Finola Brady , Cryptopal - Smartphone Knowledge Base

How to erase data from Samsung Galaxy phone

September 17, 2019

by Finola Brady Android Phone Smartphone Security

If you are a tech geek or someone who wants to regularly upgrade your phone to buy a newer, better phone, then you might need to erase data from your Samsung Galaxy phone. There might also be cases when you need to send over your mobile phone for service or repair.

Your mobile contains a lot of private and personal pictures, videos, chats, messages, and music. You would not want any stranger to look at them. So, this guide will help you erase data from Samsung Galaxy phone with ease.

Method 1: Factory Reset

A factory reset is the best option to clear everything on your phone and revert it to the initial state when you first bought it. However, before you perform a full factory reset of your Samsung Galaxy phone, make sure to take a full back up.

Using the Settings menu – Soft reset

Open the Apps menu in your Samsung Galaxy phone. The Apps menu is a menu of all apps installed on your device.
Tap the Settings icon to open the Settings
Scroll down and tap Backup and Reset. If this option in not in the Settings menu, go to General management > Reset. In some phones, the Backup and Reset section is under this menu.
Tap Factory Data Reset. A new page opens up.
Tap Reset Device.
Tap Erase Everything. For older versions, this button may appear as Delete All.

It takes a while for your device to reset. The Samsung Galaxy phone will restart once the reset process is complete.

Recovery Mode – Hard reset

Turn off your Samsung Galaxy. This is essential to access recovery mode in your boot menu.
Press and hold down the Home, Volume, and Power buttons at the same time.
This powers up your device, and you can see the Android system recovery On some devices, you might have to press the Volume up button instead of the Volume down button.
Select the Wipe Data/ Factory Reset
Press the Power The power key acts as the Enter button.
Confirm your action by selecting the Yes – Delete All User Data option on the screen that appears next. Select this option using the Volume up/down

This action resets your device and erases all data in it. It takes a while for your device to reboot. The Samsung Galaxy phone will restart once the reset process is complete.

A factory reset erases all of your personal information and downloaded applications. You cannot recover this data once it is lost. It is strongly recommended that you backup of all your data correctly before resetting your Samsung Galaxy phone.

Method 2: Third-party Apps

You can also utilise some third-party applications to erase data from your Samsung Galaxy phone.

SafeWiper

SafeWiper is a desktop software that helps remove data from Samsung Galaxy phones completely. It wipes out all sensitive files, unused disk space, etc. To erase data from Samsung Galaxy phone using SafeWiper:

Download the SafeWiper software from its official website.
Install the software on your computer.
Connect your Samsung Galaxy phone to your PC using a USB data cable. The software automatically detects the phone.
Enable USB debugging on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
Select the Erase All Data option in the SafeWiper software, from the four available options.
Click the Erase Now button to begin erasing.
Type Erase in the given box to confirm the action.
Click the Settings item to choose the level of wiping. You can choose one from Low Level, Medium Level, and High-Level Wiping.

The erasing process takes some time to complete. Do not disconnect your Mobil from the computer in this duration. Once your data is erased from your Samsung Galaxy phone, the phone will be like new.

Dr. Fone toolkit – Android Data Eraser

Dr. Fone toolkit is another desktop software that can help erase everything from your Samsung Galaxy phone. To erase data from Samsung Galaxy phone using Dr. Fone toolkit:

Download the Fone toolkit from its official website.
Install the toolkit on your computer.
Connect your Samsung Galaxy phone to your PC using a USB data cable. The software automatically detects the phone.
Enable USB debugging on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
Click Erase All Data in the pop-up that appears.
Type Delete in the given box to confirm the action.
Choose the Factory Reset option that appears after a few minutes. In this stage, the data is erased completely.

The factory reset option takes a few minutes to complete. Once your data is erased from your Samsung Galaxy phone, the phone will be like new.

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How to Speed Up iPhone

September 10, 2019

by Finola Brady iPhone

Just like human beings, iPhones too age with time. With ageing, phones slow down. Especially when new models come out, you might realise that your iPhone is comparatively slower than the newer ones. Instead of jumping straight to conclusions and buying a new one, read on to find how you can speed up your iPhone.

Does Apple deliberately slow iPhone?

Yes. Apple has admitted that it slows down older iPhones, to avoid battery problems. If you have an old version of iPhone and if you have updated your phone to the most recent iOS version, chances are, you might be experiencing slowdown issues.

Apple claims that the reason for this is to preserve the power and lifespan of batteries. You can, fortunately, turn off the performance management feature to take care of slowdown issues. To do this:

Go to Settings.
Tap Battery.
Tap Battery Health.
Scroll down to the Peak Performance Capability subheading and tap Disable.

How to speed up iPhone?

Free up space

One of the main reasons why your iPhone might be slowing down is because it is filled to the brim with photos, videos, and apps. You can lighten a load of your device by deleting unused apps, random photos, and lengthy never to be seen videos.

To see how much storage you are using on iOS11:

Go to Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage.
Select Manage Storage under the Storage

A colourful chart pops up on the screen. The chart shows the space you are using and the free space you have remaining. You can also see some recommendations to save storage below the chart.

For the older versions, you can manually go through the applications that are on your iPhone and get rid of the unused ones. To delete an app:

Press and hold on the app icon. The icon starts jumping around.
Tap on the X on the top right of the icon to delete it.

To delete multiple applications at once:

Go to Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage.
Tap Manage Storage under Storage.
Tap on the name of the app that you don’t need, and click the Delete App option on the next screen.
Repeat the process for deleting all apps that you don’t need.

You should skim through all your photos/videos and offload the unnecessary ones. Another great idea to reduce storage usage on your phone is to delete old conversations and large attachments.

