iCloud for Windows Users Complain of Corrupted Videos, Photos From Strangers

[Kwikyy]

You know maybe Apple should just stop making Windows software, because it's clear ever since Tim Cook took over any of their Windows developers have all left, as evident from how badly iTunes is in disrepair and the fact they've yet to break it apart like they promised.

At this point they're making the Windows software bad on purpose as a pressure move to get more iPhone users to switch to Mac. "Tired of iTunes and want better iPhone management and iCloud functionality? Then buy a Mac." And the thing is it's working. Those who love their iPhone too much have started getting Macs instead for their next computer. My dad and uncle, two lifetime Mac haters since the 80s, got M1 Mac Minis just so they could have ecosystem functionality on their iPhones and iPads.

You think Apple will stop supporting iTunes when they don’t with iTunes Match which few people know nowadays and which is obviously useless since Apple Music exists ? I know, this is ironic and surprising, but they only give security updates since it disappeared with Catalina and they’ll continue for a long time with the old stuff. iTunes Movie Trailers (November 2017), AirPort Utility (October 2019) and Beats Pill+ (December 2018) all haven’t been updated since these dates, but still exist. The 3 years rule of updates or deleted don’t apply to Apple.

 

[LordDeath]

Apple's own services on other platforms are terrible. Their web apps look like they where made over a decade ago, and their native apps are either outright broken or non-existent.

Counter-example Google: After moving from Android to iPhone, I actually started to use more Google services. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Kwikyy]

I wonder if these photos from strangers are possibly from a Shared Library?

Doubt, the feature has been in testing for longer than previous and didn’t ship at launch with iOS 16, so this would be ironic if it’s buggy. What‘s certain is it’s too early to make any assumption

 

[Kwikyy]

Apple's own services on other platforms are terrible. Their web apps look like they where made over a decade ago, and their native apps are either outright broken or non-existent.

Counter-example Google: After moving from Android to iPhone, I actually started to use more Google services. 🤷‍♂️

The only Apple web app for which your statement was true was iCloud, and it’s not the case anymore since a week.

 

[xxray]

This is horrifying. I’m glad I don’t use iCloud Photos anymore…

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

iSwap, Apple’s newest service. Exchange random photos with strangers. All randomly and anonymous of course.. well sorta anonymous.. of course. The best experiences. Only on Apple! ✌🏼

 

[JZavinski]

Apple's iCloud for Windows software appears to experiencing serious issues for some users, with complaints on the MacRumors forums about corrupted videos and images from strangers appearing in Photo Libraries.

There are a handful of complaints from customers who are running into complications with iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models. Videos recorded on an iPhone and then synced with iCloud for Windows are turning black with scan lines, rendering the videos unwatchable.

More worryingly, some users are seeing strange photos and videos that do not belong to them appearing in their libraries when they attempt to watch these corrupted videos. MacRumors reader sleeping_ghost explains:

It is not clear if the photos are images from other iCloud users, but it appears possible. From the thread, users have seen random families, children, soccer games, and other similar photo content.

Deleting the iCloud for Windows app does not appear to fix the issue, as it may be server side, and several people have reported it to Apple, so the company may be aware. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both appear to be impacted, and it may only be affecting devices with certain settings like HDR and HEVC enabled.

Article Link: iCloud for Windows Users Complain of Corrupted Videos, Photos From Strangers

Have you tried reinstalling windows?

 

[Mousse]

It makes you wonder if Apple really encrypts your iCloud data as they claim.😐 Must be some easy to break encryption key if there's cross contamination of iCloud photos.😑 Apple's security measures ain't measuring up, IMO.

Finally, I can show my wife why syncing to our computer is sooOOOoooOo much better than relying on iCloud. She's been rolling her eyes at me for wasting time syncing every week when Apple does it automatically to iCloud.

 

[JippaLippa]

Photos from strangers? That's very bad...
Anyway with all the problems apple is experiencing my satisfaction with the brand has surely been compromised.

 

[rjohnstone]

Images from strangers appearing in Photo Libraries? are you ****ing kidding me?

I have pics in my library from a family I never met. I deleted them. But this explains how they could have gotten there.
And I don't even use Windows.

 

[sleeping_ghost]

Have you tried reinstalling windows?

Yes, both fresh installs of Windows 10 and 11. Occurred on both.

 

[ZachHarley]

Windows software from Apple is like seafood from a steak restaurant.

 

[Beautiful Opinion]

In other words: YOUR photos may be appearing in others' libraries. 0_O

 

[zorinlynx]

If you ever want a good reason why you shouldn't trust the cloud, this is it.

Don't let anything go to iCloud Photos that would ruin your life if everyone saw it. If for example, you like to take intimate photos, use a non-Internet connected camera to do so, and keep them off the Internet.

 

[PsykX]

When prioritizing bugs to fix, a crash is often categorized as critical.
But mixing Cloud data with other users... this is even more critical than critical. Is there a word for it?

 

[crispingob]

Windows issue.

This is why you don't use Windows.

 

[Eso]

Uh oh, the only photos I upload to iCloud are those of I take of my horrible medical conditions to show my doctor.

 

[jk111]

When prioritizing bugs to fix, a crash is often categorized as critical.
But mixing Cloud data with other users... this is even more critical than critical. Is there a word for it?

Yes - catastrophic

 

[Kwikyy]

This is why passwords (and with iOS 16 now also passkeys) should not be stored in iCloud...
Apple's approach for passwords is a bad idea.

Do you even know the principle of passkeys ? One passkey is public and stored in Apple’s server, another in the Application Processor of the user’s device and never leaves it

 

[jk111]

Windows issue.

This is why you don't use Windows.

Absolutely not. When a front-end authenticates to a service it should only be returning the photos the user is authorized to see. This has nothing to do with Windows.

 

[realeric]

Photos from strangers? It means my photos can go to others without my permission. Bad

 

[BootsWalking]

I’m going to blame Microsoft Windows for that. Reminds me of Microsoft Vista.

Windows used to be a dumpster fire but is now very stable. OSX followed the opposite trajectory.

 

[JMStearnsX2]

This is why my photo library isn't in iCloud. Nor my iMessages synced in iCloud either. Nor my devices backed up to iCloud..... etc.

 

[Jim Lahey]

“What happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone.“

And possibly someone else’s PC 🤦‍♂️

 

[Paddle1]

This means in theory that ANY iCloud users could be having their media sent to other users without their knowledge or permission. Not even just on Windows. That's a huge security issue.