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{{InfoboxProductLine
{{lowercase title}}
| Title = iCloud
{{ProductCargo
| Release Year = 2011
|ArticleType=Service
| Product Type = Subscription Service
|Category=Cloud
| In Production = Yes
|Company=Apple
| Official Website = https://icloud.com
|Description=
| Logo = ICloud.svg
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=ICloud.svg
|ProductLine=2011
|ReleaseYear=Yes
|Website=https://icloud.com
}}
}}
[[wikipedia:ICloud|'''iCloud''']] is a cloud storage and cloud computing service provided by [[Apple]]. It offers various internet-based services, including iCloud Photos, device backups, and the Find My network.


== Incidents ==
'''{{wplink|iCloud}}''' is a cloud storage and cloud computing service provided by [[Apple]]. It offers various internet-based services, including iCloud Photos, device backups, and the Find My network.


=== 2014 Celebrity Photo Leaks === 
==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}


In August 2014, a series of brute-force attacks targeted iCloud accounts, leading to the unauthorized access and release of private photographs belonging to multiple celebrities.<ref>[[wikipedia:2014_celebrity_nude_photo_leak|2014 celebrity nude photo leak]]</ref> Apple denied that a breach of iCloud itself had occurred, attributing the incident to weak user passwords and phishing attacks.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/2/6098107/apple-denies-icloud-breach-celebrity-nude-photo-hack</ref> However, vulnerabilities allowing brute-force attacks remained unaddressed the following year, raising concerns over iCloud’s security measures.<ref>https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/icloud-accounts-risk-brute-force-attack-hacker-exploits-painfully-obvious-password-flaw-1481623</ref>
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].


=== Data Hosting in China ===   
===2014 Celebrity Photo Leaks===   


In 2018, Apple transitioned Chinese users’ iCloud data to local servers in compliance with Chinese data laws.<ref>https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html</ref> The move raised concerns regarding government surveillance, as the encryption keys for the data were also stored within China.<ref>https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html</ref> Apple stated that this change only affected users residing in mainland China; however, it did not specify how it distinguishes between residents and visitors.<ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/111754</ref>
In August 2014, a series of brute-force attacks targeted iCloud accounts, leading to the unauthorized access and release of private photographs belonging to multiple celebrities.<ref>{{cite web |title=2014 celebrity nude photo leak |website=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_celebrity_nude_photo_leak |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260404193845/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_celebrity_nude_photo_leak |archive-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> Apple denied that a breach of iCloud itself had occurred, attributing the incident to weak user passwords and phishing attacks.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jacob |last=Kastrenakes |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/2/6098107/apple-denies-icloud-breach-celebrity-nude-photo-hack |title=Apple denies iCloud breach in celebrity nude photo hack |url-status=live |website=The Verge |date=2 Sep 2014 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250831150803/https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/2/6098107/apple-denies-icloud-breach-celebrity-nude-photo-hack |archive-date=2025-08-31 }}</ref> However, vulnerabilities allowing brute-force attacks remained unaddressed the following year, raising concerns over iCloud’s security measures.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alistair |last=Charlton |website=International Business Times UK |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/icloud-accounts-risk-brute-force-attack-hacker-exploits-painfully-obvious-password-flaw-1481623 |url-status=live |title=iCloud accounts at risk of brute force attack as hacker exploits 'painfully obvious' password flaw |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230054034/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/icloud-accounts-risk-brute-force-attack-hacker-exploits-painfully-obvious-password-flaw-1481623 |archive-date=2025-12-30}}</ref>


=== End-to-End Encryption Restrictions in the United Kingdom ===   
===Data Hosting in China===   


