Latest news with #SecureFolder
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Samsung's One UI 8 beta just added major improvements to Secure Folder — including a 'kill switch'
After One UI 7 suffered a bunch of serious delays, it's nice to see that One UI 8 seems to be back to a normal schedule. And now that the first beta version of the upgrade is rolling out, we're learning about all the extra features Samsung has added — including some key upgrades for the Secure Folder. Samsung has had a secure folder since 2017, well ahead of Apple and Android, but this year will see the company add a bunch of new features — some of which offer some parity with Android's Private Space feature. The most important is the new "kill switch" that lets you hide the secure folder from sight. The "Hide Secure Folder" button shows up in the quick panel, and removes the Secure Folder app icon from showing up on your device. That way, it's a little harder for thieves and other snoops to access whatever you've got locked away. Hiding the Secure Folder also stops any stored apps from working, meaning you won't get any notifications that might give the game away. This is one more way to stop apps from potentially giving the game away. Samsung also claims that this encrypts all apps and data, though from what I can tell, Secure Folder always did this. Still, that extra peace of mind is not unwelcome. Another major update to Secure Folder makes it a little more like Android's Private Space feature. With One UI 8, it now means that you can store apps in your Secure Folder without keeping a copy on the rest of your phone. You essentially hide those copied apps from your app drawer, meaning the Secure Folder is the only way to see and access them. You'd think this would have been an option from the beginning, but it's better late than never. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Biometric security has also been overhauled, with a feature that I'm actually very happy with. Rather than relying on the same fingerprints you use to unlock your phone, as was the case with One UI 7, One UI 8 now makes you register separate fingerprints for Secure Folder. Separating the two is definitely a good idea. You may, for example, have multiple people approved to use a certain device, but want to limit who can access secure files and apps. This lets you do that. It also means that potential thieves have one more obstacle before they can get to sensitive data. One UI 8 beta is available now, but only if you have a Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus or S25 Ultra in the U.S., U.K., Korea and Germany. There's no word on whether it will come to other devices or regions yet.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Samsung's Galaxy ‘Kill Switch' Completely Changes Your Phone
This is a game changer Samsung is moving quickly to recover ground lost through its One UI 7 delays. The Galaxy-maker has now confirmed that early access to the One UI 8 beta is now available, 'kicking off a new era of software intelligence.' What happens next is critical. How far will Samsung fall behind Pixel's unbeatable June release? But the advantage Samsung has this time is the relatively modest scale of One UI 8 versus the wholesale One UI 7 update that still has not completed its rollout. But literally hidden in amongst the various tweaks we know are coming is a brilliant update that could be a game-changer. 'Think of it as a kill switch for your private digital life.' That's how Android Police describes the new 'Hide Secure Folder' button that instantly disappears the folder's icon and apps. 'When hidden, 'apps and data stored in Secure Folder are encrypted.' All apps within the folder will stop working and you will not receive any notifications from them until you unhide and decrypt the Secure Folder.' This I really like. It is an OS-level deployment of the kind of personal security and privacy that's much needed when kids and others might browse through your phone, playing games or watching media or looking at photos. It also stops awkward notifications appearing when your phone might be on view to others. Android Authority has done its usual deep dive on the new upgrade, and says 'Secure Folder on One UI 8 is easier to use and safer than ever.' This is especially welcome given the security vulnerabilities highlighted with Secure Folder in recent months, and that Samsung has chosen to go a different way to Android's generic Private Space. Galaxy's new 'kill switch' The other headline upgrade is forcing users to re-enrol their biometric security for Secure Folder, separating it into its own enclave. This means if you've enrolled someone else's fingerprint for generic phone access — one of your kids or your partner, that does not mean they will have access to the personal Secure Folder which is hived off. 'While your lock screen already helps keep the data on your phone safe from casual access,' Android Authority says, this 'offers an extra layer of security, particularly handy if you know that other people are going to be using your device. You can move your most private data to its encrypted protection, and even hide its presence entirely.' That kill switch will grab the headlines though, 'a new Quick Settings button not just hides the Secure Folder without forcing you to did through settings menus, but also shuts down the apps you've moved there and silences their notifications. Considering this is where Samsung encourages us to keep our most sensitive stuff, a super-quick way to just sweep it all under the rug feels like a completely on-brand addition.' This should completely change how you use your phone and think about carving out data and apps that are for you and you alone. Once live, if this is a seamless and polished as promised, it's something other phones — including iPhone — should copy.
