Encrypt Your Devices: PC, Phone & Tablet - Security Advice
Protecting Your Data While Traveling
Consider the scenario: you're enjoying a long-awaited European trip, only to discover your belongings have been stolen from your hotel room or vehicle. Replacing items like clothing is straightforward, but your electronic devices represent a far greater risk.
This unfortunate situation recently occurred to a member of our editorial team, highlighting a very real threat.
The Risks of Unprotected Devices
The core issue lies in the sensitive and private information stored on these devices. While you might not explicitly save financial records or confidential plans, consider your browsing habits.
Do you routinely store passwords within your web browser? Are you often logged into your email accounts? Does your device provide access to work-related materials? Such data can provide thieves with a direct pathway into your personal and professional life.
Bypassing user account passwords on unencrypted devices is often surprisingly simple for those with malicious intent.
Encryption: A Critical Security Measure
However, encryption offers a robust defense. When a device is encrypted, accessing the data becomes exceedingly difficult for unauthorized individuals – provided you employ a strong password or screen lock and the device hasn't been seized by law enforcement.
Implementing Device Encryption
Therefore, it is crucial to encrypt all your devices today. This includes laptops, smartphones, tablets, and any other portable electronics you own.
The process is generally quick and straightforward, significantly enhancing your security in the event of theft or loss. Proactive measures are essential, as you may not realize their importance until it’s too late.
Important Note: Before initiating encryption, ensure you have a recent backup of your computer. If you forget your password or the drive experiences a failure, data recovery will be impossible without a backup. Backups are even more vital when utilizing encryption!
Protecting your digital life while traveling is paramount. Encryption is a key step in safeguarding your sensitive information.
Windows
Many contemporary Windows 10 personal computers, especially tablets and 2-in-1 devices, are now shipped with encryption activated as a standard feature. To ascertain whether your system already utilizes encryption, navigate to the Settings application and select System, then About. Within this section, the option to enable Drive Encryption will be visible if your device is compatible.
Should you not observe any references to Device Encryption, your hardware may lack support for this functionality. However, users of Windows 7, 8, or 10 Pro editions and above can still secure their computers utilizing the integrated BitLocker tool, a component of Windows for a considerable period. It’s worth noting that Windows offers two distinct, built-in encryption solutions.
If you are running the Home edition of Windows and lack access to either Drive Encryption or BitLocker, alternative third-party software, such as VeraCrypt, can be employed to encrypt your drive. Further details are available in this comprehensive guide. It's also important to remember that on Windows 7, BitLocker is exclusively available with the Ultimate and Enterprise versions.
To activate BitLocker, access the Control Panel and select "BitLocker Drive Encryption".
If BitLocker is currently disabled, a link labeled "Turn on BitLocker" will appear alongside your drive(s). Encrypting your system drive, typically the C: drive on most Windows installations, is a crucial security measure. Laptop users generally only need to consider a single hard drive for encryption.
A detailed walkthrough can be found in our article detailing how to configure BitLocker encryption on Windows. Encryption is not typically enabled by default on Windows 7 or 8.1. For Windows laptop users, ensuring encryption is active is highly recommended.
Further Reading: How to Encrypt Your Windows System Drive With VeraCrypt
OS X
Every Mac computer is equipped with FileVault, which represents Apple’s integrated encryption solution. However, this feature isn’t activated automatically upon initial setup.
To activate FileVault, navigate to System Preferences and select "Security & Privacy". Subsequently, access the FileVault panel within these settings.
Related: How to Encrypt Your Mac's System Drive, Removable Devices, and Individual Files
Making additional adjustments requires clicking the lock icon located in the bottom-left corner of the window. Should FileVault be currently disabled, initiate the encryption process by selecting the "Turn on FileVault" button and adhering to the subsequent instructions.
Further details regarding the encryption of your Mac’s system drive, external storage, and specific files can be found in our comprehensive guide. The performance impact of FileVault is minimal, while the security benefits of safeguarding your data are substantial.
We strongly recommend that all users enable this crucial security feature.
iPad and iPhone Security
Apple’s iPads and iPhones feature robust encryption as a standard security measure. The likelihood of encountering an iOS device that isn’t encrypted is quite low, particularly for users who employ a passcode.
On iOS, data encryption is intrinsically linked to your chosen passcode. Therefore, selecting a passcode that resists easy guessing is crucial, and opting for a 6-digit passcode offers significantly greater security than a 4-digit one.
Furthermore, the system supports the use of alphanumeric passkeys of variable length. Should you choose this method, ensure the key remains difficult to decipher.
Users currently utilizing a 4-digit passcode can enhance their security by navigating to the Settings app on their device. From there, select "Touch ID & Passcode" and then choose "Change Passcode".
The process requires initial entry of your existing 4-digit passcode, followed by the input of your new passcode, and a subsequent confirmation entry. To explore alphanumeric key options, tap "Passcode Options".
To definitively confirm that encryption is active on your device, scroll to the bottom of the "Touch ID & Passcode" settings. Verification is achieved by confirming the presence of the message "Data protection is enabled".
As previously stated, unencrypted iOS devices are becoming increasingly rare. Automatic encryption is now implemented during the initial setup of any new iPad or iPhone.
Android
Android devices, unlike some other platforms, generally necessitate manual configuration of encryption for your phone or tablet. While recent models are increasingly shipped with encryption activated by default, a significant number still require user intervention – fortunately, the process is straightforward.
The encryption feature is typically found within the Settings menu on most Android devices. Access the Settings application and select "Security" to locate the encryption option.
Encryption Process
For a detailed guide on encrypting your Android device, along with a discussion of the benefits, we suggest reviewing our dedicated article on the subject.
Encrypting your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer is not merely a security best practice; it’s almost essential for individuals who travel frequently or work remotely.
Despite your best efforts at caution, the possibility of device loss due to theft or simple misplacement remains a real concern.
However, it’s important to note that encryption’s effectiveness is contingent upon a strong password or screen lock. A weak security measure in this area will negate the benefits of encryption, so reinforcing your device’s access controls is crucial.