In February 2025, Apple disabled Advanced Data Protection (also known as ADP), its end-to-end encryption feature for iCloud, for users in the [[United Kingdom]]. The decision followed a request from the UK government, which sought access to encrypted user data.<ref>https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apples-disabling-of-icloud-encryption-in-the-uk-is-bad-news-for-everyone/</ref>
In 2018, Apple transitioned Chinese users’ iCloud data to local servers in compliance with Chinese data laws.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |website=The Hacker News |first=Ravie |last=Lakshmanan |date=18 May 2021 |title=How Apple Gave Chinese Government Access to iCloud Data and Censored Apps |url=https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209094941/https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html |archive-date=2026-02-09}}</ref> The move raised concerns regarding government surveillance, as the encryption keys for the data were also stored within China.<ref name=":0"></ref> Apple stated that this change only affected users residing in mainland China; however, it did not specify how it distinguishes between residents and visitors.<ref>{{cite web |website=Apple |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/111754 |date=15 Apr 2025 |title=Learn more about iCloud in China mainland |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251128142647/https://support.apple.com/en-us/111754 |archive-date=2025-11-28}}</ref>


== References ==
===End-to-End Encryption Restrictions in the United Kingdom=== 
 
In February 2025, Apple disabled Advanced Data Protection (also known as ADP), its end-to-end encryption feature for iCloud, for users in the United Kingdom. The decision followed a request from the UK government, which sought access to encrypted user data.<ref>{{cite web |website=ZDNET |first=Adrian |last=Kingsley-Hughes |title=Why Apple's disabling of iCloud encryption in the UK is bad news for everyone |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apples-disabling-of-icloud-encryption-in-the-uk-is-bad-news-for-everyone/ |url-status=live |date=25 Feb 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251229142653/https://www.zdnet.com/web/20251229142653/https:/www.zdnet.com/article/why-apples-disabling-of-icloud-encryption-in-the-uk-is-bad-news-for-everyone/ |archive-date=2025-12-29}}</ref>
 
==See also==
*[[Apple]]
*[[Google Drive]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Apple]]
[[Category:Apple]]

Latest revision as of 11:18, 26 May 2026


ICloud
Basic Information
Release Year Yes
Product Type Cloud
In Production Yes
Official Website https://icloud.com


iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service provided by Apple. It offers various internet-based services, including iCloud Photos, device backups, and the Find My network.

Consumer-impact summary

[edit | edit source]

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User freedom
  • User privacy
  • Business model
  • Market control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


Incidents

[edit | edit source]

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the ICloud category.

2014 Celebrity Photo Leaks

[edit | edit source]

In August 2014, a series of brute-force attacks targeted iCloud accounts, leading to the unauthorized access and release of private photographs belonging to multiple celebrities.[1] Apple denied that a breach of iCloud itself had occurred, attributing the incident to weak user passwords and phishing attacks.[2] However, vulnerabilities allowing brute-force attacks remained unaddressed the following year, raising concerns over iCloud’s security measures.[3]

Data Hosting in China

[edit | edit source]

In 2018, Apple transitioned Chinese users’ iCloud data to local servers in compliance with Chinese data laws.[4] The move raised concerns regarding government surveillance, as the encryption keys for the data were also stored within China.[4] Apple stated that this change only affected users residing in mainland China; however, it did not specify how it distinguishes between residents and visitors.[5]

End-to-End Encryption Restrictions in the United Kingdom

[edit | edit source]

In February 2025, Apple disabled Advanced Data Protection (also known as ADP), its end-to-end encryption feature for iCloud, for users in the United Kingdom. The decision followed a request from the UK government, which sought access to encrypted user data.[6]

See also

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. "2014 celebrity nude photo leak". Wikipedia. Archived from the original on 2026-04-04.
  2. Kastrenakes, Jacob (2 Sep 2014). "Apple denies iCloud breach in celebrity nude photo hack". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2025-08-31.
  3. Charlton, Alistair. "iCloud accounts at risk of brute force attack as hacker exploits 'painfully obvious' password flaw". International Business Times UK. Archived from the original on 2025-12-30.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Lakshmanan, Ravie (18 May 2021). "How Apple Gave Chinese Government Access to iCloud Data and Censored Apps". The Hacker News. Archived from the original on 2026-02-09.
  5. "Learn more about iCloud in China mainland". Apple. 15 Apr 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-11-28.
  6. Kingsley-Hughes, Adrian (25 Feb 2025). "Why Apple's disabling of iCloud encryption in the UK is bad news for everyone". ZDNET. Archived from the original on 2025-12-29.