Users now have the option to activate the newly introduced Advanced Data Protection feature, which offers extended end-to-end Encryption to various iCloud services like message backups, photos, notes, reminders, voice memos, and more. This feature will be accessible starting with the upcoming releases of iPadOS 16.2, iOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1, all expected to launch next week.
Upon setting up a new device and linking it to an Apple ID account, users will not be able to activate Advanced Data Protection on that device immediately. This restriction protects users by preventing the feature from being enabled by a potential hacker in case of a security breach. Users can typically activate this feature on new devices from late January to early February.
However, users can activate Advanced Data Protection from an older device linked to the same Apple ID account, such as an additional iPhone, iPad, or Mac. In this scenario, all devices associated with that Apple ID account, including future ones, benefit from the enhanced end-to-end Encryption for iCloud.
https://twitter.com/WSig/status/1600573589522104333
Enabling Advanced Data Protection removes the encryption keys for the iCloud services covered by the feature from Apple’s servers. This ensures data security, even in the event of a potential breach, as the keys are exclusively stored on trusted Apple devices when the feature is active. It becomes impossible for Apple or any other entity to access these keys, and the feature can be deactivated at any time, with the devices securely uploading the keys to Apple’s servers.
By default, Advanced Data Protection disables iCloud.com access to data. However, users can grant temporary access to Apple and web browsers by enabling data access on iCloud.com to access data-specific encryption keys.
Without Advanced Data Protection, iCloud already encrypts 14 types of data by default, including iCloud Keychain passwords, health information, Apple Maps search history, Apple Card transactions, and more. For a detailed comparison of standard Encryption and Advanced Data Protection coverage, refer to Apple’s support document [here](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202303).
At launch, Advanced Data Protection will be available exclusively to users in the United States, with a global rollout slated for early 2023 as per Apple’s plans. For further information on this feature, refer to our recent coverage of Apple’s announcement.
