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[Q] Data Encryption feature in TF

HI All,
has anyone used the Data Encryption feature on the TF? Are there any known issues? I want to be able to secure my personal data and also my work data stored on my TF.

I was too afraid as every encryption software we have tried in my company has caused performance hits. It's probably the same with the TF.

Kilmar said:
I was too afraid as every encryption software we have tried in my company has caused performance hits. It's probably the same with the TF.
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Click to collapse
That's exactly what I was afraid of too... But there has to be another way to protect my private data and work data...
Mike

I don't think encryption should cause any performance issues. The storage should be decrypted upon boot and then behave normally. That's how laptop full disk encryption works anyway, no performance hit.
The only downside I can see is issues with recovery software etc...
I'm not sure what it encrypts exactly. Maybe just user data? Just the SD card? Full flash?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

csmall said:
I don't think encryption should cause any performance issues. The storage should be decrypted upon boot and then behave normally. That's how laptop full disk encryption works anyway, no performance hit.
The only downside I can see is issues with recovery software etc...
I'm not sure what it encrypts exactly. Maybe just user data? Just the SD card? Full flash?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
mind if i ask you where you got this information? it doesn't really make any sense. decrypting an entire drive would be incredibly slow.

finalhit said:
mind if i ask you where you got this information? it doesn't really make any sense. decrypting an entire drive would be incredibly slow.
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You wouldn't decrypt the entire volume at once though, just what you were trying to access.

You don't actually have to decrypt the disk to access it. It has the key so it can just gain access. The drive is still encrypted, you just can access it. I may not be wording it properly.
Actually decrypting a disk will take time yes. But that isn't the case with accessing it.

that's how i understand encryption works. the password you use merely unlocks the key which is used to decrypt files on demand. of course, the decryption does take a toll on performance, especially on system files that get accessed often.
so it wouldn't be completely without a performance hit.
i do use full encryption on my ubuntu install (i believe including swap) and although it's not noticeable most of the time, i think when things get busy, i does add some overhead.

[Q] Encryption

Hey there. Can't find any info about encryption and what it brings, so I'll just fire away a few questions about details for that matter. Not that I'm so obsessed with security, more like just curious about the possibility. And keeping things under protection is nice when dealing with business stuff.
What encryption brings? Only data in encrypted, or apps/system too?
Would someone be able to get something from TF by connecting it to a PC? Or he will fail even using ADB or nvflash?
How secure we're speaking about? Any info on encryption method and key length in bits.
If I forget my password, or any other weird thing happen, could I reset it with nvflash, loading new clean images? Maybe encrypted volumes are handled differently, and it's not so easy...
Clockwork Recovery. Would it work perfectly fine with encrypted tablet?
Custom ROMs (like Prime!). Any possible problems when messing with system files without total wipe?
Performance. How bad it could be affected? I'm not sure Tegra2 has RSA-optimized module built-in (or whatever method it's using).
Unlocking. Will I be prompted to enter password every time I see unlock screen, or only when I reboot?
Any known limitations, like password length (I like to set long passwords, it's more efficient and easier to remember).

Bump - heard that HC 3.2 enabled encryption at last. Anyone tried it and can answer any of my questions?

Never done it myself, but from information I read:
tixed said:
Hey there. Can't find any info about encryption and what it brings, so I'll just fire away a few questions about details for that matter. Not that I'm so obsessed with security, more like just curious about the possibility. And keeping things under protection is nice when dealing with business stuff.
What encryption brings? Only data in encrypted, or apps/system too?
Would someone be able to get something from TF by connecting it to a PC? Or he will fail even using ADB or nvflash?
How secure we're speaking about? Any info on encryption method and key length in bits.
If I forget my password, or any other weird thing happen, could I reset it with nvflash, loading new clean images? Maybe encrypted volumes are handled differently, and it's not so easy...
Clockwork Recovery. Would it work perfectly fine with encrypted tablet?
I guess this should be fine.
Custom ROMs (like Prime!). Any possible problems when messing with system files without total wipe?
Performance. How bad it could be affected? I'm not sure Tegra2 has RSA-optimized module built-in (or whatever method it's using).
I read that this would have lesser performance since it has to be decrypted on fly and also affects battery.
Unlocking. Will I be prompted to enter password every time I see unlock screen, or only when I reboot?
I guess every time when you unlock.
Any known limitations, like password length (I like to set long passwords, it's more efficient and easier to remember).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I found THIS little tid bit after a Google search.
I do know that it does NOT encrypt your removable MicroSD card or SD card. The encryption can take a considerable amount of time to encrypt all your data (1 to 3 hrs and has to be powered on and at 100%). It will require a PIN or Password prompt at power on and possibly for other data sensitive action. It will also allow for password mining which is the process by which you are required to reenter a new password after so long. Also once you encrypt the only way back is a factory reset. If you lose your PIN or Password your SOL about getting your sensitive data back.
You might be better off using an app that can encrypt individual files that you choose.
Cheers...

