Secure Folder Backup?

[JRMA85]

I just recently started using the secure folder feature on my S25 Ultra and I noticed that you can now only restore from backup, you cannot actually take a backup! 

I know you can backup the secure folder using smart switch and usb stick but this is rather a manual task and not something I can do all the time when I don't have the usb stick on me. 

Just wondering what other people are doing to backup the secure folder? Or are there better apps out there that do the same job anyone recommends? 

[arianwen27]

Online backups were removed a while ago probably to ensure your private data doesn't get seen by someone who hacks Samsung. Your backup options right now are smart switch with a pc, smart switch with a usb or smart switch to the cloud but that deletes after 30 days. (The smart switch stuff encrypts your data).

If you login with Google, you can sorta have Google backup some things. Though I'd just say manually do smart switch stuff every now and again

[JRMA85]

Thanks yea I suspected as much. I was reading it might be cause Samsung don't want to be responsible for holding the data or restoring it in long run. I am sure the backup would be E2EE so don't think it will be a security concern.

I wish smart switch had an incremental option though. Doing a full backup on usb stick for me takes about an hour or so.

[arianwen27]

The security settings are within the smart switch app. By default it uses your Samsung account to encrypt the data. Don't have a source if thats end to end or not. If you set your own password, then there's no chance Samsung or anyone else can decrypt it.

Also be aware smart switch usually doesn't encrypt images and videos. At least in normal backups it doesn't. Secure folder backups might be totally different

[JRMA85]

Thanks. Its so annoying they removed this. Would be great if they let you backup to GDrive or OneDrive instead encrypted. But oh well.

What about other apps? Google Files has a secure folder but it's not very feature rich.

[arianwen27]

For media backup, Samsung photos allows one drive backups. Google photos and Amazon photos do backup too. Though they won't be encrypted or secure.

Google files does have a secure folder feature yes, but it has no backup system and isn't as secure as samsungs system. It also just allows files, not apps. You'd also need to transfer things into it. Unlike Samsung secure folder where images taken and things downloaded within it stay inside it

[JRMA85]

I will have to have a dig around then what else. The key thing for me is encryption. I like my stuff encrypted when being sent off to cloud so only I can view it.
I self host already backups of photos etc using Immich, but I liked the idea of having a secure section on my phone also for double protection.