With the release of iOS 8, Apple began to use encryption, which prevents unauthorized users to access data on devices. It is this feature that iPhone was the cause of the conflict of the company with the FBI, demanded to crack the smartphone terrorists from San Bernardino. But in the case with Android devices these problems at the secret service does not arise: only 10% of the 1.4 billion sold “phones”, according to research, have strong data encryption.
Google adds encryption of contacts, photo, and video content to its own Nexus devices, the same approach the company requires from other manufacturers of smartphones on Android. However, those not in a hurry to add such technologies, so as not to degrade the performance of their devices.
Google, however, delivered an ultimatum. Manufacturers top models that want to upgrade to Android 6.0 should add encryption to their own gadgets. Meanwhile, the share of devices released in October, OS is still small — only 2.3% of all Android devices of different versions.
In September 2014 Google announced that encryption technology in Android smartphones will be used with the version of Android 5.0 Lollipop. Prior to this, the company carried out testing of encrypted smartphones and revealed that encryption has little impact on the performance of the devices. However, smartphone manufacturers have noticed that a low cost device encryption technology cause a serious delay when opening applications. In the end, Google “froze” the requirement of encryption for the manufacturers.
According to the LG representative Ken Hong, many devices are not updated to later versions of Android, as manufacturers must configure the software for each model of smartphone and the work of each operator. Therefore, manufacturers usually only update ON the latest models of gadgets.
LG and HTC stated that many of their models of smartphones in 2016 will support encryption technology. Samsung announced that its new smartphone Galaxy S7 supports, refusing to comment on whether or not the technology other devices Corporation.
