Smartphones Have Built in Encryption

It is hard to imagine a world without smartphones. Today, around 3.8 billion people, or half of the population of the world, are estimated to own at least one. It is a primary tool used for communication. And unbeknown to many, without the concept of encryption, the very foundation of secure voice communications would not exist and users will be vulnerable to hackers. 

Encryption is a vital concept for communication engineers and professionals. It is the process in which a device protects its data against unauthorized users and cyber attacks. Data is encrypted through a special algorithm that transforms it into an unreadable one. A decryption key needs to be used to decode and read this data. 

In the case of the mobile phones today, PIN codes, Touch ID fingerprints, and Face ID recognition features serve as another layer of security. This enables the users to access their respective gadgets, read their messages, and browse through their files. When users lock their phones with any of these keys, their personal data will be encrypted by default and difficult to hack. 

Encryption in iOS Devices

Experts in voice encryption know how Apple takes the science of cryptography seriously to protect their users’ data (Case in point: The FBI themselves failed to access an iPhone 5C). 

For iPhones with iOS 8 and newer versions, users can generate a passcode and a touch ID (it is only a pass code in older iOS versions). These menus can be accessed in the Settings. For newer iPhone models (i.e., X, XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro Max, 12 Mini, 12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max), Apple amped up their security by deploying a facial recognition system. 

Data that is backed up through Apple’s software is also encrypted.

Encryption in Android Devices

Over the past years, Android has also stepped up their encryption game. Now, most of their latest smartphone units are equipped with default encryption. As in iPhones, Android-powered devices also utilize PIN codes, and face and fingerprint recognition as decryption keys. When connected to Wifi, the Android devices use secure voice calls over IP with multiple layers of encryption. 

However, Android phones in the lower part of the pricing echelon are typically not encrypted as tightly as iPhones. This makes users of these leaner devices more vulnerable to intruders. Changing this landscape, Android is now running efficient encryption protocols to be able to make low-end devices more secure. Similar to iCloud, your data is encrypted when you backup through the cloud software of Google. 

Beyond Phone Encryption

Having secure voice communications may require smartphone encryption engineers to program an encryption layers for added protection. Apart from the built-in encryption of smartphones, many messaging apps that users download and use also feature the so-called encrypted messaging by default (such as WhatsApp and iMessage). This type of encryption prevents hackers from reading whatever is sent and received by devices. 

Some apps do not offer end-to-end encryption by default, such as Skype and Facebook Messenger. However, they provide a secret messaging option that allows users to encrypt their messages.