Use HEIF and HEVC formats.

iOS 11 introduces the HEIF (High-Efficiency Image Format) format for photos and HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding) format for videos. If you are like other normal smartphone users, photos, and videos occupy the most space in your iPhone. The HEIF and HEVC formats save your photos and videos in smaller file sizes, thus reducing storage space and increasing speed. To enable high efficiency:

Go to Settings > Camera > Formats.
Choose High Efficiency.

Note: Only devices with at least A 10 Fusion chip (iPhone 7 and later versions) can only snap and save photos and videos with the HIEF or HEVC format.

Update iOS

Updating iOS to the latest version can give you mixed results in terms of speed. Some iOS upgrade versions might introduce efficient code while some versions might add new features that can degrade iPhone speed. The best solution is to review the latest changes in the release and upgrade it only if you are sure.

iOS 12 promises to boost speed in new devices, so upgrading to iOS 12 would be a safe bet. To check if your iOS is updated:

Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Check for a new iOS version.

Update Applications

If you have updated your iOS version, you might as well upgrade all your apps to the latest version too. Old apps might not run as smoothly or efficiently in the new iOS version. To update all apps to the newest version:

Open App Store.
Tap Updates.
Tap Update All.

Disable automatic updates

By default, iOS runs processes and applications in the background. This might seem to be useful in some cases, but automatic updates hog your device’s CPU and battery. To speed up the iPhone, you should disable automatic updates. You can update your apps as and when required via App Store.

To disable automatic updates:

Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store.
Go to the Automatic Downloads
Toggle Updates to Off.

Disable background app refresh

Apart from updating automatically in the background, apps also refresh their content in the background. For example, Facebook. Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media handles update in the background automatically without having to refresh it manually. It is helpful for sure, but it occupies CPU cycles. Hence, to speed up the iPhone, it is better to disable background app refresh option.

To disable background app refresh:

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Tap the toggle switch off.

You can also enable Background App Refresh at the top and turn it off for individual apps from the given list.

Turn off app notifications

Notifications can help you stay updated on the messages arriving on your phone. However, you do not always need them. For example, you do not need notifications every time someone posts something on Facebook. Turning on notifications for all applications can slow down your iPhone significantly. Hence, to turn off notifications:

Go to Settings > Notifications.
Toggle Notifications to Off for all applications that do not require notifications.

Disable Spotlight searching

Spotlight helps you search across your iPhone with ease. To do so, however, it has to index all items on your iPhone. This can occasionally slow things down. To speed up your iPhone, you can try switching Spotlight off. To do so:

Go to Settings > General > Spotlight Search.
Set all search result items to Off.

Clear Safari cache

Safari app might notice more slowdown than the other apps on your iPhone. This occurs because of full cache memory. To clear Safari cache:

Go to Settings > General.
Tap Clear History and Website Data.

Clearing Safari cache should speed up the Safari app. Web pages may take longer time slightly to load initially, but this problem will be solved as soon as cache starts filling up.

Test your web connection

If Safari and other applications are still running slowly, then the problem is not with your iPhone but with your web connection. It does not matter how fast your iPhone is. If your connection to the internet is weak, then it is sure to slow things down considerably.

Use a speed test app such as Ookla to check your internet speed. A slow internet connection might be the reason why your apps that require an active internet connection are slowed down.

Reduce motion effects

If you have turned off everything and still need a bit more speed in your iPhone, then disable some motion effects is a good idea. To do so:

Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Reduce Motion.
Set Reduce Motion to On.

Reducing motion will undoubtedly provide a slight speed boost to your iPhone.

Turn off location services

Turning on location services is handy for apps like Maps and Facebook. However, Location Services sucks up battery power and reduces performance. It is hence desirable to turn on location services only when required.

To turn location services off:

Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
Set Location Services to Off.

Reboot

After removing unnecessary apps and disabling unnecessary settings, you should reboot your iPhone. Rebooting refreshes the memory of the iPhone and enables it to start from scratch. To reboot your iPhone:

Hold down the Sleep/Wake button at the top.
Slide the Slide to Power Off control slider to power down the iPhone.
Hold the Sleep/Wake button again to start the phone.

When in doubt, reboot your iPhone from time to time to refresh phone memory and speed it up.

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How to switch from iPhone to Android?

August 28, 2019

by Finola Brady Android Phone iPhone

So, you have decided to switch from the green land of iPhone to the promised land of Android. You can be sure that the switch is going to be as challenging as moving into a new country, alone.

Worry not. This guide is all set to make your transition easier. Follow the steps in this guide, and you can sync all your contacts, files, pictures, and videos to your new Android phone with ease. If you are very much invested in the iPhone fraternity, the switch is going to be difficult, but the final result is worth it. The question revolving around which is better; Android or iPhone, paves the way for another discussion at another time. Since you have already decided to switch to Android, let us make the process easier.

Using your new phones’ settings

Before discussing the ways to move over bits and parts of your iPhone data to your new Android phone, let us take a look at the features that your new phone provides.

Most Android devices have inbuilt apps that serve the purpose of easing out the process of shifting critical data from old phone to a new one. When you set up the new phone, you might be asked if you want to copy files from your old (Android or Apple) phone to a new one. This process makes the transition a lot easier.

If you buy a Samsung phone of the recent version, you will get a USB-OTG connector in the box which lets you plug in your iPhone to the new phone. With this, you can copy a lot of files and data to the new phone with ease.

If this process does not work, read on to know how you can transition from iPhone to Android in a breeze.

How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Android?

Before selling your iPhone, you will surely want to transfer your contacts to the new phone. The complexity of moving contacts depends on how you have stored it.

