With Google's hardware- and software-based protections, you are relatively safe on the web.
You're even protected against spam calls thanks to the AI-powered Call Screen features. Thanks to three years of full OS updates, protection will only get better over the life of the phone. Samsung has a long history of catering to enterprise users. To tap into this larger market segment, they had to improve their devices' security beyond the basics provided by Android. The result was Samsung Knox , a combination of hardware and software to provide deep-level protection that starts at the SoC.
And while regular consumers don't have access to many of these features, they are available for any company you join with a BYOD policy. Samsung has joined Apple and Google in creating their own security chip specifically designed to manage sensitive transactions and isolate private data.
LG G8s ThinQ 128GB Mirror Black
It is in this chip that Samsung manages Samsung Pass, Secure Folder, and many of its numerous security features. This key is unique to each device and is used, alongside the Secure Boot key, to detect any tampering with the operating system or bootloader. It is because of these keys that it is nearly impossible to flash custom software on the Galaxy S20 Ultra Exynos variant without tripping the Knox Counter, a hardware-based flag that activates once you attempt to load any custom recovery or firmware. Once tripped, Knox is no longer available as the security and protection advertised by Samsung can no longer be guaranteed.
Knox also includes Samsung Defex, a patch to the kernel that prevents root from being granted to apps even after root was successful. So even if you trip the fuse and forgo access to Knox, Knox is still protecting you. Real-Time Kernel Protection tracks kernel changes and prevents the phone from booting if any tampering has been done. Samsung is one of the few Android phones that will wipe your data upon subsequent failed login attempts. When enabled, after 15 failed attempts, the phone will automatically factory reset itself to protect your data from the intruder.
With the Galaxy S20 Ultra, you get the power of Knox to protect you each day. Its extensive protection covers you even if you manage to root the device, something few other OEMs offer. At its core is Android 10, the more secure and stable version of Android yet, that keeps you safe when using apps or browsing the web.
And with Samsung's recent track record, you can expect up to date security patches for years to come. I'm sure you've seen Apple's ads that focus on privacy. It is a theme that Apple has been pushing recently, and rightly so. Not only has iOS been considered the more secure platform for years, but the FBI famously couldn't crack it. With the iPhone 11 Pro Max, you have an even more secure iPhone thanks to improvements to iOS 13 and Face ID that make it challenging for anyone but yourself to access.
With iOS 13, Apple is making users more informed about their apps. Similar to Android 10, if an app accesses your location in the background, you'll get a notification with the option to deny it future access or limit location usage to only while the app is open. In prior versions, Bluetooth was accessible to apps without regard to why an app needed this permission.
In iOS 13, apps must define how they plan to use Bluetooth and you're able to allow or deny access. Find My has been a staple in iOS for years, allowing you to track your Apple devices remotely along with other anti-theft protections. New with iOS 13 is the ability to track your iPhone even when the device is offline.
So if someone steals your iPhone and disables its internet connection to abscond from Find My, it sends an encrypted location report to any nearby iOS 13 devices via Bluetooth, which can then upload the report to Find My on your behalf.
How to use Hand ID
But the most significant privacy addition is the "Sign in with Apple" feature. Facebook and Google have had sign-in options for years, allowing you to log into a third-party app with your corresponding account. But this typically gives the app access to some of your data on those accounts. With the new "Sign in with Apple" button, you can sign in with essentially a throwaway email address that relays messages to your real email address.
Menu tree: LG G8 ThinQ | T-Mobile Support
So your data is safe and it's easy to ghost the service if you want to. Now let's turn our attention to the hardware. Over 30, dots are projected onto your face to create a 3D depth map. This map is then encrypted and stored in the Secure Enclave, an isolated environment of the SoC. Each time you unlock your phone, a new map is made and compared to the one stored. If it is a match, it unlocks your device. And for added protection, it requires your eyes to be open , preventing someone from unlocking your phone while you are sleeping.
