Encrypting and fully wiping data from Mate 9

[fatboy88888]

Hi,

I'm returning my Mate 9 and looking to wipe the data from it. I've read in numerous articles that to fully wipe an android phone I should encrypt my phone then factory reset it. However, I can't find the encrypt option on the Mate 9. So I have two questions...

1. Is the Mate 9 encrypted by default?
2. Does anyone know if I'm able to encrypt on the Mate 9?
3. If not, is there another way to encrypt/fully wipe data from the Mate 9? Someone suggested using an app such as "Secure Erase with iShredder 4", do these apps actually work?

Thanks in advance.

 

[PaulQ]

Hi,

I'm returning my Mate 9 and looking to wipe the data from it. I've read in numerous articles that to fully wipe an android phone I should encrypt my phone then factory reset it. However, I can't find the encrypt option on the Mate 9. So I have two questions...

1. Is the Mate 9 encrypted by default?
2. Does anyone know if I'm able to encrypt on the Mate 9?
3. If not, is there another way to encrypt/fully wipe data from the Mate 9? Someone suggested using an app such as "Secure Erase with iShredder 4", do these apps actually work?

Thanks in advance.

1 - As far as I have learned, no.
2 - Same - no.

3 - I'd like to know the answer too.

 

[fatboy88888]

1 - As far as I have learned, no.
2 - Same - no.

3 - I'd like to know the answer too.

That's what I understand as well, but when I go to Memory and Storage, and change the default from internal to SD card storage, a pop up message displays saying my phone has been encrypted and to make sure the external storage is as well. But then there appears to be conflicting comments saying it isn't.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Found on XDA

Mate 9 is NOT encrypted.
This will be available in the future.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/mate-9-encryption-t3515229

 

[fatboy88888]

Found on XDA

Mate 9 is NOT encrypted.
This will be available in the future.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/mate-9-encryption-t3515229

Thanks. This is a big concern as I understand from Marshmallow onwards the higher end android smartphones are required to be encrypted.

 

[DamianP]

How is this even an option with Nougat??? I believe 7.0 has file level encryption on by default?
https://www.android.com/versions/nougat-7-0/

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Wonder if encryption is out of the hands of user is all. Not an "option" because you can't turn it off, it is baked right in.

When I set up a new SD card it asked - or told me - that was it.

 

[fatboy88888]

How is this even an option with Nougat??? I believe 7.0 has file level encryption on by default?
https://www.android.com/versions/nougat-7-0/

This is what I heard too, but all or most other android phones also have the option to manually encrypt so I'm very surprised and confused as to why Huawei have taken this option away.

 

[fatboy88888]

Wonder if encryption is out of the hands of user is all. Not an "option" because you can't turn it off, it is baked right in.

When I set up a new SD card it asked - or told me - that was it.

If this is the case then that's fine but there seems to be no confirmation of this anywhere

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Did they take it away, or it on by default and no option to disable.

 

[fatboy88888]

Did they take it away, or it on by default and no option to disable.

I don't know, I did some research today and the information is conflicting. I've asked Huawei for clarification, waiting to hear back from them. It would seem very odd if there was no encryption, especially for a high end phone like the Mate 9 and the fact Google have made it a requirement to have encryption by default in Nougat.

 

[PaulQ]

For the record.... here is the response I got when I asked about encryption on Amazon...............

Hello Paul, the 9 is very secure. It does include an encrypted file safe for everything you put on the device. It also comes with 4 Level fingerprint which you can set to access your encrypted data. (DM) - HuaweiDeviceUSAService answered on January 14, 2017

To me, that answers the question. No, the phone is not encrypted.

 

[dpham00]

I have to wonder if it is CPU related? Many much cheaper phones with a Qualcomm CPU can be encrypted.

 

[anon(9023234)]

Since the device requires a pin after restart, that would indicate the use of "Direct Boot", which is related to the new file based encryption in 7.0. Hence, device is encrypted.

Biggest mystery seems to be why Huawei representatives can't answer this fairly simple question.