With the One UI 8 update, Samsung has fixed a serious vulnerability that existed in the Secure Folder. Previously, users could accidentally expose photos, videos, and personal data even though they were saved in a supposedly secure area. Now, you can rest assured that your private content will not be accessed by unauthorized parties.

This vulnerability has caused concern for many Galaxy users, as tools like Photo Picker and Permissions Controller could access photos and videos inside the Secure Folder. The main reason is that Samsung set this area as a work profile, so the system did not distinguish it from other public areas, even if it was protected by a PIN or biometrics.

Samsung has addressed this issue in One UI 8, the latest software version based on Android 16. From now on, the Secure Folder is reclassified as a private profile, completely isolating sensitive data from the rest of the system.

However, to protect effectively, users need to enable the hidden mode for Secure Folder. Simply closing the app after use is not enough. Once hidden, the folder icon will disappear from the app screen, all content will be encrypted, and the apps inside will no longer run in the background or send notifications.

In addition to patching the security flaw for Secure Folder, Samsung also introduced a series of system-level security improvements in One UI 8. Notably, Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection protects AI features on Galaxy devices and Wi-Fi security against attacks in the age of quantum computing.

One UI 8 is currently pre-installed on the latest foldable models such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. The update is expected to be released to other Galaxy devices early next month, starting with the Galaxy S25 series.