tixed said:
What encryption brings? Only data in encrypted, or apps/system too?
Would someone be able to get something from TF by connecting it to a PC? Or he will fail even using ADB or nvflash?
How secure we're speaking about? Any info on encryption method and key length in bits.
If I forget my password, or any other weird thing happen, could I reset it with nvflash, loading new clean images? Maybe encrypted volumes are handled differently, and it's not so easy...
Clockwork Recovery. Would it work perfectly fine with encrypted tablet?
Custom ROMs (like Prime!). Any possible problems when messing with system files without total wipe?
Performance. How bad it could be affected? I'm not sure Tegra2 has RSA-optimized module built-in (or whatever method it's using).
Unlocking. Will I be prompted to enter password every time I see unlock screen, or only when I reboot?
Any known limitations, like password length (I like to set long passwords, it's more efficient and easier to remember).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had a brief experience with encryption before I wiped back to stock. I would strongly recommend against it unless you wish to stick to a stock system and very much need that type of security. From what I remember of my experience:
The data partition is encrypted (not sure what else, but not MicroSD). When your device boots, a prompt that somewhat resembles a lockscreen pops fairly early on when the OS attempts to mount those partition(s). Thereafter, everything is accessible as usual; you can grab things via ADB. You do not have to constantly enter the password (though you would probably want to lockscreen your device as general good practice). As to what nvflash would get you, I'm not sure, since that would be before the partition mount...probably nothing usable. The problem with having an encrypted partition is that CWM at moment can't really do anything useful to those partitions. You cannot flash, backup, or restore via CWM. This means your ability to work with custom ROMs is effectively crippled. In fact, to undo the encryption (or if you forget your password), I had to nvflash back to stock. Factory reset via CWM cannot be done since, again, the partitions are still encrypted.
If in the future, CWM is able to access the partitions like the stock recovery can, then you'd be fine. Performance was not noticeably slower in anyway.

Thanks for the replies. This feature seems pretty grim at the moment. Well, we can all hope that Google and ASUS will update it properly. At least, they did a lot of good updates recently.

[Q] Nexus S Stock ICS "Encrypt Phone" details?

Hi all,
So I've got a new Nexus S, and I'm running the stock 4.0.3 from Google. This phone hasn't yet been rooted or had the bootloader unlocked.
I'm a big security fan, and I've read about how tools exist that can simply slurp all the data off a phone without even breaking a sweat, and I'd like to be able to defeat such abilities. Ideally, I'd even like to be able to have su access to a device as the authorized user and owner (This is a Wind Mobile Canada phone, the carrier has no stake in it at all). I remember hacking away at my T-Mobile G1, and being a little concerned that merely pressing a button to get into the recovery at boot-time would enable full access to everything on the device for a knowledgeable attacker.
So I see under "Settings - Security" there's an "Encrypt Phone" option. Google has documentation here for the Galaxy Nexus, but it lacks specifics.
Can anyone here provide or point me to proper details? What is encrypted, how is it encrypted, how strong is the encryption, how much impact does this have on performance and battery life?
*edit - I just found this. If I'm reading this right, this is FDE on the /data partition, which is very good. Still doesn't do anything for the sdcard/usb partition though.

Have you tried it? On my Nexus S 4g (which is, I grant you, slightly different) it DOES encrypt the sdcard as well. I'm interested in other's experiences with FDE. Particularly weaknesses and developing procedures for restoring/flashing after enabling FDE.

