Newest Androids Will Join iPhones in Offering Default Encryption, Blocking Police
Tags: 2010s Hacking SS7
Authors: Timberg, Craig
Published: September 2014
Abstract: On September 18, 2014, The Washington Post published an article about the decision by Google to, for the first time, encrypt all data by default in its Android operating system. Previously, the operating system required a user to enable encryption in the device settings, but “few users [knew] how to turn on the feature.” Google made this move in order to be more competitive with Apple’s smartphones, who already encrypt all data by default. While law enforcement officials “warned that restrictions on their access to electronic devices make it much harder for them to prevent and solve crimes”, privacy advocates “are ecstatic”. The remaining significant difference between the top two smartphone competitors is the way in which Apple and Google handle encryption, given that Apple manufactures all its phones while there are several manufacturers for Android devices.