December 7, 2022
UPDATE
Apple advances user security with powerful new data protections
iMessage Contact Key Verification, Security Keys for Apple ID and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud give users important new tools to protect their most sensitive data and communications
Apple today introduced three advanced security features focused on protecting against threats to user data in the cloud, representing the next step in its continued efforts to provide users with even stronger ways to protect their data. With iMessage Contact Key Verification, users can verify that they are only communicating with who they intend to. With Apple ID security keys, users have the choice of requiring a physical security key to sign in to their Apple ID account. And with Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, which uses end-to-end encryption to provide Apple’s highest level of cloud data security, users have the choice to further protect important iCloud data, including iCloud backups, photos, notes, and more.
As threats to user data become increasingly sophisticated and complex, these new features join a range of other protections that make Apple products the most secure on the market: from the security built right into our custom chips with best-in-class device encryption and data protection, to features such as Lockdown Mode, which offers an extreme, optional level of security for users such as journalists, human rights activists and diplomats. Apple is committed to strengthening both device and cloud security and to adding new protections over time.
“At Apple, we are unwavering in our commitment to providing our users with the best data security in the world. We are constantly identifying and mitigating new threats to their personal data on device and in the cloud,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. Our security team works tirelessly to keep users’ data safe, and with iMessage Contact Key Verification, Security Keys and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, users will have three powerful new tools to further protect their most sensitive data and communications.”
iMessage contact key verification
Apple pioneered the use of end-to-end encryption in consumer communications services with the launch of iMessage, so that messages could only be read by the sender and receivers. FaceTime has also used encryption since launch to keep conversations private and secure. Now with iMessage Contact Key Verification, users facing extraordinary digital threats—such as journalists, human rights activists, and members of the government—can choose to further verify that they’re only messaging the people they intend to. The vast majority of users will never be hit by highly sophisticated cyber attacks, but the feature provides an important extra layer of security for those who might be. Conversations between users who have enabled iMessage Contact Key Verification receive automatic alerts should an unusually sophisticated adversary, such as a state-sponsored attacker, ever succeed in breaching cloud servers and deploying their own device to eavesdrop on these encrypted communications. And for even higher security, iMessage Contact Key Verification users can compare a contact verification code in person, on FaceTime, or through another secure call.
Security keys
Apple introduced two-factor authentication to Apple ID in 2015. Today, with more than 95 percent of active iCloud accounts using this protection, it’s the most widely used two-factor account security system in the world that we know of. Now with security keys, users will have the choice to make use of third-party hardware security keys to enhance this protection. This feature is designed for users who, due to their public profile, often face common threats to their online accounts, such as celebrities, journalists, and members of the government. For users who sign up, security keys strengthen Apple’s two-factor authentication by requiring a hardware security key as one of the two factors. This takes our two-factor authentication even further, preventing even a sophisticated attacker from obtaining a user’s second factor in a phishing scam.
Advanced data protection for iCloud
For years, Apple has offered industry-leading data security on its devices with Data Protection, the sophisticated file encryption system built into iPhone, iPad and Mac. “Apple makes the most secure mobile devices on the market. And now we’re building on that strong foundation,” said Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of security engineering and architecture. “Advanced Data Protection is Apple’s highest level of data security in the cloud, giving users the choice of to protect the vast majority of their most sensitive iCloud data with end-to-end encryption so it can only be decrypted on their trusted devices.” For users who sign up, Advanced Data Protection keeps most iCloud data protected, even in the event of a data breach in the cloud.
iCloud already protects 14 sensitive data categories using end-to-end encryption by default, including iCloud Keychain passwords and health data. For users who enable Advanced Data Protection, the total number of data categories protected using end-to-end encryption increases to 23, including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos. The only major iCloud data categories not covered are iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar due to the need to interoperate with the global email, contact, and calendar systems.
Improving security for users’ data in the cloud is more urgent than ever, as shown in a new summary of data breach research, “The Rising Threat to Consumer Data in the Cloud,” published today. Experts say the total number of data breaches more than tripled between 2013 and 2021, exposing 1.1 billion personal records across the globe in 2021 alone. Increasingly, companies across the technology industry are addressing this growing threat by implementing end-to- end encryption in their offer.
Availability
- iMessage Contact Key Verification will be available globally in 2023.
- Security keys for Apple ID will be available globally in early 2023.
- Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is available in the US today for members of the Apple Beta Software Program and will be available to US users by the end of the year. The feature will begin rolling out to the rest of the world in early 2023.
- A complete technical overview of the optional security enhancements offered by Advanced Data Protection can be found in our Platform Security Guide, along with the data breach research “The Rising Threat to Consumer Data in the Cloud” by Dr. Stuart Madnick, Professor Emeritus at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Tap Contacts
Trevor Kincaid
Apple
(202) 281-6403
Shane Bauer
Apple
(512) 966-7192
Apple Media Helpline
(408) 974-2042
