With the recent news of the FBI being able to break into Apple’s iOS, it’s safe to say that the need to keep your data protected is at an all time high. That said, it is best to take precaution with your personal data when it’s on a handheld device by encrypting it on Android or iOS smartphones.
CNET wrote a comprehensive walkthrough on how your can add an extra security layer for your data encryption. For the complete write-up and video, you can head to CNET’s page here. If you want a quick list, we wrote it down below:
iOS
With iOS 8, device encryption has been part of Apple’s ecosystem. In order to activate it, you need to set a security code or fingerprint scan. A strong numerical passcode or password is recommended to ensure that the data stays encrypted.
– Head to Settings
– Select Touch ID & Passcode (or Passcode for older devices without a fingerprint sensor)
– Click on the Turn Passcode On option
– Enter a strong passcode or password
Android
Android is a little trickier as data encryption is available to certain Android devices. Anything Google Nexus will come with data encryption but for none-Google Nexus devices, you’ll need to have Android 6.0 Marshmellow installed. Newer devices such as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will have data encryption and accessing it is similar to the iOS.
– Head to Settings
– Click Security
– Select Screen Lock
– Create a security code
Older Android devices will require a manual encryption which you can head over to CNET to see how it is done.
Encrypting data can be a cumbersome task but if you want to make sure that your personal information does not fall at the wrong hands, it’s best to take some precautions.
Source: CNET
