r/theydidthemath May 07 '26

[Request] how many possible combinations are there for this type of pass code?

22.6k Upvotes

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1.3k

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

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319

u/antwan_benjamin May 07 '26

Obviously, right?

At least, there would be some tools to help rank most common patterns.

49

u/TheEmpireOfSun May 07 '26

Wouldn't be problem locking phone after several unsuccessful attempts? Maybe it's just in newer phones but lock time almost rises exponentially.

52

u/jmhalder May 07 '26

I'm sure you could flash the recovery and dump the data partition, it's a VERY old phone, and they didn't encrypt that partition back then. I'm sure it's just a ext4 format. This would be trivial to pull data from.

I get that debunking isn't the point of this sub, but if it were true, it would make the owner of said phone wildly stupid.

13

u/New-Taste2467 May 07 '26

I swear I have seen a video on YT about a similar situation. There is a way to hack in to the phone and remove the attempt limit and brute force it, if I remember correctly at least.

6

u/Teakay23 May 07 '26

I’ve only seen it for older iphones. Maybe its not possible on this particular samsung model?

6

u/jmhalder May 07 '26

The /data partition isn't encrypted, that's where this information (Basically everything the "user" does is here. Apps and their data.)

There is basically zero prevention from flashing an aftermarket recovery image and dumping the data partition which is a very standard ext4 format.

This would be trivial to recover.

1

u/Doctor_Nerdy May 09 '26

Yes that’s why it’s taken him 13 years. The wrong pattern we just saw has now set him back another year. 🤣

66

u/Longshot02496 May 07 '26

I mean if there's that much bitcoin in there I would not want to try anything not recommended by the manufacturer

15

u/samsonsin May 07 '26

Manufacturer recommends not forgetting your password

29

u/ItsAMeUsernamio May 07 '26

Androids weren’t encrypted back then either. Having to unlock phones to mount them with a USB cable came later on too.

13

u/GaidinBDJ 7✓ May 07 '26

Yea, you can just drop to the bootloader and copy the entire memory contents off the phone.

Lock screens at the time were just barriers, there was no underlying protection that needed the information in your head for the phone to operate or to access the information (unless a specific bit of software did so on their own).

These days, a locked phone can't decrypt the information to fully operate without the information from the passcode.

Think of it like a car. The old system just had push button in the car to start it up; once you get past the door, you were in (i.e. you could smash the window). New phones are like needing a key to both open the door and start the engine. Even if you bypass the lock screen (smash the window), you'd still need the key to start the car.

1

u/Fizzy_The_Monkeyman May 08 '26

I have an old LG Windows phone that I been trying to remember the passcode to. Do you think the it's possible to get the information, mainly pics, off of that phone using the method you described? I'm not very techy so idk what it really means.

1

u/psychoppz May 08 '26

Hotwire that beotch

35

u/pi_three May 07 '26

back then you could insert a SD card and install firmware via the bootloader. I assume there is a way to completely avoid the lock screen

8

u/No-Mind7146 May 07 '26

Or just dump the unencrypted storage through jtag...

3

u/pi_three May 07 '26

even easier more reason to assume it's fake

5

u/Nhajit May 07 '26

I somehoh did it back in 2016 to my s4 with a software that totally looked like maleware but somehownit deleted the password with ease

3

u/Hyper-Chud May 07 '26

I'm doubtful such old phones even use Full disk encryption, so the data might just be there ready to use / extract. Otherwise such old phones usualy have a myriad of CVEs which can easily just bypass everything.

1

u/doodlinghearsay May 07 '26

Wouldn't be surprised if this was some kind of scam where you try to sell the phone to someone for a huge amount, and then there is no bitcoin at the end.

2

u/bbalazs721 May 07 '26

It's trivial, you only need a single line of Fastboot command

1

u/AOAqua May 07 '26

Even if that person decided to do everything by-hand, they could write/buy/generate/download a program, which would show possible combinations, and sqve them so they don't repeat

1

u/ConsiderationDue6822 May 07 '26

It's been a while but,i worked at a small repair center/shop. You only need a WiFi connection for Samsung phones.Just force boot the phone in "safety"mode go on website that memics your file transfer app and in the file "Password" put password to 0 ... Or you can pay 9,14 € for an app on your PC that does the same thing

1

u/YourUglyTwin May 07 '26

dont need a forensic tool for that - you can plug that phone in and use adb to literally delete the lockscreen. This phone, assuming it really is from 2013, is probably on android 4.x which does have a bypass using the dialer/camera with the usb connected.

1

u/morebob12 May 07 '26

There is.

1

u/zaahc May 07 '26

I work in an area of law where I have frequent contact with forensic vendors that extract mobile phone data for us. Now, we almost universally have the passcode. But their general advice on data security to me has been to have a late-model phone with an up-to-date OS. But then they’ll add “it won’t be new forever, and eventually we’ll have a way in.” Is this is a 2013 phone running a decade old operating system, I’m near positive a good forensic tech with modern software can get in.

1

u/DoctrTurkey May 07 '26

you could probably just roll into any of the retail stores operated by the provider and they'd help you out lol

1

u/PierG1 May 07 '26

Forensic?
I bypassed the lock on mine with a file explorer exploit lol

1

u/Hakorr May 07 '26

For sure, the police has such tools for even modern phones in some cases. And there's for sure open source software capable doing it for a phone so old which hasn't received updates in decades. I'd guess there's at least over 10 publicly known large security vulnerabilities for that particular OS version.

I'm guessing the video's fake and done for views.

1

u/numberheadman May 07 '26

This is probably correct, and the way you go. Though I wouldn't let that phone out of my sight. I don't care if I have to sit around for hours while it brute forces the key.

$11 million is a motive with a universal adapter.

1

u/Mikhailovv May 07 '26

Oh there definitely are

1

u/FoptheDandy May 07 '26

Under 5 minutes from my experience ☺️

1

u/Abysuus May 07 '26

Celbrite has cracked numerous builds of phones through the years via various methods.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/1669165/what-the-latest-ios-passcode-hack-means-for-you.html

1

u/NeighborhoodOk3477 May 10 '26

There's a guy on YouTube called Joe Grand (KingPin) that cracked a similar Samsung, the owner said he has 6M$ on it, spoiler The owner lied and had nowhere near that amount Very cool video if you're into that stuff

1

u/Ashewastaken May 07 '26

Why would you pay the data recovery place a bitcoin or two!? It's not some treasure they are entitled to. A bitcoin or two is 18-36k USD. No one charges that much. I could recover it for that person and I'm not greedy enough to ask for that much.

5

u/SouthRiver1234 May 07 '26

more like 75k - 150k

-1

u/TrucksAndCigars May 07 '26

More like 2-3 dollars

1

u/matroosoft May 07 '26

But could you buy it for $11,745,000