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

[mike090910]

The problem is in the title, "windows"

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Lol lol

 

[adib]

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.

Data leaks from other accounts are definitely server-side bugs. This has no relation to being "Windows" software, and the same problem could also happen with Mac clients. Historically, Apple hasn't been great with server-side software anyway.

 

[BlackJacques]

As an aside, the update also broke Chrome bookmarks sync that was previously working.

 

[Feyl]

I've been using NAS from Synology and I see that I can't be happier with my choice. Apple is truly lost. I'm not sure what are they doing.. Mostly great but boring hardware, but much worse software than 10 years ago.

 

[1885507]

Working Theory: The "strangers" pics are shared pics with a public URL, not private (i.e., unshared) pics.

If true, it would explain why it's showing up in some people's boxes and not others.

 

[adh1003]

Just when you think Apple's utterly incompetent engineers can't get any worse, they reach a new low.

Showing users resources that belong to a different user is the number one most catastrophic fail you can possibly have in a multiuser service. They should be fined out of the eyeballs and NEED TO FIRE the engineering/product manager(s) that presided over such a disaster.

I should point out that, at least in the EU, a data breach of that magnitude should alone warrant a substantial fine.

Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. This just doubles me down on the "my current Mac and iPhone are the last pieces of Apple hardware I'll buy" stance - their software is just utter, utter junk now. It's not worth the money or the stress.

 

[sirozha]

I've been using NAS from Synology and I see that I can't be happier with my choice. Apple is truly lost. I'm not sure what are they doing.. Mostly great but boring hardware, but much worse software than 10 years ago.

Is this some sort of news? I was using a NAS 20 years ago.

 

[madrigal77]

WFH Apple strikes again!! Good lord!! This kind of thing can NOT happen. Period!!

 

[Feyl]

Is this some sort of news? I was using a NAS 20 years ago.

Of course it's not. I'm just happy with not using iCloud anymore. What NAS are you using?

 

[mebehere]

What if you’re using iTunes for Windows but not iCloud for Windows? I’m getting a new iPhone and will need to sync music (previously on CDs, etc.) with Windows iTunes to the phone after I restore from a regular iCloud backup.

Anyone know if this issue is affecting iTunes for Windows?

 

[Chazak]

Apple has done it again. The is alarming and law-suit worthy. But I have come to expect such things from Apple.

By the way, Apple is the one lecturing us about child safety and CSAM? And other users are all like "What do you have to hide"? It's just that some of us know better than to trust Apple.

Edit: Oh, come on, man: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...s-photos.2370666/?post=31743286#post-31743286

I get the outrage and righteous indignation, but I think you are overdoing it.

CSAM? You are assuming an awful lot opening that can on a basis of what is in the article. IF the pictures are on iCloud they have already been through that process.

What exactly is you are suggesting someone experiencing such a bug should sue for and what are the damages they have suffered are other than a bruised ego or a partner finding out they may have been lied to.

Weakness and failures by Apple are real, but they remain far better than all other big tech on privacy issues and policies.

 

[Chazak]

And then you get CSAM'ed up all your ports for other people's photos.

I don't get your comments in a couple of places on CSAM and inferences that you will somehow get blamed for an inappropriate image magically showing up on your device.

Just wondering, are you using iCloud for windows or just Mac?

 

[filchermcurr]

It's possible that the Windows client is sending a corrupt request and therefore getting corrupted results. I don't expect much else from Windows. Garbage in, Garbage out.

I don't understand this statement. Is the garbage going in Apple (since they wrote the software) or are you somehow implying that Apple's buggy software is Microsoft's fault? If so, I'd love to hear how Windows is responsible here.

 

[Chazak]

Tim COOK Needs to get Fired pronto.
This is extremely unacceptable out of like more than 10 different problems just this year alone for Apple.

Please give me a break upon the firing demand. No one is firing Cook over this or the nine other problems you mention. Cook has proved to be a superb CEO.

Ask the shareholders of Apple, of which I am one for many years, what they think of the job he is doing running company. Tim Cook does his job very, very well.

 

[Mysteriousone]

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. 🤷‍♂️

Apple services should be exclusive to Apple. Then you have the anti-competitive morons claiming it's "not fair" and stuff like this happens.

 

[MaxLt]

I don't understand this statement. Is the garbage going in Apple (since they wrote the software) or are you somehow implying that Apple's buggy software is Microsoft's fault? If so, I'd love to hear how Windows is responsible here.

That statement is incorrect and is just Apple fan bias. Apple's client is sending what Apple programmed it to send. Also, many other cloud sync products have no such issues. But an even bigger issue is that the server should be checking requests for corruption or unauthorized access attempts. It should be impossible to get someone's info no matter what the client does. Otherwise, anyone could modify the client or write their own and steal other people's photos, videos and maybe even other files.

 

[GhostRaider]

Thats a big oof. Blame Microsoft for poor Windows 11 updates and Apple for somehow combining other peoples libraries with yours. 🤷‍♂️

 

[MaxLt]

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

Try viewing any videos in iCloud photos - they play at 360p or 480p, regardless of the original quality. This is more than 10 years behind the times.

 

[M5RahuL]

Are you for real!?! This is 100% Apple fault. Apple is backend and Microsoft frontend in this story. On top of this, Apple 1st party and Microsoft 3rd. A third-party frontend accessing unauthorized content from a firstparty backend is a big effing deal. It prove one thing, their architecture is garbage. This should be prevented by design so random bug doesn't trigger this. My feeling, they have a backdoor into iCloud and this bug exploit something around the backdoor.

lol, if you look at this ..thing’s.. post history, you’d have know this ..thing will worship poop if there’s an ‘I’ before it!

Alot of us just ignore the mindless blabber that this..thing..utters …

 

[Shirasaki]

Windows issue.

This is why you don't use Windows.

Apple’s fault and you blame windows issue. Nice.

 

[Mr. Heckles]

So, will this be an argument for e2ee for photos?

 

[joloriquelme]

Fortunately, at the moment I am not noticing any problem.

iPhone 11 Pro Max, and PC and Notebook with Windows 11, Photo App (now with iCloud integration).

 

[JosephAW]

But don't worry Apple won't turn you in to the authorities using CSAM even if the photos look like they're coming from your account.
What could go wrong?

 

[JosephAW]

Encryption needs to be done on your iPhone of all content and then uploaded to the iCloud and then download it into your other devices and then decrypted.