Gilliam_Bates

CloudTalkin said:

Soli said:

CloudTalkin said:

TheCodingArt said:

I understand compromise, but come on. This just makes iCloud a less desirable platform.

How does it make iCloud a less desirable platform?  It's not like Apple is removing encryption from iCloud.  It's never been encrypted and it performs as it always has.  No one is losing any functionality.  You are no less protected than you were before this article was written.  Remember, we're talking about iCloud backups.

Rant: More people need to understand the tech they use.  Half the hand wringing wouldn't exist if we did.  Not picking on you.  Just using your quote as a jump off point.
/end rant

Apple advertises how they're all about privacy and security to *gasp* attract customers that care about privacy and security, and then it comes out that Apple's very own iCloud service doesn't allow for the privacy any and security they expected. You really don't see that as a sticking point for those Cloud users?

Comes out?  What exactly do you mean comes out?  Haven't we always known that iCloud backups weren't encrypted?  We just recently had an article on AI about the biannual transparency report detailing they amount, frequency, and types of data that Apple shares.  What did everyone think they were sharing?

Afaik, iCloud backups have never been encrypted and Apple has said they weren't encrypted from the beginning.  Has everyone just ignored that and relied on Apple's marketing for their information? People who take Apple's marketing as fact and make additional assumptions based on that marketing... yeah, not really seeing what you seem to be seeing.  Apple's marketing does what marketing is supposed to do: make their products seem desirable.  It's effective but it shouldn't replace a person's desire for actual facts.  

If people were so concerned about privacy and security, wouldn't they take the time to understand what that privacy and security entails?  Kinda seems some are more enamored with the idea and marketing of privacy and security than the actual thing, and they get upset when real reality doesn't dovetail with their version of reality.

Literally nothing has changed.  Apple has done nothing different.  The only thing different is some have more information than they had before.  Info that has always been available.

jdb8167 said:

Rayz2016 said:

If true, then bad show, Apple.

Why? They only release data with a valid warrant (not sure about China but iCloud backups are the least of Chinese citizens worries when it comes for government surveillance). While I wouldn't mind a slight increase in security from potential mistakes Apple makes, I haven't heard of any that they've made with iCloud. Even the high-profile problems years ago were from guessable passwords. Turn on 2 factor authentication and you are reasonably safe.

Your data is still sent over the network with full encryption. Seems like a reasonable compromise that should help Apple with the coming PR battle.

rob53 said:

seanismorris said:

This brings up another issue.  Users (businesses) really need alternatives to iCloud.  They’re out there but I don’t think they’ve ever been mentioned on AI.  I’ve used Acronis on servers and PCs and there products have worked well.  They do have a mobile app...

Do you really think that ANY server platform in the US actually has user encryption? They might have system level encryption, like I believe Apple does with iCloud, but unless the user controls ALL the keys this data can be decrypted after the serving of a legal subpoena. Apple does this a whole lot while I imagine other server platforms, AWS, etc., simply make the data they store available to the FBI and NSA. At least Apple tries to make it difficult. Anything handled by Google is by default in the public domain because they scan everything and sell it to advertisers. I agree with others that having a local "iCloud" server would help but all it would do is open up a whole lot of individuals to hacking who don't know how to properly secure their network and servers--99.9% of us (yes, I'm including me because there are a whole lot of hackers and network security people who can break through almost everyone's network, including ISPs who control the modems). The only server I feel comfortable storing my photos, emails and files on is iCloud because I feel they try the hardest to secure them and not simply give away everything like others. 

My hope is this will change once our corrupt government looks inward and cleans their own house before going after everyone else. Show us a good example instead of what you're showing right now (and have been showing since JEH started spying on US citizens). The only way to change Washington's attitude is to vote.