Google Account

Are you syncing your contacts regularly with your Google account? If the answer is yes, you can log in with the same Gmail account on your new phone to easily sync your contacts.

iCloud

If you have used iCloud to store your contacts, then the process of transferring contacts from iPhone to a new Android device is pretty simple too. To transfer contacts using iCloud:

1. Turn on Contacts under Settings > Your name > iCloud on your iPhone.

2. Log in to iCloud website on your computer.

3. Click Contacts.

4. Click the gear button on the bottom left side of the screen.

5. Select Export vCard.

6. Log into Gmail and tap the Gmail icon on the top left side of the screen.

7. Click Contacts.

8. Click More.

9. Tap Import.

Third-party apps

You can also use third-party apps like My Contacts Backup app to transfer your contacts from iPhone to Android devices. Install the app, launch it, and carry out the steps that follow.

How to sync your calendar from iPhone to Android?

Syncing your calendar entries from iPhone to Android is also extremely easy if you have been doing so regularly.

Google Account

If you have been syncing your calendar with your Google account, you can transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. Log in from the Google account in your new Android device, and your calendar is synced automatically.

iCloud

You can also use your iCloud account to transfer your calendar entries to the new Android device.

1. Go to Settings > Your name > iCloud on your iPhone.

2. Toggle on Calendars.

3. Log in to iCloud website on your computer.

4. Click Calendar.

5. Click the Share Calendar button beside the desired calendar.

6. Tick on the Public Calendar checkbox and copy the sharing URL.

7. Paste the copied URL on a new tab of a browser.

8. Change the term webcal in the URL to http and press the Enter key. The web browser downloads a file with random characters. This file is a copy of your iCloud Calendar entries.

9. Save the file to a convenient folder.

10. Log in to Google Calendar in your web browser.

11. Click the plus button on the right of Other Calendars in the Google Calendar interface. Select the Import option.

12. Select the downloaded, exported calendar file.

13. Click the Import button to upload the downloaded file.

The imported entries are now listed in the Google Calendar web interface. Once you log in via this Gmail account, the new entries are also synced to your Android device.

How to transfer your photos and videos from iPhone to Android?

You can deploy many ways to transfer your precious photos from your iPhone to Android. You should follow the best approach to prevent the loss of your precious photos in the process of transferring them from iPhone to Android.

Conventional way

The conventional way of transferring photos and videos from iPhone to Android is to copy all your photos from the iPhone to a computer and transfer them to your new Android phone. This caveman approach works for sure, but it is the most time-consuming way to move your photos.

Google Photos app

You can use the iOS Google Photos app to effortlessly transfer your photos and videos from your old iPhone to your new Android phone.

1. Download the iOS Google Photos app.

2. Turn on the backup feature.

3. Connect to a Wi-Fi network to ensure that your photos are uploaded to your Google account with ease.

4. Download the Photos app on your new Android phone when all your photos from iPhone are uploaded.

5. Set up the Photos app on Android with the same Google account.

All your photos and videos are synced to your Google account automatically. You can use Google Photos syncing as a way to always save and update your photos/videos.

How to transfer music files from iPhone to Android?

You would also want to transfer your saved playlists or music to your Android account. There are several ways to do that too.

Assuming that you are using iTunes, make sure that you download any music that you have purchased. Since iTunes music and audio files are protected by DRM, you might need to use the Apple Music App, or some other third-party applications to transfer music to Android.

Apple Music App

Apple has released the Apple Music app for Android devices. Just like the iOS version, the app allows you to create your personalised playlists and purchase iTunes music. Apple Music app also allows you to download tracks for offline listening.

To enjoy Apple Music on Android devices:

1. Download and launch the Apple Music app.

2. Choose a membership plan.

3. Click Start Trial.

4. Click Use Existing ID. Enter the Apple ID and the password to log in. If you do not have an Apple account, click Create New Apple ID.

Now, you can easily enjoy your Apple Music on your Android devices, create personalised playlists, and download offline tracks.

Convert to MP3 and transfer to Android

Several Android devices do not support the Apple Music app. Hence, an alternative option to using the app is to convert Apple Music to MP3. Use one of the below-mentioned applications to convert iPhone music to MP3:

1. TuneFab Apple Music Converter

2. Apple Mac Soft

3. Sidify Apple Music Converter

How to transfer text messages from iPhone to Android?

Transferring text messages is a lot trickier than transferring photos or videos. Some people like to save precious text conversions intact and transfer them to their new smartphones. It is possible using the iSMS2droid app. This method might not necessarily work for everyone as it requires you to back up your SMS to iTunes and to dig around to find the right file to convert.

Another option is to use Samsung Smart Switch or Kies software to restore iPhone backup. Other premium software options allow you to copy text messages, contacts, photos, and call logs too. Some applications might work for you, while some might not. Regardless of the option you use, turn iMessage off before making the switch. If you don’t do so, your SMS and MMS messages might still go to your old iPhone if the sender is an iPhone user. Apple sends an iMessage instead of SMS or MMS when it detects that both devices are iOS.

To turn off iMessage:

1. Go to Settings > Messages.

2. Toggle iMessage off.

3. Go to Settings > Facetime and toggle iMessage off.

Can you transfer apps from iPhone to Android?

iOS and Android are different to the core. Hence, the apps that run on them are extremely different too. You cannot transfer apps from iPhone to Android.

Popular apps for social network, games, editing tools, etc. exist both in Android and iPhone. You can check Google Play to ensure that the important apps that you use in the iPhone are available in your new Android phone too.

If the crucial app that you use daily is not available in the Android system, then there are a number of replacements that you can use for the app.

Wrapping up

Yes, the transition to Android from iPhone is surely going to be difficult. Switching to a new platform is tiring, but some tools will make your experience much smoother.

