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[[wikipedia:ICloud|'''iCloud''']] is a suite of Apple services that run over the internet, including popular services like iCloud Photos, backups and Find My.
{{lowercase title}}
{{ProductCargo
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Cloud
|Company=Apple
|Description=
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=ICloud.svg
|ProductLine=2011
|ReleaseYear=Yes
|Website=https://icloud.com
}}


== 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.


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


In August 2014, iCloud passwords were brute forced, enabling many celebrities to have their nudes leaked<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_celebrity_nude_photo_leak</ref>. Apple downplayed the event by denying any iCloud breach occurred<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/2/6098107/apple-denies-icloud-breach-celebrity-nude-photo-hack</ref>, but the root cause was still unaddressed by the next year<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]].


=== Hosting Data in Chinese Servers ===
===2014 Celebrity Photo Leaks===


In 2018, Apple moved Chinese users' data to be hosted in Chinese servers, a move said to grant the Chinese government access to"emails, photos, documents, contacts and locations" of Chinese users<ref>https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html</ref>. While the data remains encrypted, the encryption keys were also moved to Chinese servers<ref>https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html</ref>. Apple claims this only affects Chinese citizens living in mainland China, but provides no insight on how this distinction is made, or clarity on whether tourists visiting China will have their data uploaded to the Chinese servers<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>[[wikipedia:2014_celebrity_nude_photo_leak|2014 celebrity nude photo leak]] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260404193845/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_celebrity_nude_photo_leak Archived])</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 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250831150803/https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/2/6098107/apple-denies-icloud-breach-celebrity-nude-photo-hack Archived])</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 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251230054034/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/icloud-accounts-risk-brute-force-attack-hacker-exploits-painfully-obvious-password-flaw-1481623 Archived])</ref>


=== Disabling End to End Encryption in the UK ===
===Data Hosting in China===


In February 2025, Apple disabled Advanced Data Protection for UK users following a government request to access encrypted 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>https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260209094941/https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html Archived])</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 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260209094941/https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html Archived])</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 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251128142647/https://support.apple.com/en-us/111754 Archived])</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>https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apples-disabling-of-icloud-encryption-in-the-uk-is-bad-news-for-everyone/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251229142653/https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apples-disabling-of-icloud-encryption-in-the-uk-is-bad-news-for-everyone/ Archived])</ref>
 
==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Apple]]

Latest revision as of 09:22, 6 April 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.[5] Apple stated that this change only affected users residing in mainland China; however, it did not specify how it distinguishes between residents and visitors.[6]

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.[7]

See also

[edit | edit source]

Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.

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


References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ 2014 celebrity nude photo leak (Archived)
  2. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/2/6098107/apple-denies-icloud-breach-celebrity-nude-photo-hack (Archived)
  3. ↑ https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/icloud-accounts-risk-brute-force-attack-hacker-exploits-painfully-obvious-password-flaw-1481623 (Archived)
  4. ↑ https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html (Archived)
  5. ↑ https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html (Archived)
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111754 (Archived)
  7. ↑ https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apples-disabling-of-icloud-encryption-in-the-uk-is-bad-news-for-everyone/ (Archived)
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