Google has confirmed that the next version of Android will for the first time come with default data encryption. The move by the internet giant will prevent law enforcement officials as well as hackers from gaining access to personal information on the devices running Android operating system.
Google's Android L, which is expected to be released to the public in the next few months, will come with new activation procedures that will encrypt data automatically. A Google spokesperson added that Android devices have been capable of encryption for the past three years.
"For over three years Android has offered encryption, and keys are not stored off of the device, so they cannot be shared with law enforcement," Google said in a statement. "As part of our next Android release, encryption will be enabled by default out of the box, so you won't even have to think about turning it on."
The move comes after Apple assured that it doesn't access its customers data which is protected by a pass code in iOS 8, making it impossible for it to comply with a government warrant. Tech giant Apple also recently made two-step verification an option for its iCloud online storage services.
Tech giants have been making encryption a bigger priority after the revelations made by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about government surveillance. Google and Yahoo have recently teamed up to add end-to-end encryption to their webmail services and create spy free email systems by next year.
Source: CNET