How to Prevent Privacy Leak in Android & iOS Devices

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How to Prevent Privacy Leak in Android & iOS Devices

22 June 2018 Ashley S. Miller Specialist of Customer Service Dept.

Summary
Smartphone has become an essential role in people's daily life. With more and more functions that smartphone are provided, more data will be save inside. But how to keep data inside in a safe states? Now, follow us to get more!

Nowadays, smartphone plays an essential role in our work and d aily life. However, data security is also an serious problem that smartphone is facing. Privacy leak happens frequently and parts of cellphone users and even national units are influenced. So how to prevent privacy leak in smartphone?

Catalog

Method 1: Built-in Protection Function in Smartphone
Method 2: Data Protection Software
More: Tips for Data Security in Smartphone

Method 1: Built-in Protection Function in Smartphone

With more and more attention are attracted by data security in smartphone, manufacturers has improve the protection of data security in smartphones. Now, most smartphone can lock the screen with security measures: numeric password, pattern password, mixed password, fingerprint, facial recognition. Here we are going to introduce how to lock smartphone screens - the first measure of smartphone data security.

For Android Devices:

Open “Settings”→”Security”→ “Passcode Lock”→ and then please choose the desired passcode lock item.(Normally, numeric password, pattern, mixed password, finger print and face recognition are available.)

For iPhone:

Go to “Settings →”Touch ID & Passcode” → “Turn Passcode On” → Please enter the screen lock password If you want to use fingerprint to unlock iPhone, please click “Add a Fingerprint…”

Besides locking screen with the mentioned methods, some devices even provides APP locking function. After locking App, we need to unlock the protected app with password or fingerprint. If you need to share your smartphone to others or your child, such App lock can do you a favor to protect your privacy and important data.

Built-in privacy protection functions are easy to use and provide basic protection to smartphone. However, screen lock and App lock are using the same password or fingerprint. Once the password is cracked, all the data protected by this method will lose protection.

Method 2: Data Protection Software

After setting the screen lock and app lock with built-in lock function, we can refer to some data protect software to get a better protection to data inside smartphone. Here I will introduce some data protection software for Android and iPhone.

For Android Phone:

1.App lock

App lock is specially designed to protect data saved in smartphone. And it gets 4.4 grade in Google Play. After installation, you can set pattern password, PIN, or numeric password. If you are using Android 6.0, you can also set fingerprint password.

Features

Provides different themes.
You can hide your personal photos and videos. Hidden photos and videos can only be checked in photo vault and video vault of this App.
Users can lock Facebook, Whatsapp, Gallery, Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram, SMS, Contacts, Gamil, Settings, etc. Prevent unauthorized access.
App lock has a random keyboard and invisible pattern lock which can prevent prying eyes.

2. Hex App Lock & Photo Vault

Hexlock can protect Android system, settings and App. You can set PIN code or pattern password. After that, you can share your Android devices at any time.

Features

Users can lock Whatsapp, Facebook, email, Gallery and SMS. Protect data.
Users can save photos and videos in media vault to get a better protection. Besides, hiding files is also available.
Prevent smartphone from virus which may lock your game in smartphone.
Users can lock Android system, control WiFi connection and settings.
Track suspicious activities and users can find out who was trying to unlock your App and photos.

3.Norton App Lock

Nortons, a famous antivirus software provider, also provides Android App lock software. The most outstanding advantage is it is ad-free. Users can lock their App and protect their privacy. Exclusive security password or pattern can help you lock your device’s screen which can provide better protection to your devices and data inside.

Features

Add password to your App: Facebook, Instagram, Line,Messenger, etc.
Lock one or more App with a same 4 bits PIN password.
Locking your personal data and photos to prevent from prying eyes.
When you share your devices with your children to play games or watch videos, you can also protect your sensitive data at the same time.

iPhone:

1.Folder Lock

Folder Lock can password protect personal files, photos, videos, files, contacts, note, etc in iPhone. Besides being a perfect data security software, Folder lock also a perfect WiFi manager. You can transfer files between PC and devices via WiFi. Also, its WiFi music management function can help users import files like audio, music and MP3 without iTunes.

Features

Lock folders.
Protect sensitive photos, videos and classified audio.
Lock important files. Users can also made a security logs, audios and notes.
Import existed contacts and create private contacts groups.
Safety browser (No trace and incognito function)
Take images of anyone trying to access your app with wrong login credentials. Also password backup is available.

