Show HN: PanicLock – Close your MacBook lid disable TouchID –> password unlock

sseanieb about 4 hours ago 23 commentsRead Article on github.com

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Discussion (23 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews

quicklywilliam•about 2 hours ago

Great idea and implementation! If you are hesitant to install this for any reason, you can accomplish the same thing with this one liner:

  sudo bioutil -ws -u 0; sleep 1; sudo bioutil -ws -u 1

Edit: here's a shortcut to run the above and then lock your screen. You can give it a global keyboard shortcut in the Shortcuts app. https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/9362945d839140dbbf987e5bce9...

alin23•about 1 hour ago

Hook this to a lid angle below 30° trigger in https://lowtechguys.com/crank and you can easily make it run on a simple lowering of the lid

mrdomino-•about 3 hours ago

Neat idea.

I remember way back in the day, there was some question as to the legality of compelled unlocking of devices; IIRC, it’s been deemed legal to compel a fingerprint, but illegal (under the first amendment?) to compel entry of a password—IIRC, as long as that password hasn’t been written down anywhere.

I gather this is written to that end primarily? Or is there some other goal as well?

seanieb•about 2 hours ago

I wrote this after the case of a Washington Post reporter, Hannah Natanson, was compelled to unlock her computer with her fingerprint. This resulted in access to her Desktop Signal on her computer, revealing sources and their conversations.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/washington-post-raid-pro...

Edit: I've a lot more details about the legality and precedence on the apps landing page https://paniclock.github.io/

mrdomino-•about 2 hours ago

Cool, thank you.

420official•about 1 hour ago

While it's true that the legality of law enforcement forcing passwords in unclear, courts can absolutely force you to enter a password even if it's not written down by holding you in contempt indefinitely.

xoxxala•about 2 hours ago

The website has some more info on the biometric vs. password debate and legal situation:

https://paniclock.github.io/

whalesalad•42 minutes ago

Take it to the logical end - you can tie up / handcuff / sedate / restrain an individual in order to get their fingerprint (or, ahem, way worse) but you cannot extract a password from someones brain.

stavros•20 minutes ago

If it's in scope to "way worse" someone to get their fingerprint, I'm sure I can be very persuasive in getting their passwords.

freehorse•about 1 hour ago

This is great. I see many times "security advice" against biometrics replacing password unlock, but most of the time I am more worried about getting recorded by somebody/something while typing a password in the open than anything else. This makes it better for those other cases.

p0w3n3d•about 2 hours ago

What's the rationale? It should be described in the README.md IMO

seanieb•about 2 hours ago

That's good feedback. I just added it to the readme:

> "PanicLock fills a gap macOS leaves open: there is no built-in way to instantly disable Touch ID when it matters. Biometrics are convenient day-to-day, and sometimes preferable when you need speed or want to avoid your password being observed. But in sensitive situations, law enforcement and border agents in many countries can compel a biometric unlock in ways they cannot with a password. PanicLock gives you a one-click menu bar button, a customizable hotkey, or an automatic lock-on-lid-close option that immediately disables Touch ID and locks your screen, restoring password-only protection without killing your session or shutting down."

I've more details on the apps landing page - paniclock.github.io

itsdesmond•about 2 hours ago

A person might use it to stop someone getting into your computer through certain types of physical coercion, forcing your finger to the reader, or (much less likely but I’m sure security services know how) a copy of your fingerprint.

But it isn’t a why, it is a what. That what is a tool that lets you quickly disable Touch ID for whatever reason you want to.

ttul•about 2 hours ago

The 2026 version of "Boss Key".

Forgeties79•about 2 hours ago

PSA to iOS users: if you tap the lock button 5x it forces password-only unlocking. Useful at protests or any precarious situations with law enforcement.

jonpalmisc•about 1 hour ago

This still leaves your device in an AFU (after first unlock) state, with user data decrypted, and should not be treated as secure.

The only thing you can do (to protect your data from forensics, etc) is to return it to BFU by shutting it off.

seanieb•28 minutes ago

Correct. This is a classic security vs convenience tradeoff. I mention that trade off on the landing page, PanicLock vs Shutdown

> Use shutdown when you can, PanicLock when you can't. Shutting down is the most secure option—but when you need your Mac locked now and you'll be back in five minutes, PanicLock is your answer.

*PanicLock* - Fast "oh shit" button - Lid closed when in transit. - Instant lock (1 second). Disables Touch ID immediately - Preserves your session - Back to work in minutes

*Full Shutdown* - Maximum security - Purges encryption keys - Fully locks FileVault - Takes time to shutdown & restart - Kills your session

Forgeties79•31 minutes ago

Better than nothing and keeps them from having unlocked access. You can do it fast in your pocket.

chuckadams•about 2 hours ago

Bringing up the shutdown screen (hold lock and either volume button) will also do it.

itsdesmond•about 2 hours ago

I did not know that. That is extremely convenient. Thank you.

freehorse•about 1 hour ago

Tapping it 5 (6? 7? 20?) times works better while panicked, though.

sigio•about 1 hour ago

On GrapheneOS (and maybe android generic?) this calls the emergency number, I just found out (with a 5 second timer to cancel this luckily)

orthogonal_cube•about 2 hours ago

Honestly I’m surprised this wasn’t already a feature in macOS. Thank you for coding it and publishing as open-source!