Another feature that security users will enjoy is the built-in password manager on iPhone 11 Pro Max. With iCloud Keychain, you can store all your passwords and generate new ones for the apps you use. These passwords can be autofill into apps and browsers. The passwords are encrypted with keys stored in the Secure Enclave for maximum protection. While the iPhone 11 Pro Max's price tag isn't the most budget-friendly cost, this year, there are options that can save you money while offering the same great privacy protection.
For example, the iPhone 11 is a few hundred dollars cheaper and shares all of these benefits. Companies in all fields realized the potential of this market, and thus, phones such as the Sirin Finney came to fruition. Its starts with Sirin OS, the proprietary Android skin created by Sirin Labs and built from the ground up to secure all possible weak links that could compromise the security of cryptocurrency transactions. The heart of this is the BlockShield, a multi-layer protection system which provides features such as IP address hiding and MAC address randomization.
Similar to other phones on our list, the Sirin Finney uses a hardware root of trust system to ensure no component has been tampered with before booting up the phone. It even includes a feature known as Trusted Display which protects all inputs such as touches on the screen using ARM's TrustZone so hackers can't use a keylogger. Another significant component of the security is the Behavior-based Intrusion Prevent System. As an Android traditionalist, I prefer the home and app drawer setup so quickly switched to this layout.
The problem here is that the app drawer is a major disappointment so maybe I should go back to the default. In the app drawer, LG provides a couple select folders and then app shortcuts are placed one after the other as they are installed. There are a few menu options for organizing apps, but even if you select alphabetical that only applies to that moment. Apps installed after accessing the menu appear back in installed order so you have to reorganize again.
It's pretty terrible that you have to so actively manage the app drawer and I look forward to the day LG updates this area of the OS. Just like Samsung, LG provides some duplicate apps in addition to what is provided within Android. I prefer some of these over what Google offers, such as email excellent for Exchange accounts , FM radio, file manager, and gallery. However, the rest of the apps seem to offer more confusion than utility, especially when these apps are then updated via LG SmartWorld rather than the Google Play Store.
The camera application is well designed with a simple interface similar to what we see on the iPhone and other modern Android smartphones. Auto mode launches by default with bottom swipe options including studio, portrait, auto, AI Cam, manual camera, and more.
More options includes slo-mo, cine shot, manual video, cine video, panorama, flash jump-cut, food, night view, YouTube Live, and AR stickers. You can add, remove, move around on the more page, or move these options into the mode slider. I love the ability to full customize and optimize your camera preferences on the LG G8. Icons appear on the right side of the viewfinder to switch between the two rear cameras or you can pinch and zoom to move between the wide-angle and standard cameras.
Digital zoom up to 8x is supported on the LG G8. T-Mobile also offers 50 percent off this phone with a trade-in or if you add a line. For some reason, there is a place in my heart for LG devices. They look great and fit well in my hand and pockets. I've been able to count on them for solid performance and the phones do not tend to bog down over time. Updates are a serious concern and I wish LG would stick with its promise made last year to provide timely updates. With fantastic sound through the headphone jack and solid sound through the BoomBox capability, I'm mystified why Bluetooth audio is very quiet on every headset I have tested with the LG G8.
Other phones with those same headsets play music louder and I can't explain the issue. Air Motion works about 20 percent of the time and even then it is slower than standard tap interactions. I can't find a legimitate use case for it and it seems to be a waste of the time-of-flight front sensor. At times, I do enjoy pretending I can use the force and direct the phone to open a selected app as I say, "These are not the droids you are looking for.
The rear fingerprint scanner is awesome so Hand ID is also a waste of development time. Skip the gimmicks and use the phone like you would normally use a smartphone for a great overall experience. The camera software is easy to use, full featured, and helps you get very creative with your subjects.
I love the cine video options and the other functions provided by LG in the camera software.
Even though the night mode cannot compare to the latest Google, Samsung, or Huawei phones the cameras will still help you take great shots in other situations. Don't even worry about trying the Air Motion or Hand ID, but do explore the camera, floating bar, and superb audio experience.