Apple will make the new, broader encryption of iCloud data available worldwide starting next week. With that option, virtually all user data is end-to-end encrypted, making it practically worthless even in the event of a hack.
Apple unveiled the wider iCloud encryption late last year, but the feature was only available in the US until now. As of now, all participants of the Apple beta program can already enable the feature, next week every Apple user will be able to enable the feature.
Encrypt almost anything
The data of Apple users is virtually impossible to steal as long as it is on the iPhone itself, for example: then only the user has access via a code or password. According to Apple, more than 95 percent of users have protected their Apple ID with two-step verification, more than other major services. But those who use iCloud also automatically save their data in 'the cloud'; handy, but servers are a target for hackers thanks to all that data.
Photos, notes and backups were not yet stored end-to-end encrypted by Apple. Anyone who would hack into Apple's servers would therefore have access to that data. And governments that force Apple to give access can also view photos and backups immediately.
That changes with this feature. Then end-to-end encryption on iCloud is added for the storage of photos, notes and backups. The number of categories being encrypted grows from 14 to 23.
iCloud less attractive to hackers
With the new function, only the person with the correct key can access the data. And only the user has that key: a combination of, for example, an iPhone and a pin code. Hackers and governments who get their hands on iCloud data can no longer do anything with it. And it is also impossible for Apple itself to view the data of users.
Apple hopes that this step will make it less interesting for hackers to attack iCloud servers. According to Apple, there are many such attacks, but there is no known case in which large amounts of iCloud data have actually been stolen.
Users also regain full control over the security of their own data, Apple says. According to the company, this restores the balance: after all, until the arrival of 'the cloud', we had all our own data in our own hands. There is a downside: if you lose access to your own iCloud, you can't ask Apple for help if encryption is on. You must keep your own passwords well, which is good practice anyway.
iMessage further secured
Later this year, the security of iMessage will also be tightened. Automatically keeps track of which devices are logged in to someone's chat. If an unknown device 'joins' the chat, or eavesdrops, the other participants can see this via a notification.
The encrypted iMessage conversations will also all receive a unique code. Users who want to be sure that they are chatting unobserved can compare that code: in real life or, for example, via a secure telephone call.