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

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

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?

> in sensitive situations, law enforcement and border agents in many countries can compel a biometric unlock in ways they cannot with a password.

If the threat model includes state-level actors, then disabling biometrics won't prevent data from being retrieved from physical memory. It would probably be wiser to enable disk encryption and have a panic button that powers down/hibernates the computer so that no unencrypted data remains on RAM.

The website says shutdown "takes time" and "kills your session" but a hibernation button would take effect just as fast and would preserve the session.

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.

This would be perfect if it could monitor the force with which the lid is closed (macs have accelerometers after all, either this info or an acceptable proxy could be derived?).

Gently close? no action.

Stronger, faster action? Disable touch ID

Slam shut in full panic? yeah disable all biometrics, lose all state, even wipe the ram and the filevault key if it's an option

I'm surprised Apple doesn't offer an option. On the iPhone you could do this by pressing the power button several times. Not sure if this still works because the iPhone 6 was my last one though.

This is awesome, thank you. Was just thinking about this problem the other day. Glad someone whipped something up.

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

The 2026 version of "Boss Key".

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.

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

If someone can force you to use touch id they can probably also force you to enter your password.

(If you’re about to comment about fingerprints on transparency film and balloons filled with warm water then yes good point)