.

Expose others? Do you keep incriminating information in your phone or what? You seem to be overly concerned about losing your data after you're dead and your OP sounds a lot like that one member who was preoccupied about being forced by the police to fingerprint unlock his iPhone (as if he had something to hide, i.e., a criminal), but wanted to keep using TouchID.
 
Expose others? Do you keep incriminating information in your phone or what? You seem to be overly concerned about losing your data after you're dead and your OP sounds a lot like that one member who was preoccupied about being forced by the police to fingerprint unlock his iPhone (as if he had something to hide, i.e., a criminal), but wanted to keep using TouchID.

No nothing incriminating, just information that is very personal.
If the police want to see what is on my phone, I am more than happy to comply.
 
No nothing incriminating, just information that is very personal.

Well, it's generally not a good idea to keep naked photos/sex videos in your iPhone regardless of who you are, but other than that I seriously doubt strangers intending to rob you care jack squat on a flying rock about your personal communications.
 
Well, it's generally not a good idea to keep naked photos/sex videos in your iPhone regardless of who you are, but other than that I seriously doubt strangers intending to rob you care jack squat on a flying rock about your personal communications.

No naked pics or videos.

There are people who do care about the people I know, but more importantly, I have an obligation to protect the information.

But this is all a distraction from the main point and as relevant as the number of Oscars that Ruth Gordon has earned (now there is a hint for you...good luck).

I didn't realize that the finger print reader works so well, even when the finger is at a 45 degree angle. Experimenting with tilting the finger itself. Not willing to do the nipple as someone had suggested.
 
The place where I volunteer does expose me to those possibilities, and I am not willing to give that up because of a phone. But I don't want to expose others which is why I am concerned about the data on the phone.

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But how long do you have to be dead or de-fingered for that capacitative difference to be ineffective? I doubt that I would be killed and then the perp would wait for my body to be de-capacitatified before trying to access my data.

Immediately. The moment blood no longer flows through it, it's done for.
 
There are people who do care about the people I know, but more importantly, I have an obligation to protect the information.

So you think you'd be targeted (out of all people) specifically for information on your iPhone and end up dead as a result?

Either you're paranoid (more likely) or just use a passcode instead if you're truly at risk (doubtful).
 
The place where I volunteer does expose me to those possibilities, and I am not willing to give that up because of a phone.

Then your next decisions need to be:

1. Whether the information you're worried about should be on your phone at all, or if it's more important to you to have the info than to risk it being compromised,

2. If an iPhone is not secure enough to safely hold that information, should you be carrying an iPhone, or most consumer-level smartphones for that matter?

If your volunteer position puts you in contact with people willing to kill you and use your fingers to access your phone's info, I have to wonder if they might be cunning enough to torture the passcode out of you first. Even TouchID is limited in what it can do (resetting the phone or disabling/changing TouchID requires the passcode, for example).

And I have to guess that if someone is rooting around someone's phone for info, rather than just stealing it and hocking it on craigslist for any cash they can get, then they've probably done their homework on what needs to be done.
 
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