My Knox Is Dead. Long Live Samsung Secure Folder!

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Samsung announced in June 2017 that they were killing off My Knox, replacing it with Samsung Secure Folder that ships with the Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8 Plus and Galaxy Note8 smartphones.

Secure Folder is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge smartphones that have been upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat.

Updated @ 2017-12-22 : Revamped the article, adding a migration guide, and a final email from Samsung.

Updated @ 2017-11-16 : Added a new email from Samsung with a confirmed end-of-service date for My Knox.

Originally posted @ 2017-06-07

 

Samsung Kills My Knox

In early June 2017, Samsung announced that they’re killing My Knox, and replacing it with Secure Folder. The end-of-life date was set for 19 December 2017.

Beginning 20 December 2017, the My Knox app would no longer be available to download from the Google Play Store. The My Knox portal will also be disabled – you won’t be able to login.

Samsung replaced My Knox with their new Secure Folder solution. They promise that it is a superior solution.

 

Samsung Secure Folder

Samsung Secure Folder is a new security solution that leverages the defense-grade Samsung Knox security platform to create a private, encrypted space on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone running on Android 7.0 Nougat or better.

It is available in the Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8 Plus and Galaxy Note8 smartphones, but can be downloaded and installed in the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge smartphones that have been upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat.

As no Mobile Device Management (MDM) is required, it is suitable for both personal and business usage. Here are additional details :

  • Apps and data can be installed or created within Secure Folder, or moved there from outside.
  • Apps and data moved to Secure Folder are kept separate, leveraging SE for Android – preventing unauthorized communication between apps inside and outside.
  • Application data and files are encrypted with defense-grade Sensitive Data Protection (SDP) technology – using 256-bit AES cipher algorithm to secure data.
  • Data remains encrypted even after the user has exited Secure Folder or has turned off the device, and is decrypted when a user successfully authenticates himself / herself.

It can also be used alongside Knox Workspace, enabling two Knox container solutions at the same time.

This allows users to have access to both a dedicated work environment (Knox Workspace), as well as a secure personal area (Secure Folder).

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How To Migrate From My Knox To Secure Folder

Fortunately, Samsung made it easy to migrate your private data from My Knox to Secure Folder. Here are the steps :

  • Log into the My Knox app
  • Go to My Knox Settings, and select Backup and restore.
  • Backup your My Knox data (you’ll need a Samsung account to do this).
  • Install and setup Secure Folder, if you have not already done so.
  • Log into Secure Folder.
  • Go to Secure Folder Settings, and select Backup and restore.
  • Select Restore (using the same Samsung account), and you’re done!

if you are worried about the dangers of backing up your encrypted data to the cloud (it is encrypted!), you can use this alternative method :

  • Log into the My Knox app.
  • Copy the data out into the Samsung smartphone, or a secure computer
  • Install and setup Secure Folder, if you have not already done so.
  • Move the data into Secure Folder.

 

Samsung My Knox Termination Chronology

In early June 2017, Samsung sent out this email to all registered Samsung users :

First Samsung warning about terminating My Knox

My Knox will no longer be available on new Samsung devices in 2017. You may continue your secure space experience by setting up Secure Folder, available now from Galaxy Apps.

Secure Folder runs on Android N OS or higher versions only. It leverages the defence-grade Samsung Knox security platform to create a private, encrypted space on your Samsung Galaxy phone. Applications and data moved to Secure Folder are partitioned separately on the device and gain an additional layer of security and privacy.

To seamlessly transfer your private content between solutions, please back up your My Knox data and restore it to Secure Folder. To back up your My Knox data, go to My Knox settings > Backup and restore. Remember, a Samsung account is required to use this feature.

You can restore the backup data after setting up Secure Folder. Go to Secure Folder settings > Backup and restore > Restore.

You may use My Knox until its end-of-service date (which will be announced soon). However, be aware that we will not be actively maintaining the service or adding new features.

This was followed by this email on 15 November 2017, revealing its end-of-service date as 19 December 2017.

Samsung confirms end-of-life date for the My Knox service

Dear customers,

Thank you for using My Knox.

As previously announced, we will end support for My Knox on 19th December 2017. You will not be able to download My Knox from any app store after the end-of-service date.

You may use My Knox on your mobile device until you uninstall the application. However, you will be unable to log in to the My Knox portal to remotely manage your device (e.g. to reset your My Knox password or unlock My Knox).

If you have a phone that runs the Android N OS, we recommend transferring your private data in My Knox to Secure Folder, available at Google Play or Galaxy Apps, and on new Samsung phones such as the Galaxy Note 8. We also recommend backing up your My Knox data first, and restoring the data after you set up Secure Folder.

To back up My Knox data, go to My Knox Settings > Backup and restore > Back up My Knox data. Please note that a Samsung account is required to use the My Knox backup and restore feature.

If your phone does not support Secure Folder, then please back up the content to outside My Knox (e.g. using the Move to Personal mode feature).

For more information regarding My Knox termination, please visit My Knox FAQ .

We hope you have enjoyed your experience with My Knox. Samsung is committed to continuous innovation to provide you with the highest-quality products and services.

This final email was sent on 20 December 2017, noting that My Knox is now terminated :

The final Samsung email on the termination of the My Knox service

Dear customers,

Thank you for using My Knox.

As previously announced, we will terminate the My Knox service on 19th December 2017. You will not be able to download My Knox from any app store from then on. You will also be unable to log in to the My Knox portal to remotely manage your device.

You may use My Knox on your mobile device until you uninstall the application. However we highly recommend you to back up your data or move it to outside My Knox.

If your phone supports Secure Folder, we recommend transferring your private data in My Knox to Secure Folder, available at Google Play or Galaxy Apps, and on new Samsung phones such as the Galaxy Note 8. We also recommend backing up your My Knox data first, and restoring the data after you set up Secure Folder.

To back up My Knox data, go to My Knox Settings > Backup and restore > Back up My Knox data. Please note that a Samsung account is required to use the My Knox backup and restore feature.

However, if your phone does not support Secure Folder, then please back up the content to outside My Knox (e.g. using the Move to Personal mode feature).

We hope you have enjoyed your experience with My Knox. Thank you for using our service.

 

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5 thoughts on “My Knox Is Dead. Long Live Samsung Secure Folder!”

  1. Joe Six Pack

    So let’s see. You have MyKnox and put sensitive info in there. And now you trust Samsung to back up your data to the cloud where they or anybody they sell it to can run offline attacks on your data without breaking your device.

    Hello?!

    Why isn’t there an option to back up to your own SD card? The SD card is not visible from MyKnox.

    Major fscking screwup. I hope you guys don’t quit your day jobs.

    Reply ↓
    1. Dr. Adrian Wong Post author

      Backup for Secure Folder is NOT enabled by default. You have to log into Secure Folder and manually enable it.

      Needless to say – backing up sensitive information to the cloud is not a good idea at all.

      From what I understand, that’s because it doesn’t function like “drive” but a container that allows apps to execute from within, as well as using it for file storage.

      Reply ↓
  2. Alfred R. Strauss

    When I tried to download Secure Folder to my Samsung Galaxy Note 3, I received a message that Secure Folder isn’t compatible with my Galaxy Note 3.

    Is that true ?

    Is so, what can I use instead of Secure Folder to safeguard my phone data and information?

    Reply ↓
    1. Dr. Adrian Wong Post author

      Unfortunately, the Secure Folder app is only compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S7 series and above.

      I don’t know of any similar encrypted system like Secure Folder that would be available for your Note 3. Sorry.

      Reply ↓

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