Hi,
As part of setting up a work email account, I had to encrypt my Nexus S including the SD card. Unfortunately, that meant that I could not access the SD card to transfer music, photos...or most importantly, new ROMs to flash. I did a factory reset, which seemed to be the only option to get rid of it.
I have now gone back to Gingerbread as it does not have full encryption as an option ( so allows me to keep my work exchange account with just a pin password) But I am keen to try ICS again.
Does anyone have any solution for accessing the SD card on an encrypted phone?
Cheers

What would be really interesting if there is a way to password protect the bootloader. Does anyone know?
Best regards,
SuperMaz

lgl164vl unlock factory reset protection i am asking how to do it

i purchased this phone lgl164vl from a person i cannot get a hold of anymore and did factory reset now i cannot use it because i donot know old google account. how can i make this phone useable for me?

Factory reset without Google account
I will attempt to give ya advice on this. I have just recently purchased this device too lgl164vl, ie fiesta 2 lte, and from it's quick start guide I will be quoting from it says...
Under anti-theft guide
add your google account on your device
"After your device is protected, you'll need to either unlock or enter your Google account password if you need to do a factory reset. This ensures that you or someone you trust is doing the reset."
(Note) "DO NOT forget your Google account and password you had added to your device prior to performing a factory reset. If you can't provide the account information during the setup.process, you won't be able to use the device AT ALL after performing the factory reset."
Really sorry to give you such troubling news, and let's hope the screen lock and account wasn't set up for anti theft by previous owner, for if the anti theft was activated and you can't get ahold of the original owner I'm afraid you have been screwed. For everything is saved to Google's cloud on that one account it was setup with, and as far as I'm aware, at least until a custom recovery is made for this device, it's more or less bricked (as you can't use it.)
Hopefully this isn't the case and perhaps it's a network issue on which I have no advice.

thanks for the reply
Edicius_bizaar said:
I will attempt to give ya advice on this. I have just recently purchased this device too lgl164vl, ie fiesta 2 lte, and from it's quick start guide I will be quoting from it says...
Under anti-theft guide
add your google account on your device
"After your device is protected, you'll need to either unlock or enter your Google account password if you need to do a factory reset. This ensures that you or someone you trust is doing the reset."
(Note) "DO NOT forget your Google account and password you had added to your device prior to performing a factory reset. If you can't provide the account information during the setup.process, you won't be able to use the device AT ALL after performing the factory reset."
Really sorry to give you such troubling news, and let's hope the screen lock and account wasn't set up for anti theft by previous owner, for if the anti theft was activated and you can't get ahold of the original owner I'm afraid you have been screwed. For everything is saved to Google's cloud on that one account it was setup with, and as far as I'm aware, at least until a custom recovery is made for this device, it's more or less bricked (as you can't use it.)
Hopefully this isn't the case and perhaps it's a network issue on which I have no advice.
Click to expand...
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maybe some one might come up with something i hope. is there anything that could be put on sd card then put sd card in phone and when phone is turned on sd card takes control? by putting some type of application on phone to take care of this

lol, good one
these tracfone things are really tight; they don't want you to keep using it without the tracfone service, like if you root it to switch to some other service
pretty much a throwaway or you might be able to use it without phone, just wifi
sorry no info; i was hoping for more info myself.
.
I'm trying to discover if the sd card can be configured as internal storage or not. Some providers disable this feature. The system says 'the card SHOULD be used as portable storage' and does not give the option to use it as internal storage (so I can expand my download capacity for pandora).
So, hopefully I can get an answer here: can I buy a faster card that the phone will be able to use as internal storage or is it really locked out regardless? I don't want to waste money on a card I don't need.
How fast should the card be? What rating? I believe it is at least class 10. (it is UHS-I/U3 Class 10)
Is it possible to 'force' the phone to use it as internal storage using ADB? (i read about this somewhere)
if so, please howto, thanks
{figured no need for new thread, don't expect it to work out, stupid tracfones, lol} ... i can do a new thread if you think i should, if there is positive info, thanks

update:
i managed to get the 'auto-install sdcard internal' program to work.. aftiss (https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/auto-formatting-sdcard-to-internal-t3583875)
seems to be doing ok so far; i migrated the data over to the sd card, it says it will start using the sd card as default app data and storage/downloads etc. But it did not say it uses the sdcard for app binaries.
The goal for me here is to get Pandora to use the sdcard to download the music with the Prime subscription for offline play, as I have tracfone and not an unlimited data plan.
It seems like it should work just fine, as music is not nearly as demanding as video, less bandwidth, about 192kBps, i think. (or maybe small b? yes, small b, like Kbps). So, really even an older sdcard should be able to do it.
With the premium (not prime) service from pandora you get your 4 most listened to channels downloaded automatically. The difference is $5/month vs $10/month.
The Prime lets you do playlists and individual songs. You have a 'my music' button to add to your offline cache. I suppose there is an automatic download as well. They say they will leave 500mb free at all times.
I suppose it may be inappropriate to talk about a pay service here, idk.

