Hello,
under settings ----> storage information about the Internal storage and the Phone storage are shown and there is the possibility to encrypt the Internal storage as well as the Phone storage.
I would like to encrypt the Internal storage because not only Apps are stored to the Internal storage but also data such as my text messages, contacts I have created or synchronized to my phone, account settings and more.
Before I encrypt the Internal storage I would like to know whether encrypting the Internal storage does have any negative impact on rooting and installing custom roms?
This is what I believe.
If I turn on the phone and use ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1 to backup the current rom the phone reboots into ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1 which starts the backup. The backup is stored in /mnt/sdcard/clockworkmod/backup.
/mnt/sdcard is the Phone storage. If the Phone storage is encrypted, it is only accessible after the screen lock PIN or password is entered while the phone is turned on.
If I use ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1 to backup the current rom the phone reboots into ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1 which starts the backup. In this case the encrypted Phone storage is not accessible by ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1 and therefore ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1 will not be able to safe the backup to the Phone storage.
That's why I believe that ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1 does not function if the Phone storage is encrypted. But I don't know whether I am right or wrong. I can not test this with simple means because it is not possible to undo encryption. To return to an unencrypted phone, it is necessary to perform a factory reset. Factory reset will permanently delete all data and customized settings. Testing this is very cumbersome.
Who knows something about this topic?
Good evening!
I want to sell my S4 i9505 and i want to securely erase the device. What I have done so far is to encrypt the device, then reset to factory settings (to delete the encryption key) and then I turned on the camera (full-hd video) until the memory was full and then I performed a factory reset again!
But i've just read that since Lollipop Android does not encrypt the entire storage but only full blocks ("fast encryption"). This is not good because before I have encrypted the device, I've deleted some files manually.
But I've found out that I could turn off the "fast encryption" on Samsung devices by unchecking it. But I am not sure, if I have unchecked this option.
Can I run the encryption again to encrypt the empty storage and then deleting the key again? Or does this have any disadvantages?
Sorry if I have some spelling mistakes, English is not my native language!
With Best Regards,
andrick_
Hello,
I unexpectedly had to do a factory reset on my S7 while the SD card was encrypted, as result the SD was not obviously readable afterward.
I saved part of the encrypted content of the SD card (basically the pictures) before formatting it and starting using it again, however I'm not able to recover this content.
I tried with the procedure I found on internet:
- saving the encrypted data
- format the SD card
- encrypt of it
- copy of the saved content back to the SD
- decrypt
However, at the decrypt state the phone don't move from an 'Analyzing SD card' phase.
Any idea? I'm afraid I should have saved all the content of the SD card...
Thank you
You should plug the SD card on to your PC using an SD Card reader. Open up CMD, and type diskpart.
After which, type list volume, and you will see the "drive letter" of your SD Card, type clean and afterwards...
Proceed to typing create partition primary size = "insert capacity of SD card here (mb" *w/o the quotation marks*
After which, type assign letter=F
It should work fine after this hopefully.
When you encrypt the SD card, Android makes a unique key that is stored in the Android trust store. When you factory reset the device, that key is lost. Permanently. Remember, the whole point of encryption is so malicious parties cannot access your data. If you could just read it again after factory resetting then there isn't much point is there? Your only option is brute-forcing it.
Always backup. Always.
CurtisMJ said:
When you encrypt the SD card, Android makes a unique key that is stored in the Android trust store. When you factory reset the device, that key is lost. Permanently. Remember, the whole point of encryption is so malicious parties cannot access your data. If you could just read it again after factory resetting then there isn't much point is there? Your only option is brute-forcing it.
Always backup. Always.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you
I do have a backup, however it was more convenient to restore the 20GB of photos from the SD rather than from the cloud.
I was reading some guides on internet with this procedure that's why I tried.
I will survive, thank you both for your answer
Mone181 said:
Thank you
I do have a backup, however it was more convenient to restore the 20GB of photos from the SD rather than from the cloud.
I was reading some guides on internet with this procedure that's why I tried.
I will survive, thank you both for your answer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If somehow it was possible to backup the encryption key which is generated randomly on each phone then it would be possible to decrypt it on your PC even if the phone was damaged using your password and encryption key. For some stupid reason this is not implemented in Android (but it was doable for some devices), for example TrueCrypt or Microsoft Bitlocker allow it.
difto said:
If somehow it was possible to backup the encryption key which is generated randomly on each phone then it would be possible to decrypt it on your PC even if the phone was damaged using your password and encryption key. For some stupid reason this is not implemented in Android (but it was doable for some devices), for example TrueCrypt or Microsoft Bitlocker allow it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I thought the encryption was based on pin of the phone actually.
