Samsung Unveils Advanced Security Features for AI-Powered Smartphones in One UI 8

Samsung just gave its Galaxy foldable phones a big security upgrade - for free

Alongside the release of its latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, tech giant Samsung also announced a slew of new AI features for its devices at Samsung Unpacked. While the new features make it easy to access AI assistance, they also highlight the need for enhanced security -- and Samsung, with its latest Knox update, has stepped up to the plate. Also: The best VPN services (and how to choose the right one for you) Tech companies tend to prefer on-device over cloud-based AI processing. On-device AI processing provides a faster way to process user requests. The approach is also safer, as user data stays on-device. To enhance on-device privacy, Samsung launched Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP) in One UI 8. KEEP ensures that an AI application can only access a limited amount of information by creating "encrypted, app-specific environments within the device's secure storage area," according to Samsung. This approach ensures applications only access data they need and that the user has permitted. Also: I finally tried Samsung's XR headset, and it beats my Apple Vision Pro in meaningful ways Protecting a user's private information should always be a priority, especially with AI applications. AI models are often trained on users' input data. Ensuring your most precious data stays private is crucial. The best part of the Knox update is that access to KEEP will not be limited to new devices but will be available on smartphones and tablets with One UI 8 or later. KEEP complements Knox Matrix, which is already a highly regarded mobile security platform due to the protection it offers users across the device ecosystem. Additionally, Samsung announced that it is integrating post-quantum cryptography into Secure Wi-Fi. This approach should increase user privacy, even while using public networks. Also: The best VPNs for streaming your favorite shows and sports One UI 8 is also set for user updates across the operating system. Stay tuned to ZDNET's coverage for the best features.

The biggest AI feature announced at Samsung Unpacked was also the most subtle

Alongside the release of its latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, tech giant Samsung also announced a slew of new AI features for its devices at Samsung Unpacked. While the new features make it easy to access AI assistance, they also highlight the need for enhanced security -- and Samsung, with its latest Knox update, has stepped up to the plate. Also: The best VPN services (and how to choose the right one for you) Tech companies tend to prefer on-device over cloud-based AI processing. On-device AI processing provides a faster way to process user requests. The approach is also safer, as user data stays on-device. To enhance on-device privacy, Samsung launched Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP) in One UI 8. KEEP ensures that an AI application can only access a limited amount of information by creating "encrypted, app-specific environments within the device's secure storage area," according to Samsung. This approach ensures applications only access data they need and that the user has permitted. Also: I finally tried Samsung's XR headset, and it beats my Apple Vision Pro in meaningful ways Protecting a user's private information should always be a priority, especially with AI applications. AI models are often trained on users' input data. Ensuring your most precious data stays private is crucial. The best part of the Knox update is that access to KEEP will not be limited to new devices but will be available on smartphones and tablets with One UI 8 or later. KEEP complements Knox Matrix, which is already a highly regarded mobile security platform due to the protection it offers users across the device ecosystem. Additionally, Samsung announced that it is integrating post-quantum cryptography into Secure Wi-Fi. This approach should increase user privacy, even while using public networks. Also: The best VPNs for streaming your favorite shows and sports One UI 8 is also set for user updates across the operating system. Stay tuned to ZDNET's coverage for the best features.

Samsung announces major security enhancements coming to One UI 8

Samsung has announced multiple data security and privacy enhancements for its upcoming Galaxy smartphones running One UI 8, its custom user interface on top of Android. Key highlights include the introduction of a system-level architecture named Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP), upgrades to Knox Matrix, and the addition of quantum resistance to WiFi connectivity. With AI tools taking an increasing role in day-to-day smartphone use, protecting user inputs has become more crucial. To address this, Samsung is introducing KEEP, a system built to support the company's Personal Data Engine (PDE) and other AI features like 'Now Brief' (personalized daily updates), 'Smart Suggestions,' 'Moments' (photo memories), and 'Smart Gallery Search' (natural language photo retrieval). KEEP is different from the existing 'Secure Folder', which is just a separate secure storage space. It is an architecture that creates isolated environments for each app to store sensitive data in encrypted state and keep it protected from unauthorized access by other processes. Knox Matrix, Samsung's multi-device platform designed to protect and manage security across all connected Galaxy devices, will also receive significant upgrades in One UI 8. First, when the system detects manipulation or identity forgery, Knox Matrix will automatically sign out of the Samsung Account, cutting off the attacker's channel to access cloud-connected services, data, and pivot to other devices. If such an event occurs, the user receives an alert across all their connected Galaxy devices. Another important addition to Knox Matrix concerns the delivery of warnings to users when they have yet to apply the latest security updates on their devices. The release of One UI 8 also brings upgrades to Samsung's 'Secure WiFi,' which will use the NIST-certified ML‑KEM scheme to offer post-quantum cryptographic resistance. This strengthens the key-exchange process and protects encrypted connections from future quantum-based threats such as "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, which could expose sensitive user data in the future. Secure WiFi also offers automatic strengthening when connecting to public hotspots, multi-point routing and packet encryption for anonymization, and security-related logging. One UI 8 is expected to be released alongside Samsung's upcoming launch of the widely anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 devices, but the update is also expected to reach older Galaxy models soon. Users who want to take advantage of the new protections should upgrade to the new release and review their data privacy and security settings accordingly.

