Google has released a new Android Compatibility Definition Document stating that full data encryption will now be compulsory for devices running on Android 6.0. New devices that are loaded with Marshmallow and have AES crypto performance above 50MBPS are required to support encryption of the private user data partition.
The new encryption rule in the PDF states:
"For device implementations supporting full-disk encryption and with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) crypto performance above 50MiB/sec, the full-disk encryption MUST be enabled by default at the time the user has completed the out-of-box setup experience. If a device implementation is already launched on an earlier Android version with full-disk encryption disabled by default, such a device cannot meet the requirement through a system software update and thus MAY be exempted."
A Full Data Encryption (FDE) requirement will consequently increase security for users. FDE is encryption that is done at the hardware level. TechTarget of whatis.com points out that the advantage of Full Data Encryption is that it requires no special attention on the part of the user. As it is input, the data is automatically endcrypted. As it is read, it is then decrypted.
This is good news for people who don't want their files to be tampered with after a device is sold, exchanged or stolen. Phones and tablets and that are upgraded to Marshmallow devices that do not match the minimum requirements remain to be exempt from the new rule.
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