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Secure Folder on One UI 8 is easier to use and safer than ever
TL;DR With One UI 8, Samsung will ask you to re-enroll fingerprints for Secure Folder biometric access. Apps moved to your Secure Folder can now be easily hidden from the rest of your phone. Samsung's implementing a new Quick Settings button for immediately hiding all Secure Folder assets. Samsung has clearly learned its lesson when it comes to making its users wait (and wait, and wait) for access to the latest Android beta, and this year it's getting started with Android 16 and One UI 8 nice and early. Today we're getting our first official look at the One UI 8 beta, and we're already diving in to search for everything interesting that Samsung's changing. So far that's involved some Now Bar upgrades and new earbud controls, and now we're turning our attention to tweaks arriving for Samsung's Secure Folder. While your lock screen already helps keep the data on your phone safe from casual access, Secure Folder offers an extra layer of security, particularly handy if you know that other people are going to be using your device. You can move your most private data to its encrypted protection, and even hide its presence entirely. Compared to Samsung's implementation with One UI 7, we can already spot a few key changes. For one, you'll notice how Secure Folder now asks you to re-enroll your fingerprints if you want to use them for biometric access. That may seem a tad redundant, but it really speaks to the way that Samsung has built Secure Folder as an enclave away from the rest of your phone's assets. Previously, moving apps into your Secure Folder was a bit cumbersome. 'Moving' an app there essentially created a copy, but left you with your original. And if you didn't want anyone without Secure Folder access using it, you had to go in and manually uninstall your old copy. With One UI 8, Samsung is making this a whole lot easier, and you have the option to easily hide apps so they'll only be accessible in the Secure Folder. Finally, we're getting a one-stop shortcut for immediately shutting things down and going dark. A new Quick Settings button not just hides the Secure Folder without forcing you to did through settings menus, but also shuts down the apps you've moved there and silences their notifications. Considering this is where Samsung encourages us to keep our most sensitive stuff, a super-quick way to just sweep it all under the rug feels like a completely on-brand addition. Of course, this is only our first taste of a One UI 8 beta, so we could be seeing plenty of further changes before Samsung's ready for its public release. Keep reading Android Authority for complete coverage of everything that entails. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Forbes
Samsung's Android Mistake—Do Not Leave Your Galaxy At Risk
Do not take this risk. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images As Samsung Galaxy users finally get to upgrade to One UI 7, bringing Android 15's raft of updates to their phones, there's suddenly a new reason for attention to turn to One UI 8 and Android 16. Google is expected to release this in July, and notwithstanding the long delays to One UI 7, the hope is that Samsung users are not left too far behind. In addition to Android's new Advanced Protection Mode and Intrusion Detection, the next OS release could also fix Samsung's Android mistake that has left its 'most secure feature [with] a few holes' which could be 'leaking your private info.' Forbes Delete Any Texts On Your Phone That Include These Messages By Zak Doffman We're talking Galaxy's Secure Folder. 'We know how important it is for you to be able to keep your photos, videos, files, apps and data that you consider private in a safe place,' Samsung says. "That is why one of the most useful tools on your Galaxy device is the Secure Folder, where you can store everything you want with maximum security.' Unfortunately, as I reported some weeks ago, the way in which this is set up means it can share some of this 'maximum security' data far and wide. 