How secure is iCloud? iCloud security check

How secure is iCloud? Find out all about the security features of iCloud such as login procedures, encryption, security measures and data protection.

How does iCloud encryption work?

The topic of encryption is divided into two parts with iCloud. Basically, your data is backed up on newer Apple devices with 256-bit AES encryption. This applies, for example, to backups, photos, contacts, calendars and voice memos. iCloud offers this encryption on the server itself and during transmission. Although this is a good start, it also means that the data is not encrypted throughout. This can be remedied by optional end-to-end encryption, which is part of the extended data protection mode (available from iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 and macOS 13.1). This method ensures that only you have access to your data. Even Apple or third-party providers are denied access.

Does Apple process user data?

Without end-to-end encryption, your data in iCloud can also be viewed and used by Apple. The company itself states in its terms and conditions that no analysis data is generated for individual users that can be clearly assigned in retrospect. However, various net activists accuse Apple of telling the wrong story. Although the analysis data is anonymised at first glance, the company can still assign it beyond doubt using a special ID.

How secure is iCloud against hacker attacks?

In the past, there have often been negative incidents that have raised the question of how secure iCloud really is. Back in 2014, there was a major data leak, when a security vulnerability in the ‘Find My iPhone’ function was exploited and iCloud was accessible to unauthorised persons. This gateway was subsequently closed.

In 2017, however, hackers used the same function to lock numerous iPhones and threatened to delete data from iCloud. The company therefore responded with the two-factor authentication mentioned above.

Other incidents relating to iCloud security were also repeatedly covered by the media. However, these often involved phishing, in which users voluntarily passed on their contact details or hackers were able to gain access to the cloud by using the same password multiple times. However, the mixture of password and confirmation code offered by two-factor authentication also makes such attacks much more difficult to carry out. The question of how secure iCloud is therefore depends to a large extent on additional protective measures and the behaviour of individual users.

Where are the service’s servers located?

While Apple has at least responded to breaches in the past and is using new methods and tools to better protect data, there is another factor that clearly speaks against iCloud in terms of security. As Apple is a US company, the company uses servers located in US data centres. This means that these servers are subject to US data protection law, which is significantly weaker than most European agreements and therefore allows more freedom. In some cases, data is also stored with third-party providers, which is permitted under US law. For many users, however, this approach is a cause for concern.

Since the Cloud Act of 2018, US authorities have had far-reaching powers that also apply when backups are uploaded to American servers from abroad. To this end, some companies work closely with government institutions and are obliged to forward data records in response to corresponding requests. For these reasons in particular, German cloud providers perform significantly better in the most secure clouds comparison than US solutions such as iCloud, which take a more generous approach to data protection.

How does this affect data protection at iCloud?

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) regulates the protection of personal data in Europe and ensures the free (voluntary) exchange of this data. One of the key points of this regulation is the rule that data may only be processed by a service provider (in this case the cloud service) if there’s a clear mandate for processing. It’s questionable whether Apple’s service meets these requirements and how much iCloud takes the data protection factor into account. Experts fundamentally doubt that the GDPR and the Cloud Act are compatible. If you follow the logic of this assessment, this also has a massive impact on the question of how secure iCloud is.

How secure is iCloud for businesses?

While the iCloud security factor is also a question for private users, which they can weigh up and answer at their own discretion, the situation is naturally different for companies that rely on cloud solutions. They want to offer their customers practical cloud solutions and also benefit from the increased flexibility themselves. At the same time, however, they also bear responsibility for customer data and must take into account the discrepancy between the GDPR and the Cloud Act. iCloud was originally only intended for private users. The Business Manager contract only offers limited relief, which is why companies find themselves in a grey area when it comes to data protection with iCloud.

So…is iCloud secure?

Is iCloud secure enough for professional requirements? The honest answer here is no. Although Apple has made significant improvements in recent years and strengthened the encryption of iCloud, the problem of data centres abroad still remains. While private users have to assess and bear this risk themselves, the risk for companies is much greater. In an honest cloud storage comparison, the security factor therefore speaks against iCloud and in favour of one of the many domestic providers.