Samsung makes One UI 8's enhanced security suite official

Samsung's Android 16-based One UI 8 will debut in stable with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 later this week. The major software upgrade, which comes in a timely manner after One UI 7 faced major delays, is expected to bring minor changes to the overall experience. Samsung's aim with the update seems to be to polish the Samsung device experience, with tools and features like the Now Bar and Now Brief, Live Captions, split-screen mulitasking, screenshots, and more to get usability upgrades. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Samsung will unveil its next generation of foldables and smartwatches on July 9th at 10 am ET in New York. Right now, you can reserve a Galaxy Z Flip or Fold 7 to get a $50 Samsung credit -- which you can use on official accessories if you do end up buying one of the foldables -- earn triple reward points, and also enter a $5,000 sweepstakes. Reserve now at Samsung Expand Collapse We've known about those upgrades for a while now. However, what Samsung just announced hadn't really been hinted at before. The tech giant is introducing a new set of security and privacy features, and they're set to go live with "upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartphones with One UI 8." This includes a new architecture designed to make personalized AI-powered features safer, paired with an updated Knox Matrix, and quantum-resistant encryption for Secure Wi-Fi. Related Samsung is coming after apps that abuse your personal data Flagging apps that abuse sensitive permissions Posts We already know that Samsung is working on an Alert Center for One UI 8 -- one that acts as a central hub for your privacy and security-related needs. If it sounds familiar, that's because it is. The feature is similar to Android 16's Advanced Protection Mode, which groups several critical security features under one roof. The hub will likely house the new tools and measures that Samsung just announced, though we'll only know that for certain once we get our hands on one of Samsung's new foldables. Regardless, the tech giant detailed what all the new measures do. Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP), for reference, is a new architecture that will create encrypted, app-specific storage environments that will live within your device's secure storage area. According to the tech giant, this will ensure "that each app can access only its own sensitive information and nothing more." The measure will ensure that insights that are used by AI tools like Now Brief remain secure on your device, and can only be accessed by the apps that need them. Future-proofing your data Related 10 Android security settings you should change right now Keep your phone safe by tweaking a few security settings Posts 1 Elsewhere, Samsung's Knox Matrix, which is essentially an ecosystem-level security measure for connected Galaxy devices, will now be able to automatically sign a compromised device out of your Samsung Account if it is flagged by any of your other devices. "When a device is flagged for serious risk -- such as system manipulation or identity forgery -- it is designed to automatically sign out of the Samsung Account, cutting off access to cloud-connected services to prevent threats from spreading," wrote Samsung. Lastly, Samsung's Secure Wi-Fi, which is essentially a security feature that kicks in when you're connected to a public or unsecured Wi-Fi network, is being upgraded with quantum-resistant encryption tech. Secure Wi-Fi is now being upgraded with a new cryptographic framework5 designed to strengthen network protection against emerging threats, particularly those anticipated in the era of quantum computing. Although quantum computing hasn't fully been realized just yet, threat actors have already begun collecting encrypted data with the aim of cracking it open in the future. Samsung's new measure essentially future-proofs data that might be at the risk of being leaked when you're surfing the internet over an unsecured Wi-Fi network. Whether Samsung decided to highlight all of these new measures at its Unpacked event later this week remains to be seen. Related Galaxy Unpacked goes official with 'Ultra' thin foldables and $50 preorder credit Get a $50 credit and triple rewards if you sign up now Posts