'The feature creates a new profile with its own storage space and screen lock, keeping your sensitive apps and files private,' Android Authority explains. :Or so we thought until a flaw was discovered in Samsung's Secure Folder that lets anyone see which apps and photos you have.' This was spotted by a Redditor, who warned that "I expected secure folder to act like Private Space. It does not. I'm aware Private Space is new in Android 15 and that this secure folder function is older and builds off the 'Work' Profile feature. However, if you have the work profile enabled through something like Island or Shelter (or you know, your actual workplace), any apps in the work profile can access the entirety of photos and videos saved in secure folder without any restrictions whatsoever.' That Private Space feature in Android 15 doesn't have the same problem — but that's not available to Samsung users given the use of Secure Folder instead. But that could be fixed in One UI 8. According to a post on X following a review of One UI 8 beta code, 'Secure Folder now uses new Android Private Space api instead of work profile!' Per Android Authority , this 'should fix instances of hidden apps sending you notifications and leaking your stored media," albeit "One UI 7's delayed rollout has left a bad taste in our mouths, so we aren't holding our breath for a quick One UI 8 rollout." Meanwhile, as I advised when this was first disclosed, 'change your phone setup and encrypt your secure folder… The folder isn't decrypted by default, and is opened by your device's unlock, this enables other apps to access the folder. Encrypting it will add that additional layer. If you store private data in your Secure Folder and have any form of Work Profile on your device, you should go ahead and do that now.' Forbes Has Your Phone Been Hacked—This New Update Lets You Know By Zak Doffman Samsung has acknowledged the problem but there's no official word on a fix. As Android Police explains, the problem 'is all because Samsung decided to make Secure Folder different from Android 15's Private Space, which Google designed as a completely separate user profile.' This opened the leaky loophole. But that obvious fix might now be on its way and, per Android Police again, 'Samsung's Secure Folder might get better at living up to its name with One UI 8.'
Android Authority
06-05-2025
- Android Authority
One UI 8 might finally fix Secure Folder's biggest security flaws
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung's Secure Folder feature currently exposes apps and media by over-relying on Android's Work profile. A new leak shows that One UI 8 will likely adopt Android's Private Space API to fix this flaw. With the upcoming update, apps in Secure Folder will no longer work or send notifications when hidden, fixing another flaw. Samsung Secure Folder is an in-built solution on Galaxy phones and tablets that lets users hide apps and files from prying eyes. While the feature locks these apps and files in a new profile and protects them with a screen lock, a flaw in Secure Folder allows anyone to see which apps and photos you have. Samsung didn't publicly take cognizance of the flaw, so it was anyone's guess if the company was working on a fix. A new leak suggests Samsung could fix the issues with Secure Folder with One UI 8. Apps and photos are visible outside of Secure Folder primarily because of the way it works. Samsung creates a Work profile for Secure Folder, which is just a distinct profile from the default personal profile. While the data is containerized, specific components like the Android photo picker and Permission Controller can still see the contents within this Work profile, and end up exposing it in certain situations. Google has its own version of the Secure Folder, which was introduced with Android 15 as Private Space. This is a different 'Private' user profile, which the Android photo picker and Permission Controller treat differently. When this private profile is locked, it is subsequently hidden from the Android photo picker, the Permission Controller, and other system surfaces. How could Samsung fix Secure Folder? One potential way is to adopt the Private Space approach. It seems Samsung is doing just that, as DevOfIpos on X says that Secure Folder on One UI 8 uses the Private Space API instead of the work profile. As per the description that appears when hiding the Secure Folder, apps within the Secure Folder won't work and won't send any notifications while the Secure Folder is hidden. This does add a layer of friction when accessing content stored within the Secure Folder, but it should also fix instances of hidden apps sending you notifications and leaking your stored media. There's currently no word on when One UI 8 will be released. Given that Android 16's stable release is right around the corner, we hope for more news soon. However, One UI 7's delayed rollout has left a bad taste in our mouths, so we aren't holding our breath for a quick One UI 8 rollout. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
