Mobile phones are ubiquitous in today’s world: you’re bound to find more people who have a mobile phone than a landline. The increase in mobile phone ownership has brought an increase in cyber threats, making robust phone security essential. Hackers are increasingly targeting not only computers but phones and tablets.
One way to address threats and privacy concerns is to encrypt your phone. If you’re wondering, “What is phone encryption?” and “Is encrypting your phone worth it?”, then you’ve come to the right place.
Keep reading to find out exactly what cell phone encryption is and the benefits that come with it.
What Does It Mean to Encrypt My Phone?
The meaning of device encryption is simpler than it may seem – in essence, an encrypted phone refers to a mobile phone of which all data has been ‘locked’, protecting files and data from unauthorized access.
With proper device encryption settings, here’s the kind of mobile phone data you can keep safe:
- Addresses
- Personal information
- Card information
- Contacts
- Photos and videos
- Passwords
- And more…
Encryption jumbles up this data, turning it into a tangle of indecipherable information. Verifying that you’re the owner of the phone and deciphering the data requires a password, a PIN, or some other authentication method.
For iOS users, iPhone encryption is automatically enabled when you set up a passcode, providing built-in protection for your data.
Should I Encrypt My Phone?
Now that you understand what device encryption is, you might be wondering whether encrypting your phone is a good idea and if so, how to go about it. There are numerous benefits to phone encryption (more on this later), but it’s ideal if you want to:
- Prevent cybercriminals from accessing your data
- Protect your data should you lose your phone
As a security measure, phone security through encryption adds an essential layer of protection that could be the difference between having your personal information stolen and keeping your data safe from cybercriminals.
So, if you’re thinking about whether you should enable device encryption settings on your Android or enable iPhone encryption, the answer is: probably, yes.
Benefits of Encrypting Your Phone
If you’re still undecided about phone encryption, here are some additional benefits to note.
Avoid Data Theft
Think about how much data we keep and transmit on our phones: contacts (phone numbers), addresses, credit card information, personal photos, logins, and other personal tidbits.
This makes us vulnerable to data theft, which could lead to exploitation or identity fraud. You can relieve yourself of this concern when you choose to implement phone security through encryption: you’ll make it harder for cybercriminals to decode and access your information.
Safeguard Your Photos and Videos
Without encryption, your personal photos and videos could be in the hands of cybercriminals who might threaten to expose them, blackmailing you for money or other valuables.
Keep in mind that encryption doesn’t protect you from catfishes on networking apps, but it can protect your photos and videos from being accessed.
Recovering Files After a Factory Reset
You might think that a factory reset will remove all your files when you switch or upgrade phones, but this isn’t always the case. Criminals can still find ways to restore files even after a reset, meaning that your files aren’t always private.
By configuring proper device encryption settings before resetting your phone, any data that is recovered will be already encrypted, making it virtually impossible for others to use the recovered data against you.
Protect Your Devices with iolo
Now that you understand what phone encryption is, knowing how you can protect your phone, your other devices, and your internet connections is key.
A VPN, or virtual private network, is an effective and easy way to protect your devices while they’re connected to the internet, whether you’re at home, traveling, or sitting in a cafe. VPN software works by connecting you to the internet through an encrypted tunnel, which disguises your identity and location and prevents hackers and others from accessing your personal data.
To learn more, check out ioloVPN: it offers comprehensive end-to-end, 256-bit encryption and easy, one-click protection for up to five devices at once.
