Amazon had decided to remove data encryption from FireOS, despite it being a very sound security practice. Clearly, if one’s device is hacked, and the thief gets nothing but scrambled data, that’s a more secure practice.
The reason Amazon cited? Very few were using it. That raises another question…how did they know that, I wonder? I guess their OS dials home with “anonymized data”. Maybe.
However, Amazon then found itself in a very awkward position. First, it ran into a firestorm of criticism from IT experts and customers. Second, it sided with Apple regarding the DoJ request for hacking its OS as a result of a fumble by the FBI involving changing the password on the iPhone in question so that the data couldn’t be backed up. Amazon even plans to join others in the Amicus brief filed in the case.
So…that all left the Android device users with two choices: Either refuse updates, which is not a very secure thing to do and could cause further problems with updating later, or take the steps Amazon gave to save their encrypted data which involved decryption…or just stop using their devices.
Hopefully, updates will be delayed until encrypting is re-enabled by Amazon.
Source:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/3/11157752/amazon-fire-os-encryption-removed-upgrade
