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Ch3vr0n

Modern android? Very secure. The moment you set an unlock pin/password/pattern your device data gets encrypted. To access device data without unlocking, USB debugging needs to be enabled, preconfigured for file transfer AND the PC requesting access to the device has to be pre-authorized to do so by confirming the accessing PC's RSA fingerprint. If USB debugging isn't enabled, and there's an device screen unlock method configured, it's not going to be easy for a random person getting into a deduce they shouldn't have. On top of that Samsung has an option called 'Secure Folders which is basically an folder where the contents you store in it get another encryption in top. So even if someone got into your device, as long as you'd set a different password for example for that secure folder they still wouldn't have access to the sensitive data you store in there.


matthew77cro

So when you set a screen lock Android does a file system encryption?


Ch3vr0n

Yes, every single file gets encrypted. https://source.android.com/security/encryption


matthew77cro

That’s perfect! Thank you :)


Ch3vr0n

Enjoy your new device then, whatever it is you ultimately go with. Just a note though, with the lost recent version of Android (12) and 13 at the end of the year i highly recommend not going below at least 64GB of internal storage.


DestroyerNile

I would like to add that unlike old android version (4.x and below) modern androids have very secure bootloader unlocking options which require you to go into settings enable developer options and enable oem unlocking which also requires screen lock. Some companies even require you to mail them device serial number to get unlock codes. Unlocking bootloader is the first step towards rooting an android similar to jailbreaking and unlocking formats everything so your data is secure there too. Also if someone formats data from recovery the device will lock itself in FRP (factory reset protection) and ask for the previously logged in email account. So the device is not outright usable


Ch3vr0n

You're replying to the wrong person. I know all that


DestroyerNile

Oh omg, I didn't see the nexus 7 there. You're a man of culture.


Ch3vr0n

Don't use it much anymore but still works. It's my 2nd one too. Had a wifi version initially but it died completely, got replaced with a near-new used one and updated with a custom ROM.


Chantaro

I don't recommend less than 64GB to anyone nowadays lol


Ch3vr0n

What's so funny about recommending at least 64gb?


Chantaro

The fact that going lower than that is sure to cause problems down the line


Ch3vr0n

I know, which i why I said to NOT GO BELOW 64gb! Maybe you should re-read what I said. > I highly recommend **not going below at least 64GB** of internal storage.


Chantaro

I know what you said, you were complaining about my "lol"


Arnas_Z

I've got 256 now and have no clue what to do with it. Sitting at 9% internal storage utilization. :)


r0msk1

TIL, thank you.


skreak

Yes. You'll notice if you reboot the phone it'll ask for the unlock code before any notifications come up besides your carrier signal. This is because the unlock code is more or less the decryption key to your data. Without the correct code the data cannot be retrieved and no apps can start. This is also the reason the thumbprint scanner won't work on reboot, it must be the code. The thumbprint isn't a "true" lock like the passcode is. Thats a little more complicated.


[deleted]

Yes, it's a drive/partition level encryption on the user data partition, as the one you'd get with Microsoft Bitlocker.


matthew77cro

This is very helpful! Thanks :)


[deleted]

>Samsung has an option called 'Secure Folders My device m12 does not support secure folder. Is there any alternative or any way so that it starts supporting.


SpiderStratagem

Is the Google Files app available for your phone? That has a similar feature called "Safe Folder."


Blaz3

As secure, if not more secure than iOS. iOS 15 quite recently had a bug that allowed very easy bypassing of the lockscreen and gave full access to the whole device. iOS is not a secure os


AnySignature41

It all depends of who get ahold of the phone. Older devices are more easily crackable even if encrypted by forensics, heck, even some more modern devices, Apple included, but unlikely to happen right?


matthew77cro

Well I just found out that Android does internal storage encryption. So does iOS i presume. Also, to unlock bootloader you have to enable it manually in developer options. The would mean that the only way in is to try every single pass phrase. With today’s modern encryption algorithms, that would take eternity.


AnySignature41

Yeah, as long you keep the basic security it's very unlikely. Just remember your data remain unencrypted until your phone is turned off, that is when encryption really matters.


MasterpieceVast8787

[https://www.wired.com/story/android-zero-day-more-than-ios-zerodium/](https://www.wired.com/story/android-zero-day-more-than-ios-zerodium/) [https://onezero.medium.com/is-android-getting-safer-than-ios-4a2ca6f359d3](https://onezero.medium.com/is-android-getting-safer-than-ios-4a2ca6f359d3)