Firstly, you will have to re-download all your applications or leave behind some for good. Transferring everything else is easier as it depends on the cloud solution that you use. You can later download all the required files from the cloud as and when required.

You should also remember to turn off iMessage before leaving behind your iPhone. Avoiding this step might create issues with your SMS delivery.

There are some differences in the user experience of Android and iPhone. Learn the differences below:

Navigation

Navigation on Android differs from that of an iPhone. The Home button always takes you back to the home screen. The Back button takes you back one level, one page, or one screen. It can also be used to back out of apps.

Multitasking or recent apps can be found by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. This screen showcases the latest apps that you were using, and you can quickly jump back to an app as and when required.

Customisation

Customisation and widgets in Android differ from that of the iPhone system. Android offers the ability to customise your smartphone and use widgets on your screen.

To customise your phone’s look and feel, tap, and hold an empty section of the home screen. A pop-up menu now allows you to set the wallpaper. You can also add apps, shortcuts, folders, and widgets into your home screen.

Widgets are small windows of applications that can bring new information to you automatically. Not all applications have widgets, but you can hold the empty portion of the home screen to select widgets, and to select how the widgets will appear on your screen.

You can also change the entire aesthetics of your new Android phone by exploring the world of launchers. There are a number of free launchers available, with special effects and styles to choose from.

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How to Remove Screen Lock from Android Phone Without Losing Data?

August 12, 2019

by Finola Brady Android Phone Smartphone Security

One of the most underrated yet a highly secure feature of Android phones is the lock screen feature. It acts as a barrier between your personal data and an unwanted user.

However, if you forget your lock screen password, PIN, or passcode, there is no way to unlock the device without resetting it. In this article, however, we discuss the methods that can be used to remove screen lock from an Android phone without losing data.

Method 1: Remove screen lock from Android phone without losing data – Using Unlock Tools

There are several Android screen unlock tools that you can use to remove screen lock without losing data. Some of these tools are mentioned below:

1. iMyFone Lockwiper
2. Dr. fone

iMyFone Lockwiper

iMyFone Lockwiper is an unlock tool for Samsung mobile phones. It has a number of features that can be used for unlocking a smartphone. iMyFone Lockwiper is a complete unlocking package and is recommended for the non-savvy.

The downside to this application, however, is that it offers screen unlock without data loss for Samsung phones. The screen unlock feature works for other Android smartphones but erases all data.

Features:

• Remove screen lock from Android phone without losing data – for Samsung devices.
• Fast bypass of screen lock, Pin lock, FRP lock, and password lock.
• Free trial version available.
• Works on most Android devices.
• Fluid and easy to use interface.

Steps:

1. Download and launch the iMyFone Lockwiper app on your PC.
2. Select the Remove without Data Loss mode for Samsung devices. Select the Remove Screen Lock for other Android phones.
3. Click Start.
4. Connect your phone to PC with a USB cable. If your phone is not recognized, then follow the link to put the device in recovery mode. Lockwiper detects your device info. Double-check to inform and click Start to Unlock.

Lockwiper downloads a data package and installs it into your device. The screen lock removal process completes after a few minutes.

Dr. fone

Dr. fone is another Android unlock app that removes pattern, pin and password lock on Samsung phones. It offers removal of screen lock on LG, Huwaei, Pixel, and other smartphones.

Features:

• Remove screen lock without losing data for LG phones.
• Remove screen lock, pin, and password without losing data for Samsung mobiles.
• Free trial.
• Easy to use interface.
• Fast bypass of screen lock, pin, and password lock.

Steps:

1. Download and launch the FoneCope app on your PC.
2. Choose the Lock Screen Removal icon from the home screen of the app.
3. Connect your Android device to the system using a USB cable. The software automatically detects the device.
4. Click Start to commence the lock removal process.
5. Enter the device into its Download mode. To do this, power off the device and hold Power, home, and Volume down button simultaneously. Press the Volume Up button to enter the Download mode now.
The interface starts downloading the recovery package as soon as your device enters the Download mode.
6. Perform the instructions on the screen to remove the device’s lock.

An on-screen message will indicate the completion of the lock screen removal process. You can now disconnect your device safely and access it without a lock screen.

Method 2: Remove screen lock from Android phone without losing data – Using Android Device Manager (ADM)

The Android Device Manager (ADM) is useful in situations where you need to ring, lock/unlock, wipe, and erase your device remotely. The only catch is that you need to have ADM enabled in your device for it to be usable.

You can enable ADM by visiting http://google.com/android/devicemanager. Your device must also be connected to the internet with GPS activated, and it should be running on Android 4.4.

Steps:

1. Visit http://google.com/android/devicemanager from a computer or a mobile.
2. Sign in with the account of the device you wish to unlock.
3. Choose the device and click on the Lock button.
4. Input a temporary password and type Lock again. A confirmation pop-up appears with the Ring, Lock, and Erase buttons.
5. Enter the temporary password on the phone screen.

After some time, the lock screen is successfully bypassed. You can now go to Settings and disable the temporary password.

Method 3: Remove screen lock from Android phone without losing data – Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method works if USB debugging is enabled on your Android device before you forget your screen lock or password. Another requirement for removing screen lock using ADB is to set your personal computer as a trusted device. This method also does not work for devices with encryption enabled. If all these requirements are met, you can easily remove screen lock from an Android phone without losing data.

Steps:

1. Plug the Android device to your trusted computer using a USB.
2. Open the command prompt (in Windows computer) or the terminal window (in Mac) in the ADB installation directory.
3. Type the following command and press enter:
adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key
4. Restart your Android device. The secure lock screen is temporarily gone.
5. Set a new lock (password, pattern, or PIN) before restarting the Android device. If you set a new lock before restarting the Android device, your device will be locked again.