friimynd said:
update:
i managed to get the 'auto-install sdcard internal' program to work.. aftiss (https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/auto-formatting-sdcard-to-internal-t3583875)
seems to be doing ok so far; i migrated the data over to the sd card, it says it will start using the sd card as default app data and storage/downloads etc. But it did not say it uses the sdcard for app binaries.
The goal for me here is to get Pandora to use the sdcard to download the music with the Prime subscription for offline play, as I have tracfone and not an unlimited data plan.
It seems like it should work just fine, as music is not nearly as demanding as video, less bandwidth, about 192kBps, i think. (or maybe small b? yes, small b, like Kbps). So, really even an older sdcard should be able to do it.
With the premium (not prime) service from pandora you get your 4 most listened to channels downloaded automatically. The difference is $5/month vs $10/month.
The Prime lets you do playlists and individual songs. You have a 'my music' button to add to your offline cache. I suppose there is an automatic download as well. They say they will leave 500mb free at all times.
I suppose it may be inappropriate to talk about a pay service here, idk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey were you still running that LG phone really well?
I have a friend with one and I am trying to help him keep it up to date without rooting until later this year.

vonDubenshire said:
Hey were you still running that LG phone really well?
I have a friend with one and I am trying to help him keep it up to date without rooting until later this year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wound up ditching Pandora, sometimes a song will play with choppy sound, like cylon music, unacceptable
i reset the phone to factory specs and it works fine. It had a problem charging with the modifications. I tried a few different launchers and always had problems. It seems like it may have some protection against modifications, even as simple as using an alternative launcher. Even with the phone turned off it wouldn't charge.
However, I did discover the charger I was using has connection problems, or maybe the phone does. It is doing ok right now using a cable direct to computer.
The information I found regarding using the memory card as extended internal storage for apps is that Android no longer enables that option because it is unreliable. Perhaps it uses too much energy, i do not know. So, I'm going with stock for now. I disable all the google stuff I can and use f-droid, mainly.
It is a 'good' phone, but I'm still probably going to get a new one when the activation time runs out, rather than paying for another year of service. Possibly one could go month to month till a new phone is issued that is good enough to justify an upgrade. But even a new one of these is cheaper than another year of service and minutes.

How do you root the lgl164vl 7.0 ? Can it be done with no pc? I tried kingo root but stops at 90%

nope, it is trash; don't bother

Regain access to old data of mine

Hey Guys
Im in a bit of a situation here
It sounds a bit odd, but when making up my electronic stuff, i dug out my old Galaxy S7 and several other phones and i got a bit nostalgic about those times and what i did back then.
So i started charging them up and scrolling to the photos and messages of that time. (im not the type of guy who has everything synced, i mostly start from scratch on a new phone).
However on this device, i was not able to figure out the PIN Code nor the Google Account i was using back then.
So i am now trying to get access to this data by working around the pin code or something like that.
I thought that with the ADB shell i could do this and i found some hints on google about it. However as it looks, you need to have USB debugging enabled to get the shell access. Which of course i haven't and i cannot set as i am not able to get into the system the usual way.
There is no custom recovery or similar flashed on the device. Stock. I might even have wiped it back then but just curious And searching solutions for problems like that is in my nature.
So does anyone know a way how to get there?
I am not interested about the os or something, just my old personal data.
Is unlocking through odin still a thing? and can i get a custom recovery on the device that way WITHOUT loosing the data on the phone? so through that recovery i cloud get a shell to bypass the lockscreen?
Or is there just no solution to that?
I found that there is some SD Card installable flashes to bypass the lockscreen, but here i would first have to buy an SD Card. Since this is just a project i dont want to waste money. Do you guys know if this works for sure? I mean, can i even install this tool without a custom recovery? I have the menu option to apply updates from sd card in the standard recovery, just not sure if this does the trick.
Any other approach?
And yeah, i would probably find it out one day by just trying the codes, but it locks you for 60 minutes after every try now, so this would take ages ^^