In a recent press release, Apple announced its new security features for iCloud, stating that it will be equipped with full encryption and other security tools. This is the first time the company has announced such features for iCloud, confirming that they will be rolled out in 2023. The new features include Security Keys for Apple ID, iMessage Contact Key Verification, and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud.
Elaborating on bringing better data protection for iCloud, Ivan Krstić, the Head of Security Engineering and Architecture at Apple, said, "Advanced Data Protection is Apple's highest level of cloud data security, giving users the choice to protect the vast majority of their most sensitive iCloud data with end-to-end encryption so that it can only be decrypted on their trusted devices."
End-to-end protection is not new for iCloud - Apple protects 14 types of sensitive data categories, such as passwords in iCloud Keychain and Health data. The Advanced data protection will now increase the category to 23, bringing the feature to daily-use Cloud products like iCloud Backup, Photos, and Notes.
Apple addressed the same, saying "The only major iCloud data categories that are not covered are iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar because of the need to interoperate with the global email, contacts, and calendar systems."
Apple's Senior VP for Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said: "Our security teams work tirelessly to keep users' data safe, and with iMessage Contact Key Verification, Security Keys, and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, users will have three powerful new tools to further protect their most sensitive data and communications."
The iMessage Contact Key Verification has been created to ensure users can verify whether they are speaking with people with whom they intend to converse. The brand says that this specific technology is perfect for people who face "extraordinary digital threats," - journalists, human rights activists, government officials, and so on. However, having said that, anyone can use the feature for verification.
Apple explained this feature: "Conversations between users who have enabled iMessage Contact Key Verification receive automatic alerts if an exceptionally advanced adversary, such as a state-sponsored attacker, were ever to succeed breaching cloud servers and inserting their own device to eavesdrop on these encrypted communications. And for even higher security, iMessage Contact Key Verification users can compare a Contact Verification Code in person, on FaceTime, or through another secure call."
Security Keys for Apple IDThe new security keys for Apple ID will help users enhance Apple’s two-factor authentication system by using third-party hardware security keys.
"For users who opt-in, Security Keys strengthens Apple's two-factor authentication by requiring a hardware security key as one of the two factors. This takes our two-factor authentication even further, preventing even an advanced attacker from obtaining a user's second factor in a phishing scam." said the tech giant.
These new security features will reportedly roll out in 2023.
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