There is no doubt that our mobile phones have become a necessity more than a luxury. With that, our phones have become the hub of sensitive information, including our financial information, personal photos, private messages, etc. At the same time, there is an increasing risk of cyberattacks and data breaches. Therefore, encrypting Android and iOS data has become important.
Encrypting your phone data is as simple as enabling the encryption feature on your phone. Sometimes, you are asked to use a strong password for added protection. Other than that, many third-party applications can be used to enable encryption.
In this blog, we will look into data encryption in detail and see how you can encrypt different types of phone data on Android devices and iOS phones.
What is Data Encryption?
Data encryption refers to encoding your data so that it no longer remains available in its original form. When you enable phone encryption, your data is stored in a form that is readable only when your phone is unlocked. In order to decrypt the encrypted data, you need to provide a decryption key, which is typically a password or PIN that you set when encrypting the phone.
Data encryption has many advantages. Cybercriminals struggle to decode your information, thereby taking a huge burden off your shoulders. Its other benefits are:
- Maintain data privacy
- Prevent your data from unauthorized access
- Protect data from theft and all forms of tampering
How to Encrypt Phone Data?
Here’s how you can enable encryption on your mobile phone for different types of files.
1. Encryption on Android Devices
Enabling encryption on Android devices is a straightforward process. Even if you lack technical know-how, you can still do it easily. Here are general steps that you can take to enable encryption on a phone of almost any make and model.
- Go to Settings on your phone.
- To find the encryption settings, tap on the Search Bar and type “encrypt.”
- Select the Encryption option.
- Follow the instructions given by your phone.
Note that if you are unable to find the Encryption option on your phone, it’s likely your phone cannot be encrypted, and you must contact the encrypted phone service providers for more details.
2. Encryption on iOS Phones
Setting up a Touch/Face ID or passcode to unlock an iPhone automatically encrypts it. However, you can still check this by visiting the Settings on your phone and then selecting Face ID & Passcode. Once there, you will see “Data Protection Is Enabled” written at the bottom of the page.
The best practice to follow when encrypting a phone is to create strong passwords, turn off automatic backups or any other unnecessary features, and update the software regularly.
3. Encrypting Photos and Videos
You can encrypt the photos and videos separately, too by using different file encryption apps. Rest assured, these apps, like AxCrypt, are completely safe and allow you to create encrypted containers where you can easily keep the photos and videos protected.
Other than that, there are built-in encryption features, like FileVault, where you can set strong passwords to secure your encrypted media.
4. Encrypting Messages
Besides complete phone encryption, it’s also possible to encrypt the messages on your devices. For that, there are two ways:
- Use the built-in encryption option, like iMessage on iOS devices. However, the sender and recipient must enable this option on their devices for it to work.
- The other option is to use a third-party application, like WhatsApp, which offers end-to-end encryption.
Both methods are secure and protect your messages from unauthorized access.
5. Encrypting Files and Documents
Again, you can encrypt the files and documents using a third-party application. The best ones include AxCrypt and Crypt4All. All you need to do is:
- Install the application on your phone.
- Select all the files and documents that you want to encrypt.
- Set a strong password or PIN.
That’s all! The app will encrypt your data, making the files accessible only through passwords.
Conclusion
To sum up, encryption keeps your data protected, and good encrypted phone service ensures the data is transmitted securely without any intervention from unauthorized people. This service is particularly valuable if you have highly sensitive personal or business information saved on your phone.
If you, too, are concerned about your personal data, follow the steps mentioned above to complete the encryption on your iPhone or Android. Just make sure your device is fully charged, as encryption is a long process and takes time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to encrypt your phone?
Absolutely! Encrypting your phone is completely safe. With encryption, you can protect all the data in your device from unauthorized access.
How to completely encrypt a phone?
Encrypting a phone requires a fully charged battery, as it can take some time. You need to go to your phone settings. Find Security or Encrypt in the settings, then set a PIN or password. Once set, all the data in the phone will be accessible with a password only.
How do I know if my device is encrypted?
In your phone Settings, go to Update & Security, and you will find the Device Encryption option. Tap on this option to find if your device is encrypted.
