ICloud backups are not as secure as local ones for easy restoration

The legal battle that Apple and the FBI are having for the unlocking of the iPhone of the sniper of the San Bernardino attacks has begun to reveal Apple's privacy policy, as although it is true that Apple cannot access the information of a device iOS physically is not the same when we talk about iCloud backups. In this case, Apple can access the iCloud backups and offer the authorities the information they ask for, such as YES they did in the case of San Bernardino.

The Verge's Walt Mossberg wrote an article explaining the reasons why iCloud data cannot be as secure as data stored on an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. Apple can decrypt "most" of the data contained in an iCloud backup, and an Apple spokesperson told Mossberg that the reason is that the Cupertino company views privacy and security differently between the physical device and what to lose in iCloud, where you need Apple to be able access data to restore it if necessary.

In any case, in iCloud, although security must also be strong, Apple says that the ability to help the user to restore their data has to be reserved, since it is a key assumption of the service. This is the difference that also helps Apple respond to the request of law enforcement. The position of the company is that it will provide the information that is relevant to government agencies for legal and correct requests. However, he says, he does not have the information necessary to open the iPhone unlock code, so he has nothing to give. In the case of iCloud backups, you can access the information, so you can comply.

Apple considers making changes to iCloud encryption

ICloud backups contain messages, purchase history, photos, videos, settings, application data, and health data, but they do not include information that can be easily downloaded, such as emails from servers or applications, and although copies of iCloud security encompass iCloud Keychain, Wi-Fi passwords, and third-party service passwords, that information is fully encrypted in a way that prevents you from accessing Apple.

But everything explained could change in the near future: Apple also plans to encrypt all the data that is uploaded to your cloud. This would solve 3 problems: the first would be that the backups would be almost inaccessible; the second would be that they would not have to respond to requests from law enforcement because they would have nothing to offer; And the third problem that they would solve would be that they would close a hole that the FBI has been using for a long time and about which they do not speak in their dispute with Apple. On the other hand, the negative point is that, if we lost our keys, we could never recover our data from iCloud. The question is obligatory and a little different: What do you prefer: an impenetrable system and able to lose your information or a vulnerable one from which you can always recover the data?