Method 4: Remove third-party app screen lock from Android phone without losing data – By rebooting mobile in safe mode

You can remove third party app screen lock of your Android phone (not the default screen lock), by booting your Android phone in Safe mode. Doing this will disable the third-party screen lock temporarily.

Steps:

1. Press and hold the Power button until the power menu appears on the Android screen.
2. Tap and hold the Power Off button.
3. Tap OK in the Do you want to reboot into safe mode? Confirmation box.
4. Uninstall the third-party screen lock application.
5. Restart your Android device.

You can later download the third-party screen lock app again and set up a new screen lock pattern.

Method 5: Remove screen lock from Android phone without losing data – Using Forgot Password feature and Google account

On devices running Android 4.4, you can reset your passcode by using the Forgot Password feature. To bypass Android lock without a reset, you can tweak this feature after successive failed attempts.

Steps:

1. Try to unlock the passcode five times with a wrong one.
2. Enter the wrong passcode one more time. You will be asked if you want to unlock with a security question or a backup PIN. With a security question or a backup PIN, you can easily unlock the screen. If you do not have the answer to the security question or a backup PIN, proceed to step 3.
3. Hit the Forgot Pattern button at the bottom of the page.
4. Input the Google account credentials and sign in to your account. You will obtain an email that will allow you to create a new passcode.
5. Configure the new login and use this code to bypass the previous Android lock screen without losing data.

Method 6: Remove screen lock from Android phone without losing data – Using Emergency Call trick

The emergency call trick is another Android feature that you can use to remove the lock from an Android phone without losing data. This method works only on Android versions 5.0 and 5.1.1. These versions have a bug that crashes the lock screen when too many characters are input into the emergency call field. Hence, this is a temporary solution that might sometimes work.

Steps:

1. On the lock screen, select the Emergency Call option.
2. A dialer pops up on the screen. Input 10 asterisks from the dialer highlight the asterisks, copy them and paste them to the dialer.
3. Keep pasting the asterisks until the field is full.
4. Return to the lock screen, open the camera and swipe down from the top of your screen.
5. Click the Settings icon from the notifications menu.
6. Paste the copied asterisks into the password field and continue doing so until the lock screen crashes and opens your home screen.

Remove screen lock from Android phone by a factory reset.

If any of the above methods do not work for you, you can also remove screen lock from Android phone by performing a factory reset. Please note that factory reset will erase all the data in your phone and you will be unable to access it if you have not backed up your data.

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How to backup Android smartphone data

August 3, 2019

by Finola Brady Smartphone Security

Android phones are becoming extremely popular when it comes to storing personal data like a loved one’s contact information, embarrassing photos, funny personal videos, interesting chats, daily schedules, and what not. While many Android smartphones are getting smarter on backing up data, there is always the possibility that you might lose vital personal data by getting your phone stolen, accidentally performing a factory reset on your smartphone, or perhaps by dropping it into a swimming pool unintentionally.

Fortunately, there are many ways you can backup your personal data safely, to avoid accidental loss. These are some situations when you might need to backup your Android data:

• Before factory reset.
• Before selling your Android phone to another person.
• To transfer old phone data to a new phone.
• To clean up the memory of the phone when it is full.

Whether it be through Google, through a third-party application, or by merely transferring android data to a computer, use one of the numerous ways to backup Android smartphone data.

Google

Google is not just a library for everything possible, but also an easy way to take care of your smartphone backup woes. Backing up data with Google is pretty easy, and once you turn on the setting, you can forget about it before you need to restore the data.

Backing up photos and videos with Google

If you are one of the few people who do not use Google Photos, then you should adopt it at once. Google Photos is an excellent backup tool as it automatically uploads every photo or video on your device to Google cloud. Just turn on the automatic backup setting, and you are good to go.

1. Download the Google Photos app.
2. Open the app.
3. Click Settings from the menu.
4. Tap Backup and Sync.
5. Turn on the switch.

With Google Photos, you can upload as many files as you would like for free. The photos and videos can have a maximum upload quality of 1080p. To keep the original resolution quality, you can do so, but that will count against your Google Drive storage limits.

To check your Google photos upload quality:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Click Settings from the menu.
3. Tap Backup and Sync.
4. Tap Upload size.
5. Choose the desired option. There are two available options:

High-quality upload with free unlimited storage.
Original quality upload with storage limits.

Backing up other files with Google

You do not just store photos and videos on your smartphone. To backup other smartphone data, you can use Google Drive.

Google Drive lets you store files in the cloud, meaning that it is accessible from any connected device. To upload folders and files manually, follow these instructions:

1. Download the Google Drive app.
2. Press +.
3. Click Upload.
4. Select the files that you want to upload.

The files are now uploaded to the drive and can be accessed and restored anytime in the future.

Backing up Settings and Applications with Google

You can use the Android Backup service to backup settings and applications of your phone to Google. Android Backup Service backs up the applications that you use and the settings you have selected in Google apps, making it easier to restore these settings to a new phone or the same phone after a factory reset.

The full list of the items that are backed up with Android Backup Service is:

• App data along with settings
• Contacts
• Call history
• SMS text messages
• Photos and Videos
• Device settings (Wi-Fi passwords, default apps, wallpapers, etc.)
• Google Calendar events and settings
• Wallpaper
• Display settings
• Date and time
• Language and input settings
• Settings and data for non-Google applications

There are different ways to backup your settings and app data using Android Backup Service. The method and the types of data that are backed up using the service vary from device to device.

Personal Computer

Another way to effectively backup your important smartphone photos, videos, and files are to upload everything to a personal computer. You can simply plug your smartphone to your PC or Mac and copy the files over to your hard drive.

