When you are using smartphone devices you tend to keep all your crucial information handy by storing it in your device. But when you do that you must be extra careful because if it is misplaced or stolen, then all your data and personal information will be accessed by someone who can cause you harm. It is because of this reason that many users are opting for encryption on their smartphone devices.
Setbacks of encryption
There are few drawbacks when you are encrypting your data. Once you have started the encryption process, you must complete it by any chance if in the mid way you it stops then you will lose all your important data and information.
After you have encrypted your phone, then you have to deal with it because the only way to get back to the previous format is to reboot the phone in the factory settings meaning that you will be losing out all your data. The process cannot be reversed.
Your system will run slower than before because encryption consumes some overhead, which leads to the lagging performance of your device.
Therefore, before you start the process think again, whether your Smartphone consist any important details that need protection through encryption. If not, then there is no need to go for the encryption otherwise every time you use your device you have to unlock it with your passcode or PIN. Furthermore, the pattern lock that you loved so much would not be operating any more.
Difference between encrypted and normal device
When your device is encrypted then it means that every time you lock your phone all your information will be encrypted whereas in the normal device when you lock the phone it merely locks the screen and doesn’t do anything else.
The main factor about the encrypted phone is the PIN as it ensures that every detail on your phone is jumbled up.
The steps involved in the encryption process
In order to start the encryption process the basic requirement is a PIN. If you already have a PIN for locking your screen, then you are good to go with it else you have to create one. So once you have your PIN, you will have to follow the steps explained below and your phone information will be encrypted –
- Make sure your phone is plugged in because it might take longer depending on the amount of information that is stored in your device
- Go to the Settings, then select Security and then tap on the option under Encryption which says Encrypt phone
- It will now come up with the message that will remind you that you need to have your battery plugged in
- After going through the message tap on encrypt phone
- You will be asked for your PIN, after entering the PIN you will again be informed the risk of losing data if the process is interrupted
- You have to tap on the Encrypt phone button again
- The device reboots itself and tarts the encryption process
- The progress indicator will show you how much is left
- The device will again reboot itself automatically once the encryption is done
- Enter the PIN and your data will get decrypt
If you find Encrypted in your Security settings then you will know that your device is encrypted and you are now safe. If you feel that you do not need encryption, then think again, especially people who have so many corporate data and information stored in your phone. It will take a few seconds to transfer all the data from your phone to another phone so it is better to keep layers of protection. It will only save you from all your worries of information theft.
Guest article written by: Umpreet a young indian Blogger, loves to wirte about Android Tutorials, and tips and tricks to optimize your Android Device like a Boss. He is currently working on [tp lang=”en” only=”y”]Root My Android[/tp][tp not_in=”en”]Root My Android[/tp], which is a comparatively new blog.