Judging from some of the Facebook status updates that I have the misfortune of seeing every day, many people don't do nearly enough to keep their phones secure.
Considering how much personal information is stored on our smart phones, from text messages to emails and social networks, security should be at the top of everyone's priority list, and fortunately it isn't at all difficult to implement.
If you're the lucky owner of a Samsung Galaxy S3, you'll be glad to know their are plenty of options for keeping your phone super safe. Read on to learn how to make the most of its built-in security features.
1. Use a screen lock
Some people don't use a screen lock as it takes an extra second to input your pin before you can do anything on your phone, but it's your first line of defence against any unauthorised access and should be implemented straight away.
On the Galaxy S3, you can change your screen lock by going to Settings > Security > Screen lock. You have lots of options to choose from here, and if you don't like the conventional PIN access method then you can choose face unlock, which uses the front facing camera to look at your face and compare it to a stored image that is taken at setup. Bear in mind that this is an experimental feature, so it's not the most foolproof security method in the world.
If you want better security from your lock screen, you can choose to go for the more conventional PIN or password method that can't be circumvented as easily.
2. Encrypt the contents of your phone and SD card
If you're really serious about security, you can encrypt all of the files stored on your phone and SD card so that they can't be accessed without a master password that's entered every time your phone is turned on or your SD card is mounted.
The initial encryption process takes over an hour to complete, but be patient -- if you interrupt it before it's finished, you may lose some of the data stored on your phone. You can find the encryption option at Settings > Security > Encrypt device.
3. Remote controls
The Galaxy S3 comes with a really useful feature called remote controls, which allows you to locate your phone from Samsung's website as well as remotely lock and erase it. If your phone is ever lost or stolen, you will be able to see exactly where it is at any time and keep your data safe from thieves.
To set up remote controls, you need to register for a Samsung account so that you can login to the Samsung website and interact with your phone remotely. It's a free and simple process which you can do right on the phone itself -- it just requires your email address and a password. Once it's set up, the 'Find my mobile' feature works like Apple's 'Find My iPhone', using your phone's GPS radio to show you its current location.
Like the screen lock and encryption options, you can activate remote controls through Settings > Security > Remote controls.
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Comments 45
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anonymous 18 June, 2012 19:32
Thanks John for the article. I think this is an area that really needs to be addressed on smart phones. I think it's great now that they have full disk encryption on phones. However, there is a company that has created a piece of software that can remove the encryption and bypass your password also. This is the same for all android phones and also for Apple's phones. This is quite worrying as if this software was to get into the wrong hands, it's not great for the consumer. I think these two companies have a long way to go to get to the level of Blackberry in terms of security but it seems to be a very slow process in this department for both of them. I mean a lost of Blackberry's security features include
End-to-end Encryption
RSA SecurID Two-Factor Authentication
IBM Lotus Notes Email Encryption Support
Code Signing and Digital Certificates
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Security
BlackBerry Enterprise Solution uses Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) in Content Protection, during Enterprise Activation and within the S/MIME Support Package. In addition, the Research In Motion (RIM) Crypto API implementation of the TLS and WTLS protocols supports the use of ECC public key algorithm.
The biggest issue with both is the lack of restriction on many of the apps available. This is an area I've been shocked that more has not been done on with regards what sort of information is available to these companies. Just look at some of the areas an app can interact with on your mobile device. I'll take Facebook's app as one example. Storage: Modify/delete sd car contents, System tools: Prevent phone from sleeping, write to sync settings, Your location: Fine (GPS) location, Hardware controls: Record audio, take pictures, Network communication: Full internet access, your accounts: Acts as an account athenticator, manage the account list, Your personal information: Read contact data, write contact data, Network communication: view wi-fi state, view network state, System tools: Install shortcuts, read sync settings, Hardware controls: Control vibrator, Your accounts: Discover known accounts.
As you can see there is a lot going on. Companies need to protect the end use as much as possible and give them more control on what information can be given to companies and at least give the consumer the choice of switching off alot of the abilities of these apps. It will be interesting to hear anyone else's views on this and what companies can do in the near future to help the customer.
anonymous 19 June, 2012 20:39
Samsung Remote controls, It is simple, but dont make a mistake with the Email address, I accidentally missed one letter out of my email address and now its locked me out from accessing that feature because it WILL NOT and CAN NOT allow you to edit the email address once its been entered... This is a major problem when something as simple as an Edit function on something as important as this is missing... If anyone knows how I can reset the email addresses or even edit it that would be very helpful.