While backing up essential data to a computer is not a long term or perfect solution, you can rest assured that simply losing your smartphone will not mean a total loss of all your essential data.

Plug in the smartphone to your computer. A pop-up should appear on the screen, showcasing your connected smartphone as a drive. You can then copy the content from this drive to your computer’s drive.

If the drive pop-up does not appear on the screen, pull down the notification shade on your smartphone. A notification that looks like Charging this device via USB appears on the screen. Tap on the notification and change the option to File Transfer. Your personal computer will now treat the smartphone as a drive, and you can copy your critical content to a safe hard drive with ease.

Third-party applications

Third-party backup and restore applications offer a more robust, comprehensive alternative to Google backup or PC backup. Numerous great apps can back up your data, and some of them are mentioned below:

My Backup Pro

My Backup Pro is a straightforward backup system for Android mobile phones, that effectively backs up smartphone data to take regular backups of your smartphone and store the backup to an SD card, the phone itself, or to the cloud.

My Backup Pro backs up the following:

• Photos
• App data
• Browser bookmarks
• Contacts
• System settings
• Home screen shortcuts
• Alarms
• Calendars
• MMS messages
• SMS messages
• Music

The good thing about My Backup Pro is that it allows you to take backups at convenient times, even when sleeping. Your backed-up data is instantly accessible from the My Backup Pro site. Hence, even if you lose your phone or switch to a new one, you can restore your backed-up data with ease.

SMS Backup and Restore

Do you want to save your very last message to a loved one for a long time? Use the SMS Backup and Restore app.

This free app integrates easily with your email account, Google Drive, or Dropbox. You can use the app to back up your SMS messages in XML format. The app can also schedule regular backups.

Backup the SMS messages in your computer and send them anywhere via email. You can view and restore your messages selectively, or you can restore everything all at once.

Super Backup and Restore

The Super Backup and Restore app allows you to selectively backup the items of your phone. You can choose to backup your apps, contacts, SMS, voice calls, calendars, etc. You can also select the location where you want to store your backed-up files. Schedule automatic backups at regular intervals and store your backed-up files to the cloud for safekeeping purposes. You can restore these backed-up files later, with ease.

Titanium Backup

Titanium backup is another awesome app that backs up app settings, Wi-Fi passwords, as well as system data along with the basics. Titanium Backup app sure looks a little outdated but is extremely powerful when it comes to taking care of your data.

Titanium Backup offers you the Batch Actions column, allowing you to select the items to backup. You can also opt to create a recovery compatible .zip backup. Doing this ensures that you can restore the backup with ease, even if your phone’s system file becomes corrupt.

Device Manufacturer’s Software

The last but not the least option for effectively backing up your crucial smartphone data is to use your manufacturer’s software. Almost every smartphone manufacturer offer their own backup solution. While manufacturer software was initially computer-based, all companies are slowly switching to creating easy to use backup apps that can store backups in the cloud and can be restored with ease. Some examples of device manufacturer backup software are mentioned below:

• Motorola Migrate
• LG Mobile Switch
• Sony Xperia Transfer
• Samsung Smart Switch
• HTC Backup
• OnePlus Switch
• Xiaomi Backup app
• Huawei Backup app

Backup Now

As mentioned above, there are a number of ways you can back up your Android data safely in a scheduled manner. You lose nothing by backing up your data, but not doing so always puts you at risk of losing your data. Backup now, don’t delay and save yourself from trouble today.

Final Sale: 2-year plan with 68% off

Recovery Software for iPhone

July 24, 2019

by Finola Brady iPhone

Your iPhone is home to loads of valuable, personal data like photos, videos, and contacts. Sadly, data loss can happen to anyone even when using a highly secure device like an iPhone.

There are several cases when your valuable data might be lost. Some of the major causes of data loss in iPhone are:

Water damage
iOS upgrades
Lost iPhone
Black screen of death
Accidental or intentional Factory reset
iPhone stuck in recovery mode
Stolen Apple ID

Choosing the best recovery software to get back your data can be an arduous task. However, for your ease, we have listed below, the best recovery software for iPhone.

iSkySoft iPhone Data Recovery

iSkySoft recovers data from iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud. You can retrieve your valuable photos, contacts, iMessages, app messages, Safari bookmarks, WhatsApp messages, Notes, Calendar, and voice memo using the software.

iSkySoft has a preview option which displays the recovered data with their names and file structures. The tool also repairs errors in the iOS devices in addition to recovery.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Can recover nine types of lost data for iOS devices.
Easy to use.
Can recover 17 types of lost data from iTunes and iCloud.
Compatible with the latest iOS releases.

Cons:

Cannot recover complete lost data from iPhone.
Scanning time is longer.

EaseUS MobiSaver

EaseUS MobiSaver is another recovery software for iPhone which offers complete iOS device recovery in its Pro version. It can recover photos, videos, songs, contacts, call history, browsing history, reminders, calendars, etc., but its free version is limited to offering five contacts and one photo/video recovery.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Pro version recovers all iPhone data.
Easy to use.
Preview option before recovery.
Allows data recovery in situations like upgrade, formatting, jailbreak, etc.

Cons:

The free version has limited capabilities.
Sometimes has connection issues.
Slow scanning.

iMobie PhoneRescue

The simple, and easy to use interface of iMobie PhoneRescue makes it another good recovery software for iPhone. It can recover 31 lost data types including photos, videos, Safari bookmarks, contacts, playlists, music, notes, Line and WhatsApp messages.

iMobie PhoneRescue also offers a repair feature for iPhones stuck on white Apple logo, Recovery Mode loop, or black screen.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Supports data recovery of encrypted iTunes backup files.
Stores messages and call history in HTML format.
Easy to use.

