Apple Is Finally Encrypting iCloud Backups
After way too many years, Apple is finally encrypting iCloud backups:
Based on a screenshot from Apple, these categories are covered when you flip on Advanced Data Protection: device backups, messages backups, iCloud Drive, Notes, Photos, Reminders, Safari bookmarks, Siri Shortcuts, Voice Memos, and Wallet Passes. Apple says the only “major” categories not covered by Advanced Data Protection are iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar because “of the need to interoperate with the global email, contacts, and calendar systems,” according to its press release.
You can see the full list of data categories and what is protected under standard data protection, which is the default for your account, and Advanced Data Protection on Apple’s website.
With standard data protection, Apple holds the encryption keys for things that aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means the company can help you recover that data if needed. Data that’s end-to-end encrypted can only be encrypted on “your trusted devices where you’re signed in with your Apple ID,” according to Apple, meaning that the company—or law enforcement or hackers—cannot access your data from Apple’s databases.
Note that this system doesn’t have the backdoor that was in Apple’s previous proposal, the one put there under the guise of detecting CSAM.
Apple says that it will roll out worldwide by the end of next year. I wonder how China will react to this.
Q • December 12, 2022 9:54 AM
The notion of having Apple store and be the gatekeeper for your data is where the real problem is.
The data is encrypted now, but it doesn’t solve the problem of being held hostage by Apple if you ever decide to ditch your iPhone.
Find a way to copy it off the Apple systems and keep all your data under your own control. Then it won’t matter if your iPhone shits itself, or Apple demands more money to continue to provide access, or any of many ways it can all go tits up and you lose access to everything.