Because as it stands I have a feature that appears to be totally locked out of my phone because of one minor typo.
anonymous 24 June, 2012 15:45
Anyone knows how to encrypt the contents od your SD card? The "ëncrypt device" cannot be activated?
anonymous 26 June, 2012 06:31
am not able to activate remote control? can anyone help. i already have a samsung account but still am not able to enable the remote controls soft switch
anonymous 28 June, 2012 14:19
I too am unable to enable remote controls switch and I have registered samsung & gmail accounts plus activated 'use wireless networks'.
anonymous 1 July, 2012 18:36
On post "19 June, 2012 20:39", I had also made a typing mistake with the e-mail and finally found a way to correct the problem. Go to the main settings page>Accounts and sync>Samsung account> Remove account and voilà, you can start all over.
anonymous 5 July, 2012 04:40
Is there a way to remove the security of a PIN to unlock. I was just playing around and didn't really want to set anything for security at this time. Now it is forcing me to use the PIN to get into my phone. How do I remove this security?
anonymous 8 July, 2012 13:22
To remove the pin do the above tutorial but select "swipe" instead of pin.
I also made a typo on my email address. Does anyone know how to change this?
Also does anyone know the website I would go to in order to lock my phone? It's a great feature but not if it's impossible to find the site that locks/locates your phone!
anonymous 8 July, 2012 17:51
I have an s3. A pin password. It wont let me change to face recognotion. Anyone know why?
anonymous 11 July, 2012 11:13
I have an S3. I have a problem with setting up an e-mail on my cell phone. Any one who can help.
anonymous 5 August, 2012 01:09
How to enable the location option for the picture s ...
Thanks
anonymous 5 August, 2012 22:24
Can you set a password protect just your text messages?
anonymous 9 August, 2012 02:06
To activate remote controls, you must activate your Samsung account. Go into "accounts and sync", select your Samsung account, then select activate. Your remote controls turn on.
anonymous 13 August, 2012 22:16
I was just playing around and didn't really want to set anything for security at this time. Now it is forcing me to use the PIN to get into my phone. How do I remove this security?
IT could be it's not your phone (could be belonging to someone else);
To remove the pin do the above tutorial but select "swipe" instead of pin. if it is as easy as that; what's the point of PIN??
anonymous 15 August, 2012 15:49
cannot accesses my samsung account, tried to activate it but keep getting message your email has to be verified, a verification email has been sent to your email address check spam all to no avail HELP
anonymous 17 August, 2012 04:45
I put my phone on pattern for the security unlock and now the options to change to something different has disappeared every time I choose lock screen options it goes to what I want to display on my lock screen when originally it would go to the actual options like face recognition swipe password etc. So where did those options go
anonymous 19 August, 2012 16:13
On my galaxy 3 there is no remote controls under the security. Is it because my phone was flashed for Boost Mobile. Os is ics 4.0.4 . It is a sprint phone. Any ideas how I can fix this.
anonymous 23 August, 2012 00:56
Just been told by samsung that remote control does not work on my phone? using a verizon phone in the US. Anyone know a way to get this to work?
anonymous 23 August, 2012 15:24
I have locked myself out of my Samsung galaxys3 how do I know what pin number to put in to unlock
anonymous 25 August, 2012 22:52
Remote control cannot be disabled on ics? I will never use this feature and want it to go away forever but does not allow me to disable it! If a user can log into anyplace on the internet and check where your phone is, then there is already a privacy issue.
anonymous 29 August, 2012 06:44
how to relocate my samsung galaxy ace samsung GT-S5830i
anonymous 10 September, 2012 00:23
My Samsung galaxy 3 from AT&T does not have remote controls. I have an account with samsung.
anonymous 1 October, 2012 18:38
i changed my gmail password on my computer but
now my samsung galaxy 3 phone won't let me into
my emails...please help
anonymous 6 October, 2012 00:04
Same question as last post. Changed password on computer but now cannot acces email on my phone. Help please
anonymous 6 October, 2012 15:14
Hi I have forgoten my pattern to get into my samsung galaxy s3 and I have not got a email account so I can not log in but I dnt know how to get into it, it is brand new.
anonymous 10 October, 2012 16:58
hi,My Samsung galaxy s3 unable to enable remote controls switch and I have registered samsung & gmail accounts plus activated 'use wireless networks'.In remote control have show my gmail address but still can't enable d remote controls.
anonymous 14 October, 2012 11:36
Hi looking for a bit of help if anyone can oblige. Got a new s3 two days ago, had a pin lock on it but found it took an age to wait till u entered through pin- the screen was locked for a minute or so. Changed it to swipe and this has made no difference. Can anyone help that once I use my phone it's immediate access rather that wait a minute before I can put in the pin/swipe.
