I have a Galaxy S10, and have all the lock function enabled good passwords etc. But one area of concern for me is if someone physically gets their hands on my phone and plugs it into a PC via USB. Right now even if the phone is locked I can just plug it into my computer and see whatever is on the sim card and the micro SD card.
Like I get that you don’t use public chargers etc, but my concern is if my phone is lost and I don’t realize it right away.
Is there something I can do to prevent them from being able to get data off the phone?
If you lose physical access to your device whether it’s your laptop, desktop pc or your phone (which is no less of a computer that a full blown laptop) the game is over for you and your data. Any high-school student can get to your data. If they can’t get it via usb, there are countless ways to do it providing you have physical access to the device.
The good news is that in almost every case, the data is not what a phone thief wants, it’s the phone itself to sell.
I agree it is not a perfect method, but I have lost and found Android devices with this before. however my phones are never above 99.00$ so it doesn’t matter that much.
Cant you turn on the preferred method for USB connection?
on my Pixel there’s a USB setting for charging or MTP etc. so when you connect it, nothing will happen.
quantum computers… its impossible to keep data safe anymore ;))
…A quantum computer with only 100 qubits would, theoretically, be more powerful than all the supercomputers on the planet combined….
it will (can) crack any password in seconds…
,A computer with 79 qubits has already been built….
I think Android is supposed to let you mount your internal memory and SD Card on your computer only after you’ve successfully unlocked your phone after plugging it in.
Isn’t this the case with your device?
Maybe you’re plugging it in while it’s already unlocked and that’s why your SD card gets mounted seamlessly?
Unless you’d consider Mike’s stoopit-gloo suggestion. (I’d probably go with rtv, though.)
I carry only 2-wire power-only charging cables for micro, so I’m not afraid of charging pretty much anywhere, even on a bus, but that does nothing for C.
And my phones go right into a small molle pouch which then goes in my “purse”, one of those cross-body bags with like 95 pockets.
I’d be hard-pressed to let those phones go anywhere out of my possession. Plus I put an ancient Egyptian curse on anyone who violates the sanctity of my bags.
I’m pretty sure if you encrypt your phone, they’ll have to have your fingerprint or passcode to unlock it and get your data. If you’re concerned about that, that’s probably the thing to do. And set a screen lock.
Not mine. Just plugging it in, even if it goes straight to the locked screen, I still get full access to internal memory and sd card.
I still wouldn’t trust any soft “lockout”, as you can still possibly do the press’n’hold the power and volume buttons while booting up to get into “developer mode” or whatnot, and then have full access to everything.
Not really an expert here. Are these SD cards mounted as portable or extra internal phone storage? What are the chances you’ve already clicked some box at some point that allows your phone to recognize your computer? So the results would be different just plugging it into some random computer? Do you have Wi-Fi on when you’re doing this? What’s the S10 on, Android 9? It’s probably not relevant but? Also if I lost my phone I’d know about it PDQ. Maybe you need a better way to carry it, like lb. And yes some Android phones are encrypted. I haven’t tried it but I’m pretty sure there’s no way in hell my phone would show you anything if you plugged it in to a puwter if I had a pin set up or a fingerprint or the face unlock. And yes with some phones you have the option to predetermine what will happen when you plug it into a computer. I don’t remember where that is. Okay it is in the developer options there are various USB settings. I can’t help beyond that. Multiple edits above
Yes, this.
No one should be able to access the data unless the phone is unlocked while connected.
All modern (since Marshmallow?) phones are encrypted so even if they tear the phone apart if they don’t know your password to unlock it they can’t access it.
Assuming the phone has a locking password. But if it allows unlimited PIN attempts they will eventually get in, as 4 digits takes 10,000 tries which would take a couple hours.
However memory cards used as external storage are not encrypted. If you use them as internal storage it is encrypted as well. Though i find doing so seems to be very buggy and i have lost data more than once by doing so, so i just use them as external storage and don’t put sensitive stuff on them.