Lesson learned
Hello,
I have similar problem, but with Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. I made factory reset but didn't decrypt SD card before. SD card was ejected before reset, so I have all the datas, but cannot open them.
Is there any chance that I may recover my photos and videos if I don't have any backup?
Best regards.
Anyone?
Hi everyone
I kinda have the same problem. But the difference in my case is that I didn't reset the phone. While operating normally, one day it gave me a notification that encryption has failed. When I touched it, a page opened with the button of decrypt SD card at the bottom. I thought a restart would fix the issue. But when restarted, the contents of my SD cannot be accessed. I tried to decrypt it manually but in the settings, it thinks that the SD is unencrypted and only gives me the option to encrypt it, which obviously fails after every try. I was wondering if there is any way to trigger the decryption manually? Because I didn't reset the phone or anything and the data is still there. The phone just fails to see it.
Thanks in advance
Hey! I can confirm for 1000% the method you said worked for me:
- saving the encrypted data
- format the SD card
- encrypt of it
- copy of the saved content back to the SD
- decrypt
I deleted a video was able to retrieve it using Diskdigger on my pc. But then I was unable to open it because it was encrypted. So than I decrypted the SD in my phone only to find out the files were than unrecoverable deleted!?! Luckily I copied the files to my pc before decrypting!!! I used ur method and it worked decrypted it and everything played fine! Must say I was on the same os same phone(s8) so that must've been why it worked anyway still it worked. I'm happy, I acquired parental responsibility because of u?
I have made a similar stupid mistake I rooted my galaxy s8 and forgot to decrypt the SD card... now can anyone help me with the steps that I can fallow to decrypt the camera folder...
I to have a same problum ..
please any one find out the result of that data recover from encripted sd card from samsung a50
Hi guys, I deleted some videos and photos from my Huawei 9 Mate the normal way before I let go, but I want to be sure that no one can restore it. I also downloaded Shreddit app and I will use it on empty storage space. Are any data still recorevable after this ? I did a little research and found out that Huawei can't be encrypted, so can anyone give me a tip, what to do, so no one could recover any data ? Thanks
materoni said:
Hi guys, I deleted some videos and photos from my Huawei 9 Mate the normal way before I let go, but I want to be sure that no one can restore it. I also downloaded Shreddit app and I will use it on empty storage space. Are any data still recorevable after this ? I did a little research and found out that Huawei can't be encrypted, so can anyone give me a tip, what to do, so no one could recover any data ? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be fine, are you that concerned? Chances of someone actually digging old information out is NOT LIKELY going to happen unless for some reason the phone lands in the wrong hands and involves authorities
to get clean, you can use this app -> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apparillos.android.androshredder
to get a safer access to your personal files, you can use this app -> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.egosecure.uem.encryption
but 100% safeness, seems to be impossible until now. (depending on whoever gets the device in their hands)
Hi, thank you for your tips. I downloaded both apps. I already deleted the files a week ago, so now I just have to wipe the internal storage, but it doesn't give you the option to wipe just empty space. I will have to wipe everything. Is the Andro Shredder better than Shreddit ? With Shreddit you can wipe just internal empty space. The EgoSecure Encryption seems just to encrypt single files, can I encrypt the whole storage before factory reset ? In Huawei there is also function called "safe" when I go to security (I don't have the english version), where you can choose password for the whole internal storage, wouldn't this be enough for encryption ? Thanks
i have no own experience with the Huawei build in encryption.
EgoSecure is also able to encrypt the whole folders if you need.
AndroShredder can cleanup and shredder internal and external SD! Sometimes you have to go to the upper right side to the 3 dots to select "show internal drive too" to be able to have access to both sd cards.
I had tried both apps (androshredder and shreddit). androshredder has won because i can't get access with shreddit to files on external sd! they are shown with a lock symbol.
Go into Recovery Mode, then select 'wipe data...' and 'wipe cache...'.
I am searching for a way to change roms without removing encryption. It looks like files under /data/system/vold and /data/unencrypted provide keys to decrypt internal media according to this thread.
So far I tried wiping everything in data partition except /data/media, /data/system/vold and /data/unencrypted but it ended in failure and the new rom can't decrypt it.
Is there any files should I preserve while clearing data partition to preserve encryption? The device is running android 11 btw.