Samsung Introduces Future-Ready Mobile Security for Personalized AI Experiences

New innovations including Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection, updated Knox Matrix threat response and quantum-resistant Secure Wi-Fi strengthen privacy and user control for upcoming Galaxy smartphones Samsung Electronics today announced a new set of security and privacy updates rolling out with its upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartphones with One UI 8. These updates reinforce Samsung's commitment to delivering powerful, trusted mobile technology in a rapidly evolving digital world by introducing new protections for on-device AI, expanding cross-device threat detection and enhancing network security with quantum-resistant encryption. Samsung is introducing Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP), a new architecture designed to safeguard the next generation of personalized, AI-powered features, as its latest innovation in mobile security. KEEP creates encrypted, app-specific storage environments within the device's secure storage area, ensuring that each app can access only its own sensitive information and nothing more. Supporting Galaxy's Personal Data Engine (PDE), KEEP helps secure a user's deeply personal insights -- such as routines and preferences -- that enable features like Now Brief and Smart Gallery search. These insights stay entirely on-device, protected by KEEP and further secured by Knox Vault, Samsung's tamper-resistant hardware security environment. The result is a seamless foundation for Galaxy AI that delivers personalized intelligence while keeping data tightly contained and under the user's control. KEEP's system-level structure allows it to scale across Galaxy AI innovations. In addition to PDE, it now protects Now Brief, Smart Suggestions and other on-device features that rely on user-specific inputs -- enabling more advanced AI experiences without compromising privacy. With KEEP, Samsung is redefining how mobile devices safeguard data in the background to elevate privacy from a setting to an embedded design principle. As AI becomes more integrated across the ecosystem, Samsung is advancing protections that offer not just stronger security, but greater transparency and control for users, with Knox Matrix leading the way. Through One UI 8, Samsung is evolving Knox Matrix to deliver more proactive and user-friendly protection for connected Galaxy devices. When a device is flagged for serious risk -- such as system manipulation or identity forgery -- it is designed to automatically sign out of the Samsung Account, cutting off access to cloud-connected services to prevent threats from spreading. Users are notified across their connected Galaxy devices and guided to the 'Security status of your devices' page, where they can review the issue and take action. Even devices without the latest security status updates trigger a yellow-level warning, helping users respond before vulnerabilities grow. Together, these updates make Samsung Galaxy's ecosystem-level protection more dynamic, intuitive and visible, empowering users to maintain trust across all their devices with more confidence and clarity. In continuation of its commitment to quantum-safe security, Samsung is bringing post-quantum cryptography to Secure Wi-Fi, extending the trusted approach first introduced on the Galaxy S25 series through Post-Quantum Enhanced Data Protection (EDP). Secure Wi-Fi is now being upgraded with a new cryptographic framework designed to strengthen network protection against emerging threats, particularly those anticipated in the era of quantum computing. This enhancement secures the key exchange process at the core of encrypted connections, helping ensure robust privacy even over public networks. Quantum computing, once fully realized, could undermine many of today's data protection methods. By integrating post-quantum cryptography, Secure Wi-Fi is built to withstand future attacks that capture encrypted data with the intent to break it once quantum technology matures -- a tactic known as "harvest now, decrypt later." This upgrade fortifies the secure tunnel between Galaxy devices and Samsung servers, reinforcing the integrity of data transmissions in high-risk environments like public Wi-Fi. In addition to this future-ready foundation, Secure Wi-Fi offers a suite of advanced privacy features: In addition to its latest innovations, Samsung continues to strengthen the core protections that underpin the Galaxy experience. These features reflect a multi-layered security approach that protects across hardware and software, while giving users greater visibility and control: This latest set of updates reinforces Samsung's long-standing commitment to mobile security that evolves with innovation. It strengthens on-device privacy for personalized AI with KEEP, expands transparency and user control through Knox Matrix, and introduces quantum-resistant protection to Secure Wi-Fi for a more future-ready Galaxy experience. As new security challenges emerge, Samsung remains focused on delivering safeguards that are built in, always on and ready for what's next.

Samsung One UI 8 introduces advanced security features for Galaxy devices

Samsung has announced a new suite of privacy and security updates set to launch with its upcoming Galaxy smartphones running One UI 8. These enhancements are designed to strengthen protection for on-device AI features, expand threat detection across the Galaxy ecosystem, and introduce network encryption capable of resisting future quantum computing threats, said the company. 1. KEEP: New Encrypted Storage System for AI Features A new feature called Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP) has been developed to secure data used by on-device AI. It works by creating app-specific encrypted zones within the secure storage area, so each app can only access its own private data. KEEP supports the Galaxy Personal Data Engine (PDE), which powers AI-based functions such as Now Brief and Smart Gallery search. These features rely on personal information like user preferences and daily routines -- all of which remain on the device. This local data is further secured by Samsung's Knox Vault, a hardware-based security zone that isolates sensitive information. KEEP is also designed to scale with future AI tools, offering protection for any new on-device AI features that depend on user-specific inputs. Samsung says this makes privacy an integrated system component, rather than just a toggle in settings. 2. Cross-Device Threat Prevention with Knox Matrix Knox Matrix is being updated by Samsung to provide more robust protection across the Galaxy device ecosystem. If one device is compromised -- for example, through system-level tampering or unauthorized identity use -- it will be signed out of the Samsung Account, cutting off access to cloud services that might otherwise be affected. Users are notified across all their Galaxy devices and redirected to a security status page to assess and respond to the risk. Devices that haven't yet installed the latest security patches can still display warning messages to allow early action before vulnerabilities are exploited. This update aims to make ecosystem-wide protection more dynamic and responsive while giving users clearer control and awareness. 3. Post-Quantum Cryptography for Secure Wi-Fi To improve security, Samsung is integrating post-quantum encryption into Secure Wi-Fi. Initially launched with the Galaxy S25 series, this approach uses advanced cryptography to strengthen the key exchange process -- a core component of encrypted network communication. The goal is to defend against future threats where attackers might capture encrypted data today and decrypt it later using quantum computing -- a tactic sometimes referred to as "harvest now, decrypt later." Secure Wi-Fi's upgrade includes several new privacy tools: 4. Core Security Tools and Privacy Controls Built-in safeguards on the Galaxy platform are receiving additional reinforcement from Samsung. Samsung remains focused on delivering safeguards that are built in, always on, and ready for what's next said the company said. These security and privacy features will begin rolling out with Samsung's upcoming Galaxy smartphones running One UI 8.