Is data on your new Lollipop Android device encrypted? Maybe not

Some smartphone manufacturers are not configuring devices running the latest version of Android to automatically encrypt personal data, which Google had said would scramble data by default.

Google has apparently left it up to manufacturers to turn encryption on or off, a surprising change that came after the company pledged last September to strengthen defenses around personal data.

It’s unclear why Google did not publicize the change, although it is possible some hardware devices will not perform as well with encryption turned on. Analyst Canalys tweeted it was a wise move for Google, as many devices do not have the right hardware to accommodate it.

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