Cons:

Does not always recover iPhones videos, and does not work on all data loss situations.
Slow scanning.

Leawo iOS Data Recovery

When looking for limited data recovery for iPhone, iPod, and iPad, Leawo iOS Data Recovery is the perfect solution. This tool can recover six data types from iOS devices and 12 data types from iTunes. Its user interface is easy, and it also allows you to search for lost data by format or filename.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X, iPad, iPod.

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Easy to use interface.
Preview option before recovery.
Can recover lost data from iPhone, iTunes and iCloud backup files.

Cons:

Slow scanning.
Limited data type recovery from iOS devices.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone

The highly intuitive interface of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone makes it one of the best-known recovery software for iOS. Suitable for a novice, the tree view structure of the software allows you to preview and save recovered data with ease. It completely recovers data, even then attachments of char messages. It has a higher iOS data recovery rate and relatively better features than its counterparts.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X, iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, iPad.

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x

Pros:

Powerful and easy to use.
Very user-friendly interface.
Fast scanning and quick recovery of lost data.
Supoorts iPhone and iPad.
Recovers encrypted iTunes backup files and allowed selective recovery from iTunes and iCloud.
Scans device comprehensively and can save recovered data to a computer or iPhone.
Works with data loss situations like a broken screen, broken iPhone, water damage, accidental data loss, unintentional formatting of data, and jailbreak.

Cons:

The trial version does not allow saving recovered files.

Dr. Fone iPhone Data Recovery

Dr. Fone iPhone Data Recovery is another iPhone recovery tool that recovers iPhone data from iTunes and iCloud backup with ease. It’s simple interface and its compatibility with the latest iOS versions makes it a preferred recovery software for iPhone.

Device compatibility: iPhone 8, 8 Plus, iPhone X

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Easy to use interface
Preview option before recovery.
Recovers messages, contacts, call history, WhatsApp messages, photos, videos, notes, Safari bookmarks.
Recovers lost data from iPhone, iCloud and iTunes backup files.

Cons:

Expensive than the other vendors.
The free version does not allow saving data.
Cannot recover SnapChat messages.

Primo iPhone Data Recovery

The Primo iPhone Data Recovery software’s easy to navigate interface and extensive recovery support makes it a software that is worth paying for. It recovers media files, call history, personal data, notes, contacts, videos, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Safari history. Its additional feature lets you fix other issues such as iDevice stuck on black screen, white screen and Apple logo mode, along with issues such as upgrade error.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X, iPhone XS, XS Max, XR.

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Easy to use interface.
Allows selective recovery.
Recovers 25 types of iOS content from iPhone, iPad, as well as iPod.
Retrieves data from iDevice, iCloud and iTunes backup.

Cons:

Trial version does not allow to save recovered files.
Does not recover Viber, SnapChat or WeChat messages.

Leawo iOS Data Recovery

Leawo iOS Data Recovery is suitable for limited data recovery from iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It can recover six data types from iOS devices and 12 data types from iTunes.

You can use the Leawo iOS Data recovery application to search for data by file name or format. It is suitable, even for a novice user.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X.

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Easy to use interface.
Recovers lost data from iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud backup.
Preview option before recovery.

Cons:

Limited data recovery types.
Slow scanning time.

Tenorshare iPhone Data Recovery

Tenoshare iPhone Data recovery software supports the recovery of lost data in the iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud. Its competency to recover a huge number of data types makes it a reliable choice. It can recover app data, contacts, attachments, photos, notes, and videos.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X.

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Recovers wide range of lost data types.
Recovers lost data from iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud.
Preview option before recovery.
Allows recovery of selective data.

Cons:

Slow scanning.
Cannot recover complete lost data from iPhone.

Aiseesoft Fonelab iPhone Data Recovery

Aiseesoft iPhone data recovery tool can easily recover lost data, not just from the iPhone, but also from iPad and iPod Touch. It can also retrieve lost data from iTunes and iCloud backup files.

Aiseesoft can recover 19 types of data, including photos, WhatsApp, contacts, call history, iMessage, photos, notes, etc. However, it cannot fully restore photos and videos from iPhone.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X.

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Easy to use interface.
Recovers lost data from iTunes and iCloud.
Recovers HEIC photos from iCloud.

Cons:

The trial version does not recover any lost data.
The application cannot always fully recover data.

Enigma iPhone Recovery Software

The clear and easy to use interface of Enigma iPhone recovery software places it on the list of the best recovery software for iPhone. Enigma offers decent data recovery capabilities from iOS devices, iTunes, and iCloud. It can restore lost messages, photos, videos, KiK, contacts, calls, notes, WhatsApp, and calendar.

The only downside to this Enigma is that it offers video and photo recovery only from iTunes or iCloud backup.

Device compatibility: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, 8, iPhone X.

iOS supported: iOS 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x

Pros:

Easy to use interface.

Cons:

Limited data type support.
Slow scanning.
Importing recovered data to the device requires iOS app support.

Final Sale: 2-year plan with 68% off

Best VPNs for Smartphones

July 19, 2019

by Finola Brady Smartphone Security VPN's

VPNs are used particularly on computers/laptops to create a secure connection to another network over the internet. While it is less common to use VPN services in smartphones, it is recommended that you do so to ensure anonymity. When on the move, people tend to use the available free Wi-Fi. Because free Wi-Fi services have no encryption, it can be monitored by anyone. You are much safer when using a VPN service in your smartphone to remain safe from prying eyes and Wi-Fi sniffers.

How to choose the best VPN application for smartphones?

Choosing the best VPN application can be a matter of personal preferences and price requirements. There are, however, some basic things you need to look out when choosing the best VPN application for your smartphone:

Smartphone support

Any VPN application that has a dedicated application for Android/iOS/Windows is preferable over a VPN application that focuses more on offering services for computer/laptops.

