Apple to bring end-to-end encryption for iCloud Backups with Advanced Data Protection

[harlan4096]

Apple has announced its plans to support end-to-end encryption for iCloud Backups. A couple of new security features are coming to users next year.



Apple adds end-to-end encryption for iCloud Backups

You're probably thinking, "Wait! They didn't have encryption for iCloud backups before this?" That's a perfectly logical reaction, and the answer is yes, and no.

Apple does encrypt iCloud backups, but these are not completely end-to-end encrypted (only some data are). What does that mean? It means that the Cupertino company has the decryption key required to access part of your data on the cloud.

This can be dangerous, especially when law enforcement is involved. Let's say the Police, or some Government agency like the FBI, manages to get a court order against a user, they could force Apple to hand over the decryption key to access a user's data, and the tech giant would have no other option but to comply with the law.

That changes now, with end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, your data will not only be encrypted before it leaves your device, but only you have access to the encryption key. More power to the user, yay!

End-to-end encryption isn't something new to Apple, it has implemented the security feature in iMessage and FaceTime since they were launched. It says that it also uses E2E to protect 14 sensitive data categories such as passwords iCloud Keychain and Health data.
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