Mobile Full Device Encryption and External Media


  • all modern mobile OSes have full device encryption
  • levels of iOS encryption:
    • All user data on the device is always encrypted
      • key is stored on the device
      • primarily used as a means of wiping the device
        • just delete key
    • Data Protection option
      • Email data and any apps using Data Protection use a second round of encryption
        • uses a key derived from user’s credential
      • not all user data is encrypted with data protection option
        • contacts, SMS messages, and pictures
      • enabled automatically when a password is configured
  • Android
    • substantial differences in encryption options between versions
    • no FDE since Android 10
      • too detrimental to performance
    • user data is encrypted at file-level by default