Samsung unveiled a number of new security solutions for its extensive product and services ecosystem at this year’s Developer Conference (SDC23) in San Francisco. The new One UI 6 operating system comes with updates that bring a lot of security: These include Samsung Knox Matrix with passkeys and end-to-end encryption for backups and restored cloud files as well as the availability of Samsung Knox Vault for the entire device portfolio . SDC23 brings together developers, creatives and designers who can experience Samsung’s seamless connected experiences directly on site. At the conference, Samsung will show how the company’s modern technologies can advance the entire industry and increase the security of users in their everyday use of their devices.
With the new One UI 6 on the Galaxy devices as well as the update for Samsung Knox Matrix1 Networked devices can protect each other within an ecosystem.
The company announced last year that Knox Matrix would support the trust chain. With Trust Chain, connected devices can intelligently monitor each other and protect each other from security threats. To do this, they send notifications to all other devices when a device is attacked. Once Knox Matrix detects a hacker attack on a device, it automatically isolates it from all others to protect the rest of the system.
At SDC23, Samsung announced updates for another key element of Knox Matrix: Credential Sync. It protects sensitive data when transferred between different devices: for example between Samsung Galaxy devices, televisions and Family Hub refrigerators. With the introduction of One UI 6, Credential Sync offers users a simple and secure way to synchronize their identities and credentials between Samsung devices. Also new to Credential Sync is end-to-end encryption of backups and restored Samsung Cloud data2. This ensures that the data can only be encrypted or decrypted on the respective user’s devices. No one else can see them – even if a server is compromised or account information is stolen. Starting in early 2024, Samsung Galaxy devices will use end-to-end encryption when sharing data with the Samsung Cloud3 be synchronized.
As part of Credential Sync, Samsung has developed new ways to manage and secure identities and credentials with passkeys. Passkeys are digital credentials that can be used to authenticate websites and apps. With One UI 6, Samsung Pass now also offers the option of passkeys4 to use. They are the next step towards a passwordless future. Your advantages:
- Fast: When you enter your user name, you also select the desired account to which you want to log in.
- Simply: Once a passkey is registered, you can easily switch to another connected device without having to log in again.
- Lots of security: Passkeys only work on users’ registered websites and applications. This enables protection against phishing attacks from malicious websites or applications.
Knox Matrix now offers the ability to share a passkey across multiple devices without compromising security. Based on the international FIDO standards, the Samsung Pass can be used on the smartphone with the help of a passkey to log in to apps and websites using biometric sensors such as fingerprints. With One UI 6, passkeys can be held in escrow until certain conditions are met – such as when a PIN, password or lock screen pattern from a user’s previous device is entered on their Galaxy smartphone. With such updated escrow functions within Knox Matrix, users no longer need to remember current passwords or reset forgotten passwords.
Powerful security on even more Samsung devices
Previously, Samsung Knox Vault was already available for the company’s flagship devices. The security solution will now be available on a wide range of models, offering many users effective protection on the devices of their choice.
Knox Vault can help comprehensively protect the most sensitive data on a device. This includes lock screen information such as PIN codes, passwords and individual patterns. Knox Vault builds a secure execution environment that is physically isolated from the device’s main processor and memory. The feature takes effect the moment the lock screen is activated. Knox Vault can help protect individual users’ security keys, which encrypt private data stored on the device. This guarantees a high level of security – even if the device is lost or stolen.
Samsung Knox Vault is hardware-based and tamper-proof. It protects the private data on the smartphone not only against software-based hacker attacks, but also against hardware attacks using professional high-end tools. Initially, Knox Vault was only available on Galaxy flagship S-Series, Z-Series, S FE-Series, and Tab S-Series tablets. This year, Knox Vault will also be available on Samsung Neo QLED 8K TVs and in 2024 on additional Galaxy models including Galaxy A series smartphones with One UI 6 or later5 come.
An expanded, secure ecosystem
This wide range of powerful security solutions can protect user privacy and satisfy the need for convenience in a hyper-connected world. One UI 6 also brings updates to the Samsung Galaxy Security and Privacy Dashboard. It makes it easy to see and control what is happening with the data.
These advanced security and privacy solutions are the latest building blocks in the Samsung Galaxy security foundation: security at many levels, from chips to applications, real-time threat identification, and collaborative protection with trusted partners.
1 Samsung Knox Matrix availability may vary depending on model and market.
2 The timing of availability may vary depending on the application. Data backup and restore support for third-party apps may vary depending on the policies of each app provider.
3 End-to-end encryption support for data synchronization in Samsung Cloud may vary depending on the app and/or service.
4 Available on Galaxy devices with Samsung Pass that support One UI 6 or later. Passkey login is available on applications or websites that support passkeys.
5 Samsung Knox Vault availability may vary depending on model.