Please and thanks
anonymous 28 October, 2012 20:37
Since they updated my Galaxy S III a lot of apps don't work and some have disappeared all together! This is a common problem with every phone type when an update takes place, went from ICS to JELLYBEAN just this morning and have spent most of the day trying to undo what this update UNDID!!!!!
ONE SMALL PROBLEM IS having to have to use a pin/password to unlock the phone. Not a huge deal but I hate having to have to do it just the same. A minor annoyance, but one that apparently you're stuck with as there is NO. WAY to bypass it.
I read a list above about changing the setting to swipe ( not a pattern jus simply right or left, as it was prior to this update) but that has no effect. This issue is NO doubt a permanent part of this update, whether you want it or not.
Working on some bigger more important/ crucial issues will repost with more info.
PS....On another front Do Not upgrade to Windows 8 Unless you have a touchscreen enabled PC OR LAPTOP!!! Stick with Win7 for now you won't regret this advice or miss a thing as all 8 does is convert your computer to a Smartphone in essence.....
c y'all......Sonny
Simon Gamboa 5 November, 2012 12:06
A lot of people seem to have issues with the remote controls activation on Galaxy s3. I myself cannot do it even when I samsung account and locations consent activated. It seems that this feature is not yet available for GS3. I read it in another forum " I am sorry to inform you that Samsung dive is not compatible to enable the option for Galaxy S3." and also when getting to the samsung dive website the only options to choose from are wave, galaxy and galaxy s2... so I assume what i read on the forum is true. Still they should give more clarity, i didn't find anything on the FAQ of samsung dive.
anonymous 15 November, 2012 13:44
One of the reasons the "Encrypt device" button is inactive is because the user has not chosen a strong-enough unlock password method. Most people use the finger "Swipe" or "Pattern" method. Try using a real alphanumeric "Password" instead (with at least one digit). I did, and I was able to proceed with encryption.
anonymous 18 November, 2012 19:11
my son was playing around with my samsung galaxy S3 and i forgot my pin and my old email address isnt workin how can i by pass the pin or is there a code heres my new one
anonymous 20 November, 2012 00:44
if you read the FAQ it says the tracker is only in england and germany and china
anonymous 29 November, 2012 12:43
i had samsung pop ...i had lost my mobail plz give mi a hend how can my finding my mobail
anonymous 3 December, 2012 03:54
J3j3 ... sigan poniendole password, reconociminto by face, pattern and swipe al cabron teléfono q' el dia q' c les caiga y c le rompa la pantalla, Dios no lo quiera, yo voy a ver Quien será capaz d' recuperar las cosas q' tienen en el Telefonito.
anonymous 9 December, 2012 13:03
I made an error with my email address when registering, how can I change this?
anonymous 18 December, 2012 03:08
This is not an original concern of mine (a Spanish post above got me thinking about it). If your screen is locked with one of these security measures, how do you recover/regain access if you have the misfortune of cracking or breaking your screen?
anonymous 29 December, 2012 05:25
Some of you people make it SO obvious that you are trying to be sneaky get into someones elses phone. How can you forget your password? Everytime your screensaver kicks on you MUST enter your pin to unlock the phone. So not only did you "forget ur pin" (yeah right).You do NOT even own an SGSIII.
anonymous 16 January, 2013 16:47
Hi..fimd my phone
anonymous 16 January, 2013 17:03
My name is aziz
anonymous 19 January, 2013 00:20
I did what it told me to do to encryupt my phone and now when the screen comes on it says Passwort zum Verwenden des ver.... It has reverted to German. When I enter my password all I get is an emergency screen. What have I done wrong Please?
anonymous 27 January, 2013 00:20
I have switched on the screen lock with PIN functionality, however other people somtimes use my phone to make calls. I would therefore like to add another lock to the messages and pictures. Is this possible?
anonymous 27 January, 2013 03:29
as you can see from the previous comments, this is a truly shitty article.
anonymous 17 February, 2013 07:25
I lost my Samsung Galaxi S3. Got a tracking devise but the phone is turnned off. Any way to locate the phone even when its off??
Please need assistance!!
Thanks
anonymous 18 February, 2013 06:25
Am unable to enable remote control for my SaMsung galaxy s3 help me please thank you.
anonymous 21 February, 2013 21:09
forgot my pin on my s3mini how do i unlock it?