• Public

  • Public
  • Network
  • Groups
  • Featured
  • Popular
  • People

1) Encrypt your phone Encryption means the data on your device is coded so that it can't be read without decoding it with a key. Encryption for iPhones is turned on automatically if you put in a passphrase, and for Android phones you can turn it on in security settings. If your phone isn't encrypted, anyone who has your phone can see your content by copying it to a computer even if they don't know your passphrase. 2) Use a strong passphrase Because encryption hides your data behind a passphrase, encryption is only useful if you have a strong passphrase. A good passphrase has a mix of numbers and letters and should be as long as you can convince yourself to use. Consider making a password of five or more random words plus a number. Do not use the swipey unlock feature and do not use a passcode that's all numbers -- they are easy to break. I know it is inconvenient to have to type a bunch of characters each time you want to look at your phone, but it is even more inconvenient to have the contents of your phone used to lock up people you care about. Fingerprint or facial recognition are not good enough for securing your phone, because police are allowed to force you to unlock them and they can sometimes be bypassed.  I know it is inconvenient to have a long passcode that you have to put in a hundred times a day. But it is even more inconvenient to have all your messages and photos read by police.