Apple's new Advanced Data Protection for iCloud uses end-to-end encryption, which means your most sensitive data in iCloud is now better protected than ever. This includes backups, photos, notes, and more.
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Apple's iCloud service provides users with a secure way to store their data across multiple devices at once, while also offering some additional security features, such as remote lock and wipe capabilities in the event of a device being lost or stolen. Whether you use an iPhone , iPad, or iMac, setting up iCloud on all of your devices can make your life a lot easier when it comes time to sync information between them all.
The new security feature, Advanced Data Protection, is designed to secure “most iCloud data even in the event of a data breach in the cloud.” This ensures that encrypted data in the cloud can only be decrypted by trusted devices owned by the user.
Anyone who chooses to participate will first be asked to choose a secondary access method (password or device password, a recovery contact, or a personal recovery key) in case they lose account . Since Apple won't have the decryption keys, this is necessary to recover the data.
End-to-end encryption protects many types of data, including device backups and messages, iCloud Drive, photos, notes, reminders, Safari bookmarks and much more.
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Data related to iCloud Mail, contacts, and calendar will not be encrypted because they are required for communication with other email, contacts, and calendar systems.
“ With the release of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1, you can now enable Advanced Data Protection to help protect most of your data in iCloud – even in the event of a data breach in the cloud ,” Apple says on its support website
Users can also turn off encryption at any time, and their devices will securely upload their encryption keys to Apple servers. If they later decide they want their backups encrypted again, their accounts will automatically revert to standard data protection.
If you are a US enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program, you already have access to Advanced Data Protection. For users outside the US, it will be available in early 2023.
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In addition to the standard security features, Apple introduced iMessage Contact Key Verification and Security Keys for Apple ID.
The first allows iMessage users to verify the identity of the person they are communicating with and alerts them if a threat actor is participating in the conversation. The second allows customers to set their account to require a physical security key to complete registration.
