Never can be too safe. You might have sensitive data and password information on your smartphone and it will probably suck if you lose you phone. We saw earlier this year what happens when you lose your phone. Hit the jump to check how to protect your iPhone.
Hopefully your iPhone (or other iDevice) will never be lost or stolen, but in the event it happens you’d probably feel better if the finder or thief didn’t have full access to all your private data. There may also be a few things you don’t want friends to accidentally discover when they borrow your mobile for quick use. Here’s how to lock down all your private data so you don’t have to worry about it.
When it comes to locking down your iPhone, you basically have two options: standard and jailbreak. There’s a lot more you can do with jailbreak apps and tweaks, but you can still keep private data private with options available to every iOS user. We’ll talk about the stuff anyone can use first, and then get into the jailbreak options.
How to Lock and Encrypt Data on Your iPhone
Keeping data private on a regular iPhone is pretty simple, though it involves making a few compromises. The obvious option is adding a password to your device, but that means your data is only protected when the phone is locked. Resetting that password isn’t impossible, and some data can still be accessed through apps like iExplorer. If you want to really keep your data secure, you need to use apps that encrypt it.
One app we like for the job is Ben the Bodyguard ($5). It not only keeps a collection of private data encrypted on your iPhone, but it’s also a lot of fun. It features a fictional bodyguard named Ben who has a complete backstory and a charming accent. If $5 is a little too rich for your blood, Private Data is a decent and free alternative.
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Not all data can be relegated to a private app, however, as you likely send text messages and emails that you might want to keep away from prying eyes. Unfortunately there is no solution to the email problem (that we’re aware of), but a handy, previously mentioned app called Black SMS can send encrypted text messages. (The app is also required for decryption). The process is a little tedious, but it’s worth a download if you have anything private you want to say on your phone.
