Glossary
Device lock
A device lock is the PIN, password, pattern or biometric check that has to be cleared before anyone can use your phone, tablet or laptop. It protects the hardware rather than the account, and it stops doing anything the moment the screen is unlocked.
GlossaryPrivacyBillingSafety
Where you see it
You set it in the device's own security settings, next to the auto-lock delay that decides how long the screen stays open once you put the device down.
Why it matters
Almost every trace an adult platform leaves behind - saved logins, browser history, a session still signed in, a banner on the lock screen - is only as private as the device holding it. A short auto-lock delay does more practical work here than most browser settings, and on a device with no lock at all, private browsing and a strong password protect very little.