Apple points pressing warning as iPhones change into far much less safe — what it means for you
Apple has issued an urgent warning as iPhones are becoming far less secure due to the tech giant removing its top security feature after being demanded to do so by the UK Government. Here is everything you need to know
If you own an iPhone, it will now be far less secure than it was, as Apple has removed its highest level security feature.
This comes as the UK Government demanded the right to see people’s data. The demand was made by the Home Office to help law enforcement agencies get into people’s personal data. Apple then had little choice but to remove its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) from its products. This was the security feature that ensured nobody could gain access to your personal data, not even Apple itself.
The security feature is being removed from the following nine applications: iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Safari Bookmarks, Siri Shortcuts, Voice Memos, Wallet Passes, and Freeform. These will now only be protected by the far less secure Standard Data Protection.
It has not been removed from the rest of the applications it is on as a default, such as iMessage and FaceTime.
An Apple spokesperson said: “Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom to new users and current UK users will eventually need to disable this security feature.
“We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy.
“Enhancing the security of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption is more urgent than ever before.
“Apple remains committed to offering our users the highest level of security for their personal data and are hopeful that we will be able to do so in the future in the United Kingdom.
“As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will.”
However, now, a “master key” is in essence, what the tech giant, as well as the UK Government, has.
New apple products in the UK won’t have ADP from now on. Those with iPhone’s who currently have the top security feature installed will have to uninstall it themselves as Apple is unable to do it remotely. Apple says that if people don’t do it within a certain timeframe, they will lose access to the apps it is on.
Apple has said it will release guidance on what iPhone users need to do in due course.
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