User-friendly

A proper smartphone VPN application should be user-friendly, easy to use, and should have an excellent user interface.

Features

Features like kill switch are desirable in a VPN application. Look out for a VPN service that offers multiple simultaneous sessions, and more than one supported protocols.

Security

One of the main reasons to use a VPN in your smartphone is to ensure security. Tight security, support of different protocols, privacy policy, and compliant terms of service are hence essential when looking for the best VPNs for smartphones.

Pricing

Another important consideration when selecting a good VPN for smartphones is pricing. Some vendors have double pricing than the others but are limited in terms of features. Some, however, have the best value for money. Money back guarantees and longer trial periods also add points to the suitability of VPN applications for smartphones.

Best VPNs for smartphones

NordVPN

Guarantee offered: 30-day money back guarantee.

NordVPN supports a huge number of platforms and has a strict no-logging policy. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously on one account. It also offers a selection of protocols and security features. You can stream content across national boundaries with ease using NordVPN.

This application has a double VPN policy, which means that your connection passes through two separate VPN servers for additional security. The app is basic, easy to use, and has the ability to connect whenever you join a Wi-Fi network. It is reasonably priced, and the 3-year offer is clearly the best choice in terms of value.

Private Internet Access

Guarantee offered: 7-day trial.

Private Internet Access has a low per year price and is a VPN application which does not log any data. It is a perfect combination of performance and economic value. It actively supports open source projects, and you can pay for services anonymously. Another awesome fact that makes this VPN service worth using is that you can utilise a variety of gift cards to pay for the subscription.

PIA app is easy to use and has an abundance of options and settings that can be tweaked. It supports port forwarding, UDP and TCP protocol settings, local and remote port settings, proxy support, and custom encryption mechanisms. It has a favorable privacy policy, and the 2-year plan gives you the best savings with three additional months for free.

TorGuard

Guarantee offered: 30-day money back guarantee, 7-day free trial.

TorGuard uses strong and fast protocols to secure smartphones. It does not keep any logs, and the company offers a wide range of security protocols. TorGuard is a boon for travelers who want to protect their communications fully. It offers support in more than 50 countries, and the company accepts payment in bitcoin.

ExpressVPN

Guarantee offered: 30-day money back guarantee, 7-day free trial.

ExpressVPN is also one of the all-rounder VPNs for smartphones. It has a well designed Android app which is user-friendly and straightforward. It has an excellent location picker and boasts AES 256-bit encryption. The application, however, is devoid of a kill switch. It offers quality apps for a wide range of devices, and its website features an array of content and videos that help you use their apps.

ExpressVPN is not the cheapest VPN out there, but its 24/7 support is well worth the money paid. It has a 30-day money back guarantee and a free 7-day trial. Of the different payment options available, the 12-month plan is the most economical one, as it gives you an additional of three months free.

IPVanish

Guarantee offered: 7-day money back guarantee

IPVanish has to be one of the fastest VPN applications for smartphones. It has some unusual yet great options like split tunneling but is devoid of a kill switch.

This VPN application has impressive download speeds, and it does not log user activity. It offers exceptional 24/7 support and 256-bit AES encryption with OpenVPN protocol. IPVanish is a little pricey, but the 1-year subscription is the best choice available.

VyprVPN

Guarantee offered: No free trials.

VyprVPN is a good mix of speed and security. It offers excellent services for smartphones and is dedicated, well optimised, and has a speedy performance. It supports multiple protocols such as PPTP, Chameleon, L2TP/IPsec, and OpenVPN.

VyprVPN has a clear interface, auto-connect option for untrusted networks, kill switch, protocol switching, DNS options, URL filtering, and fast connectivity. While other VPN applications focus on smartphones as an afterthought, VyprVPN has put its focus on creating a world-class smartphone app. It has both basic and premium payment options.

Buffered VPN

Guarantee offered: 30-day money back guarantee.

Buffered VPN keeps some connection information, but is exceptional when it comes to the generous amount of simultaneous sessions, unlimited bandwidth, and client support it offers. You can try out their application for a 30-day test drive and assess its easy to use interface.

The VPN service is relatively new, but it is committed to providing quality support, and to support Internet freedom. They do not offer the least expensive plan, but it is worth giving them a try.

CyberGhost VPN

Guarantee offered: 30-day money back guarantee.

CyberGhost’s three-year subscription comes with a free McAfee subscription. The application supports IPSec, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols. It comes with a connection kill switch feature.

CyberGhost has servers located in 115 locations all over the globe. Hence you can use any of the 1400 individual IP addresses when on the road. The company does not log connection data, has custom app protection, and offers IPV5 support. CyberGhost is hence one of the best VPNs that offer great value for money.

GooseVPN

Guarantee offered: 30-day trial.

Unlimited device policy is one of the best features of GooseVPN that makes it stand out in this list of best smartphone VPN’s. The application indicates the servers that are best for media streaming and has one of the lowest per-month prices. It, however, has bandwidth constrained to 50GB or less per month in the basic version. You can amp it up by using the premium version of the app.

The new version of GooseVPN also has a kill switch but only for the Windows version. In the upcoming versions, it is expected that the kill switch feature will be there for other platforms too.

PureVPN

Guarantee offered: 7-day money back guarantee.

PureVPN offers excellent support. It logs some technical information but has a strict no-browsing log policy. The most intriguing part of PureVPN is its advanced protection, antivirus protection, and real-time malware detection. The application also offers all the usual protocols, a kill switch, app filtering, web filtering, and firewall style function.

The price range of PureVPN is not the cheapest, but its support, its security features, and ease of use make it worth the money paid.