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Apple issues ‘important’ iPhone update to millions of users that fixes iCloud setting flaw – check yours now
Find out about the little-known setting affected below and why you might want to switch it on now it's fixed
IPHONE owners have been urged to install the latest update available to their handset which fixes an issue related to iCloud.
Apple routinely puts out smaller iOS updates when flaws are uncovered to protect users before hackers catch onto them.
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The tech giant says the latest software has been released with some "important bug fixes" in the mix.
But the firm also warns there is a problem that "prevents enabling or disabling Advanced Data Protection" on iPhone.
Advanced Data Protection is an extra feature you can switch on at any time for additional iCloud services.
This includes things like iCloud device backups, Messages backups, Photos.
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When activated, it protects the majority of your iCloud data using end-to-end encryption.
But there was a bug in iOS 17.6 that meant a small number of users were not able to switch it on.
Doing so would either fail or show an error message.
Fortunately, affected users were never led to believe the feature was working when it failed.
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The latest version, iOS 17.6.1, should fix all this and provide everyone with the option.
You can wait for it to download and install automatically or you can force it through right now.
To install the latest version of iOS, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Hidden iPhone upgrade lets you text so much faster – only true typing pros know full list of six iOS keyboard tricks
How does iCloud work right now?
Apple's default iCloud protection system is known as Standard Data Protection.
It works using something called encryption, which makes your data unreadable – unless you have the right "key".
These are designed to prevent anyone from snooping on your data.
Apple stores this info in its data centres, but also holds the encryption "keys" that can unlock lots of your info.
This includes things like backups, photos, documents, notes and more.
The idea is that it's sometimes useful for this to be the case.
"The encryption keys from your trusted devices are secured in Apple data centers," Apple explains.
"So Apple can decrypt your data on your behalf whenever you need it, such as when you sign in on a new device, restore from a backup, or recover your data after you’ve forgotten your password.
"As long as you can successfully sign in with your Apple ID, you can access your backups, photos, documents, notes, and more."
There are also 15 data categories – including Health and iCloud Keychain passwords – that are totally encrypted, and Apple can't access them.
Unfortunately someone else – even a trusted company – having your encryption keys also adds privacy risk.
Apple regularly denies requests by law enforcement to unlock iPhones.
But it can – and in many cases does – provide police with iCloud backups.
Advanced Data Protection
Advanced Data Protection is a beefed up version that makes it impossible for anyone to access data whatsoever.
The purpose of Advanced Data Protection is that the number of data categories Apple can't access increases.
So once it's turned on, Apple has absolutely no way of accessing 25 different categories of data.
This makes it much harder for highly advanced hackers to spy on what's inside your iCloud.
Moreover, it stops governments from being able to request info on what you're doing in the majority of cases.
Here's the full list of fully end-to-end encrypted data types under Advanced Data Protection:
- iCloud Backup (including device and Messages backup)
- iCloud Drive
- Photos
- Notes
- Reminders
- Safari bookmarks
- Siri Shortcuts
- Voice Memos
- Wallet passes
- Freeform
- Passwords and Keychain
- Health data
- Journal data
- Home data
- Messages in iCloud
- Payment information
- Apple Card transactions
- Maps
- QuickType Keyboard learned vocabulary
- Safari
- Screen Time
- Siri information
- Wi-Fi passwords
- W1 and H1 Bluetooth keys
- Memoji
The only three categories that don't get full protection are iCloud Mail, Contacts and Calendars.
For everything else, Apple doesn't hold encryption keys.
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So if a police force asked for your photos, Apple wouldn't be able to comply.
And if a hacker managed to break into Apple's systems, they wouldn't be able to snoop on your messages.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
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