Apple says it will allow iCloud backups to be fully encrypted

40 points by sxcurry 2 years ago | 9 comments
  • booleandilemma 2 years ago
    I've become so cynical that my first thought was "I guess they found a way to create the illusion of full encryption while really having secret access to the unencrypted data".
    • hinata08 2 years ago
      me too ...

      I felt the same for WhatsApp backups on Google Drive, which are addressed in the article. I thought FB was advertising an encryption while letting some obvious backdoor for the NSA.

      But the backups are encrypted, according to co-workers and to that post. Maybe I should enable backups now.

      • Jamesbeam 2 years ago
        There is no reason to not enable end-to-end encrypted iCloud backups on your Apple Device if you already actively decided to trust Apple by buying a device from them that stores most of your most valuable private data on a day-to-day basis.

        Apple already implemented a solution to scan content on your Device before it gets encrypted and sent to the cloud (Communication Safety feature) that is sitting in your phone since iOS 15.2. So, they don't need to have a look at your encrypted iCloud Backups, theoretically, they could always look at it on your device before it gets encrypted and shipped to the cloud.

        They promise that none of those scans or resulting data leaves your device, but since it's a closed source platform, and you have no way to verify that claim independently, it all boils down to a single question.

        Do you trust Apple?

        If you can answer that question with yes, then making the most of the new security features is a no-brainer, as they significantly lower the risk of your data leaking in the cloud in case their servers get hacked or simply human error on their part.

        If you can answer that question with no, don't own Apple devices.

        • hinata08 2 years ago
          I don't

          I hated Android devices because they were deprecated pretty quickly (android 2.3 lasted for a while. After that, Android phones basically became burners with poor app support beyond 2 years) But I didn't own Apple devices because I didn't like Apple

          Now if they want you to choose between scanning your data offline and sending it unencrypted to the cloud, I still don't like Apple (I can backup some data on Android with a USB cord, on my PC, and that's ok) Anyway, they said they were axing the plan to scan your data (so far)

          Nowadays I'm happy with phones that run derivatives of LineageOS. They do the best of both worlds (long term support and trust)

      • brador 2 years ago
        Do Apple store the keys?
      • niij 2 years ago
        https://archive.ph/ojR5O
        • dontbenebby 2 years ago
          Now? In 2022? Gee thanks I guess
          • metadat 2 years ago
            We finally have the new technology making it possible! :-s
            • dontbenebby 2 years ago
              >We finally have the new technology making it possible! :-s

              Don’t they hire John Callas in like 1997? ;-)

              (Sorry, couldn’t resist a bit of good natured ribbing.)