Tips & Tutorials

How to Encrypt the Data on Your Android Phone

We spend a lot of time on our smartphones. We trust them with our personal information, and even the information of others, whether they’re friends, family, or colleagues. If you’re worried about protecting private information on your phone, especially in the case of loss or theft, then encrypting your data is the solution. Encryption is a security measure that makes the data on your phone unreadable to a computer or person who doesn’t have permission to access your device. This permission might be in the form of a passcode or fingerprint. This is a necessary precaution if you want to protect yourself against any future hassles related to a lost or stolen phone.

For newer models of iPhones, device encryption is built into the software, so that you only need to “lock” your phone with a passcode or fingerprint to enable encryption. Because of Google’s open platform, it hasn’t been easy to require that all Android phones be encrypted by default. However, newer Nexus and Galaxy devices and many devices with Marshmallow 6.0 have encryption enabled by default. Like the iPhone, you only need a passcode or fingerprint to activate device encryption. You can do this by going to your phone’s settings. Click “security.” Create a “screen lock.”

Read More: Why You Should Be Concerned About the Privacy of Your Phone

But if you have an older phone or operating system, that doesn’t mean your device doesn’t offer data encryption. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you’re trying to encrypt an older phone model, doing so could result in a performance lag. In addition, the only way to decrypt your phone is by performing a factory reset. With that in mind, the following will help you to activate device encryption.

The first step is to create a “screen lock” for your device. This won’t automatically enable encryption for older models, as stated. Next, go to your phone’s settings. Click “security” and then “encrypt phone.” Before you encrypt your phone, your phone will inform you of what you’re about to do. It will tell you to charge your phone and to make sure it remains plugged in. Encryption could take more than an hour, depending on how much data is on your phone. In addition, you can encrypt any SD cards connected to the device.

Download PSafe Total
In addition to encrypting your phone, download PSafe Total to ensure that your device is protected against malware 24/7. Furthermore, with PSafe Total’s anti-theft feature, you can even track, block, locate, or erase your data in the event that your phone gets lost or stolen.

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The dfndr blog is an informative channel that presents exclusive content on security and privacy in the mobile and business world, with tips to keep users protected. Populated by a select group of expert reporters, the channel has a partnership with dfndr lab's security team. Together they bring you, first-notice news about attacks, scams, internet vulnerabilities, malware and everything affecting cybersecurity.

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