Apple expands end-to-end encryption to iCloud in a bid to make it safer for vulnerable profiles like celebrities, activists, or journalists

• Apple expands end-to-end encryption to iCloud Backups, Photos, Notes, and more.
• The company calls it ‘Advanced Data Protection.’
• Apple also introduced physical security keys for two-factor authentication.

Apple on Wednesday introduced end-to-end encryption to iCloud backups. The company calls it Advanced Data Protection. The company already offers the same security feature for different data on its cloud, including health data, credit card, and other payment data; now, Apple will extend the protection to other services like photos and notes.

The feature is Advanced Data Protection for iCloud and will be released for those enrolled in Apple’s Beta Software Program. It will be available to all United States by the end of the year and will start rolling out globally by early 2023. Also, the Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is an optional feature that users can enable. Once turned on, the feature will guide you through the process.

Apple said the new security features come as threats to user data become increasingly sophisticated and complex. Let's check out the new security tools announced by Apple.

Security Keys

Today, more than 95 percent of active iCloud accounts use two-factor authentication. With the Security Keys, users can use third-party hardware security keys to enhance this protection. Apple says this feature is designed for users who face threats to their online accounts due to public profiles, such as journalists and celebrities.

Users who opt-in for Security Keys will require a hardware security key as one of the two factors.

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud

According to Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture, Ivan Krstić, Advanced Data Protection is Apple’s highest level of cloud data security, giving users a choice to protect their sensitive information on the cloud. For users who enable Advanced Data Protection, the end-to-end encryption expands to iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, and more.

iMessage Contact Key Verification

With the iMessage Contact Key Verification, people who face digital threats, such as celebrities, activists, or journalists, can choose to verify that they are only messaging the person they intend to further.

Users who enable iMessage Contact Key Verification will receive automatic alerts if the attacker breaches the cloud server or logs into the same account on another device.

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