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]
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]- ↑ "2014 celebrity nude photo leak". Wikipedia. Archived from the original on 2026-04-04.
- ↑ Kastrenakes, Jacob (2 Sep 2014). "Apple denies iCloud breach in celebrity nude photo hack". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2025-08-31.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 4.0 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.
- ↑ "Learn more about iCloud in China mainland". Apple. 15 Apr 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-11-28.
- ↑ 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.