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.
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | Yes |
| Product Type | Cloud |
| In Production | Yes |
| Official Website | https://icloud.com |
Consumer-impact summary
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 ICloud category.
2014 Celebrity Photo Leaks
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
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
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
References
- ↑ 2014 celebrity nude photo leak (Archived)
- ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/2/6098107/apple-denies-icloud-breach-celebrity-nude-photo-hack (Archived)
- ↑ https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/icloud-accounts-risk-brute-force-attack-hacker-exploits-painfully-obvious-password-flaw-1481623 (Archived)
- ↑ https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html (Archived)
- ↑ https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/how-apple-gave-chinese-government.html (Archived)
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111754 (Archived)
- ↑ https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apples-disabling-of-icloud-encryption-in-the-uk-is-bad-news-for-everyone/ (Archived)