2. Find My iPhone

If we lost the iOS device, Find My iPhone will help you locate your missing device on a map, remotely lock it, play a sound, display a message, or erase all the data on it. For missing iOS devices, Find My iPhone also includes Lost Mode. Lost Mode locks your device with a passcode and can display a custom message and contact phone number right on the Lock Screen. While in Lost Mode, your device can keep track of where it has been and report back so you can view its recent location history, right from the Find My iPhone app.

Features

Locate your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac on a map.
Play a sound for two minutes at full volume (even if the device is set to be silent)
Remotely lock your device with a passcode
Display a custom message on the Lock Screen
View recent location history of your device while in Lost Mode (iOS devices)
Remotely erase all content and settings on your device

3. Wickr Me – Private Messenger

With Wickr Me, you can instantly connect with your friends 1:1 or in groups – now with fully encrypted voice calling, voice memos – new additions to the trusted end-to-end secure sharing of files, images, and videos. Take full control over who has access to your content and how long it remains accessible.

Features

Every message is encrypted with a new key using advanced vetted end-to-end encryption. Wickr never has access to your messages or your contact list.
No phone number or email address is required to register on Wickr Me. Your address book remains private and is not stored on our servers.
Wickr does not store any metadata associated with your communications.
Overwrite all the deleted content in Wickr on users’ devices.
Configurable Expiration Timer – Set the expiration time on all your messaging content.
Device-to-device encryption – each message, file, and call (each 512 packets) are encrypted with a new key so it’s near impossible to break.

Notice for Data Security in Smartphone

Besides using screen lock function, App lock and data protection App, we need to know more about the other things which could lead to privacy leak and more tips to aviod such dangerous.

How does Smartphone Leak our Personal Data?

1. Imcomplete App Design

According to some trusted research, Android has become the most serious victim of malware. About 60% of Android App are incomplete which may lead to privacy leak. Professionals figured out that the main reason is the develop of this App. Users is enable to free use and modify the source code and re-distribute the APP, which leak personal data of Android users.

2．Not Enough Supervision and Control

Methods that users can get target Android Apps are various. And the verify before releasing and the supervision are not enough and strict. Developers will add some function which can get access to users’ personal data and lead to privacy leak finally.

3．Improper Treatment to Previous Smartphone

When users dealing with their old cellphone, they do not delete data inside completely or just simply delete or format data inside. Data deleted with such methods can be recovered with some data recovery software.

4. Attacked by Hackers

Virus and malware developed by hackers could start your smartphone, connect to internet, send SMS without sanction. And even steal your personal data like SMS, contacts, photos, files, account and password.

How can we Prevent Smartphone from Privacy Leak in a Better Way?

Here are some tips:

1. Download App from reliable App Provider

Crackers will install virus in Smartphone App. Once users install this kind of App,contacts, bank account and password in this smartphone could be accessed by crackers and lead to financial lost. So users should download App from verified APP market or software providers.

2. Click “OK” button with discretion.

Some App will not pre-install and will ask for permission when installing. If you enable App to report and use your location, your data inside the smartphone could be uploaded to online server. Once data inside get leak, others can get access to your proper location, call history and online shopping information.

3. Clear your smartphone with professional method

After purchasing a new smartphone, we should also clear data inside our old phone without trace. Even we restore it to default settings, the erased data can still be recovered by professional data recovery software. So, we recommend you to erase data inside the mobile phone with professional methods.

4. Connect to Free WiFi with prudence

It is reported that parts of “free” WiFi in public can get access to your online back and e-wallet. Users account and password could leak one connecting to such free WiFi. So, connect to free WiFi with prudence to avoid smartphone privacy leak.

However, some users may lost important files due to virus or mistaken delete. And is it possible to get these data back? As we have mentioned before, files deleted in cellphone is recoverable. If we meet such situation, it is recommend you to try professional data recovery software.

For Android phone, Renee Android Recovery is recommended.

Being a professional Android Recovery software, Renee Android Recovery can help users to recover photos, videos, messages, contacts, call history, etc. We need to root the device before starting recovery.

Step 1: Connect target Android phone to computer and run Renee Android Recovery.

Before recovering data with Renee Android Recovery, please root the device at first.

Step 2: Select the file type you want to recover.

Step 4: After scan finished, please select the target files you want to recover and click “Recover”

For iPhone, it is recommended to try Renee iPhone Recovery

Renee iPhone Recovery is a professional iPhone data recovery software. It can help users recover photos, videos, messages, contacts, call history, etc.