Apple is doubling down on its commitment to privacy and security with a range of new features designed to protect the data of iPhone users. The company will now offer end-to-end encryption for nearly all the data that users store in iCloud, making it much harder for hackers, spies, and governments to access sensitive information. The move is an important step forward in ensuring that users’ data is protected, regardless of whether it is stored on a device or in the cloud.
For years, Apple has focused on improving the privacy and security of its products. Many of these efforts have focused on protecting the data on a device, but users have also been encouraged to back up their data online using iCloud. Unfortunately, this data has not been encrypted in the same way, making it easier for attackers to gain access to sensitive information such as photos and conversations.
The new encryption measures offered by Apple will considerably narrow the loophole that law enforcement has used to gain access to iPhone data. Cybersecurity experts have long argued that backdoors are ill-advised because they would make the internet less reliable and more dangerous.
Apple’s encryption announcement includes Advanced Data Protection, which users of its devices must opt in to. The feature adds iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos to the data categories that are already protected by end-to-end encryption in the cloud, such as health data and passwords. However, email, contacts, and calendar items are not included in the iCloud encryption scheme because they must interoperate with products from other vendors, according to Apple.
Apple is also introducing a new security feature called iMessage Contact Key Verification, designed for journalists, human rights activists, and government officials who face “extraordinary digital threats.” The feature automatically alerts users to eavesdroppers who succeed in inserting a new device into their iCloud via a breach. In addition, the company is rolling out Lockdown Mode, an optional feature designed to protect iPhones and other products against intrusions from state-backed hackers and commercial spyware.
In a blog post, Apple said that “enhanced security for users’ data in the cloud is more urgently needed than ever,” citing research showing that data breaches have more than tripled over the past eight years. Other tech products that already offer end-to-end encryption include WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging app, and Signal, a communications app favored by journalists, dissidents, human rights activists, and others who deal in sensitive data.
Apple’s new privacy and security features are an important step forward in protecting users’ data from cyberattacks, government surveillance, and other threats. As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is essential for tech companies to stay ahead of the curve and offer robust encryption and security features to protect their users. With its latest move, Apple has once again demonstrated its commitment to ensuring the privacy and security of its customers.
