For your privacy, Messages in i. Cloud is end-to-end encrypted,* which means you can’t view or access Messages online via browser. * Learn more about i. Cloud security .
One more query we ran across in our research was “Are iCloud messages encrypted?”.
, with i Cloud Backup enabled, your i. Cloud messages are encrypted, then backed up to i. Cloud and stored on Apple’s servers. However, Apple receives a copy of the key that is used to encrypt that backup.
Consistent with standard industry practice, i. Cloud does not encrypt data stored on IMAP mail servers. All Apple email clients support optional S/MIME encryption. End-to-end encryption provides the highest level of data security.
Apple has two services that host your messages: Messages in i. Cloud syncs your messages between devices, and it is end-to-end encrypted. However, if you use i. Cloud Backup to back up anything on your device, it seems that i. Cloud gets a copy of the key that can decrypt the messages—even if you’re not backing up messages using i, and cloud.
, i Cloud Backup Disabled, Messages in i. Cloud Enabled: Apple will store your i. Cloud messages on its servers in a secure, end-to-end encrypted manner. The key to them will not be uploaded to Apple’s servers. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent i. Cloud backup from uploading just your messages or just your encryption key.
How secure are my messages in iCloud?
Messages in i. Cloud also uses end-to-end encryption. If you have i. Cloud Backup turned on, your backup includes a copy of the key protecting your Messages. This ensures you can recover your Messages if you lose access to i. Cloud Keychain and your trusted devices.
Any data accessed via i, and cloud. Com is encrypted on server as indicated in this table. All traffic between your devices and i. Cloud Mail is encrypted with TLS 1.2. Consistent with standard industry practice, i. Cloud does not encrypt data stored on IMAP mail servers. All Apple email clients support optional S/MIME encryption.
Can Apple decrypt your iCloud data?
No one else, not even Apple, can access end-to-end encrypted information. In some cases, your i. Cloud data may be stored using third-party partners’ servers—such as Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud Platform—but these partners don’t have the keys to decrypt your data stored on their servers .
This of course begs the inquiry “Does iCloud use end-to-end encryption?”
For certain sensitive information, Apple uses end-to-end encryption. This means that only you can access your information, and only on devices where you’re signed into i, and cloud. No one else, not even Apple, can access end-to-end encrypted information.
How can I send an encrypted email on my iPhone?
Part of Apple’s improved security included encryption for i. Cloud (though not for files ), which also lets you send encrypted email messages through the i. OS Mail app. Before you begin, you’ll need to install S/MIME certificates or connect your device to a Microsoft Exchange server.