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Apple Announces End-to-End Encryption Option for iCloud Photos, Notes, Backups, and More

So just an FYI, I have several devices that are old and can't be updated therefore, cannot activate this unless I REMOVE them from the account.


techpr said:
Is E2EE active per Apple ID account or per device? Because I still have some older devices still running on iOS 15 that cannot upgrade to iOS 16. I have a mix of iPhone 13 regular, 13 Pro on iOS 16, iPhone SE 1 and 6S's on iOS 15.7.
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Thats what it appears. It is making me remove older devices that cannot be updated in order to add this.
 
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Gusts said:
Which are most people. Go down the street and ask if they know what end-to-end encryption is. If the option is opt-in it is for a very specific reason. Nothing is left to chance.
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The specific technical reason is that it’s not compatible with devices running on older OS versions connected to your account, and once you’ve enabled it you probably can’t go back in the event you want to connect an older device. There would be an outcry if they auto-enabled it, locking out the possibility to (re)connect older devices.

There’s also the issue that if you enable it, you need a different fallback method (offline printed-out key or something) in case you lock yourself out, because Apple won’t have access to your key anymore to restore access. That’s something the user has to deliberately opt-in for.
 
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Hopefully this will be enough to allow some of the more strict companies that use MDM to loosen some of their restrictions on iCloud.
 
srbNYC said:
Am I being dim? Where is the setting located? Thanks.
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Settings / Tap your iCloud Account at the Top / iCloud / Scroll Down to Advanced Data Protection

You'll see this:
IMG_1283.PNG
 
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Glad to see end to end finally offered for backups and messages etc. I will definitely be making use of the feature when it goes live.

It will be interesting to see how Apple fares against law enforcement and federal agencies with the encryption. I never thought I would see the day Apple stuck it to the government with backups and messaging access. I am shocked in a good way.
 
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Now if only we can get some of this security/privacy on Home Keys for HomeKit enabled smart locks. Currently, anyone added as a resident to the home gets a home key that they alone get to decide if express mode is enabled or not… not the actual lock/home owner. This means literally any resident (adult, kid, etc) can enable express mode on their home key and literally anyone who gains access to that phone can use it to unlock your front door without any authentication being done… and the owner of the lock has no say/no way to bar any resident from enabling express mode! Talk about a massive security risk at your front door! Come on Apple…
 
klasma said:
I’m still using the OG iPhone SE as a secondary device at home (and my iPads are still on 14.x due to the terrible UI changes with iPadOS 15), and this means that I’m forced to choose between abandoning it or foregoing E2EE.
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As well as this new encryption feature, I'm also not upgrading to the new Homekit system or Notes passcode security for the same reason. I've a backup 6S that's limited to iOS 15. Once that gets retired I'll have to remember to go back and enable these features.
 
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mthomas184 said:
So just an FYI, I have several devices that are old and can't be updated therefore, cannot activate this unless I REMOVE them from the account.




Thats what it appears. It is making me remove older devices that cannot be updated in order to add this.
Click to expand...
I guess they are not willing to retrofit the E2E tech in older OS versions.
 
ericwn said:
I guess they are not willing to retrofit the E2E tech in older OS versions.
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Which I understand but it also sucks because those devices are in use and the only way to activate this, I cant use those.

But I wonder what happens if I remove them, activate it and then try to re-add them again.
 
As others have discovered, I cannot enable ADP without deleting old devices on my AppleID. I deleted an old iPod Touch that was stuck on iOS 9.3.5, because it is only a keepsake at this point anyway. It "works," but it's not really useful and this is a good incentive to recycle it. But I have 2012 Mac mini running as a backup video server that is stuck on Catalina.

I also have an iPad Air 2 stuck on iOS 15, but it's using an alternate Apple ID based in Mexico. I'll have to metaphorically move the old Mac to Mexico in order to active ADP on my current devices.
 
I can't activate ADP on my devices. After opening the ADP page the "Turn On" button is greyed out and there is a message saying "ADP is not yet available in your country or region." Is this limited to US right now? I live in Europe.
 
Anyone outside US managed to activate it? Wondering why kind of locking is in place to prevent it. Is it just the phone region settings, location, iCloud account? Would be interesting to know.
 
Cristim74 said:
I can't activate ADP on my devices. After opening the ADP page the "Turn On" button is greyed out and there is a message saying "ADP is not yet available in your country or region." Is this limited to US right now? I live in Europe.
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Apple says the optional security feature will be available to U.S. users by the end of the year and will start rolling out to the rest of the world in early 2023.
 
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