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My android device just stopped working. I still have my SD card, but all data in it is encrypted. Encryption has been performed at file level, so I have the directory structure and filenames in plain text, but file contents are encrypted.

I remember the key I used to set up encryption, but I need to know what algorithm did Samsung use for encryption and how they generated an encryption key from my passphrase.

Does anyone know if I can recover my data without the original device, using openssl or a similar program?

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    You should ask Samsung for plan B, they should have it for such a situation.
    – jis
    Jan 13, 2015 at 20:36
  • See: android.stackexchange.com/questions/52403/…
    – geffchang
    Apr 3, 2015 at 16:44
  • Your device isn't working? What's the make and model, and what's wrong?
    – unforgettableidSupportsMonica
    Jul 15, 2015 at 21:49
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    A spokesperson on the Samsung Dev forums says the info you seek cannot be published: I've got information form dev team that unfortunately we can't publish such information. developer.samsung.com/forum/thread/…
    – adam
    Nov 2, 2015 at 12:02
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    Note that actual cryptographic experts agree that publishing the details of a proper encryption scheme have no fear of revealing how it works. This is how they get tested, by peer review. The only thing you need to keep secret is your key.
    – docwebhead
    Nov 30, 2017 at 14:28

1 Answer 1

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Samsung uses its own solutions for sdcard encryption in android device at file level. Only device which encrypted the sdcard can decrypt it because when sdcard is encrypted an encryption policy file is saved into device and sdcard. If you insert encrypted sdcard into other device then you will only will able to see the encrypted contents of those files.

So,if you have the same device which encrypted the sdcard and you know the lockscreen which was used to encrypt it then you can easily decrypt the sdcard by navigating as below :

Settings -> Security -> Encrypt External Sdcard -> Disable/Turn off

A notification pop up will appear for decrypting sdcard on your device

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  • The first paragraph contains the info which we can already see in the body of the question. The rest of the content doesn't really address "Does anyone know if I can recover my data without the original device" and "I need to know what algorithm did Samsung use for encryption and how they generated an encryption key from my passphrase".
    – Firelord ♦
    Mar 9, 2016 at 20:33
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    Seems like an answer to me, it's just not using the best technical language for the crucial point: The device has a unique hardware key that is used in encryption, and thus decryption is impossible without retrieving that key from the original device (which is not made accessible anyways).
    – Matthew Read
    Mar 9, 2016 at 22:49

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