Man, it's sad to see Apple crumble like that. Every time me and my friends would get into silly arguments about which phone is better, I would always give Apple the benefit of the doubt and say " At least their privacy and security is better than us". I can't even say that now 😞
Yea unfortunately as I’ve been saying for awhile we really need to get in the mindset of taking control and responsibility in our own hands. No one is safe unfortunately
Thanks for this. Just wondering if it isn’t possible to use a local drive encryption with something 3rd party I control and sync THOSE files in the Cloud?
Jason, Apple's response to the UK's demand for a backdoor into their iCloud+ Advanced Data Protection option was "NO.". This is consistent with their Privacy Policy (https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/).
As you mentioned, this is an overreach by the UK government, who as a result are preventing their Citizens from using this advanced encryption offering from Apple and by extension, using any similar encryption offering from other companies. Apple has 1.5+ billion other customers that still have the Advanced Data Protection feature that they need to continue to support.
Apple is one of the only end-to-end ecosystems in which privacy and security is engineered into every product and service they offer (https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/). It foolish and dangerous to recommend that non-UK Apple Users move their data away from Apple iCloud storage services, under the implication that Apple has done something to compromise their privacy pledge to their customers. They haven't - this is a difficult position they have been put in and instead of succumbing like other social media and telecom vendors have, they stayed true to their privacy pledge to their customers.
Jason - Your focus on privacy is valuable to all of us and it is not easy for anyone to cover every angle. Thank you for your efforts. Here is the official response from Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/122234.
It is important to note that Apple put in bold the following: "Our communication services, like iMessage and FaceTime, remain end-to-end encrypted globally, including in the UK."
To answer that last question, I think some companies will hold the line without flinching, some will surrender without a fight, and some will give up some ground but not all of it. Seems to be split three ways so far, a third and a third and a third, the net being about 50-50. Usually seems to be the case in “normal” times, too; the people with more clout than the rest of us give it up way too easily. They could do much good from their position but chicken out instead.
I have just done the things you suggested, plus silenced Alexa and switched to a more secure messaging app. This is outrageous and shows just how badly “big brother” wants to be in bed with you. Keep up the good fight
Thanks for the head's up about DuckDuckGo, and thanks for the tip about Brave.
I switched to Proton mail years ago but I found I was never receiving my bills and statements (e.g., from my health insurance company or my cell phone carrier), and when I needed to get a code via email for a site login (e.g. a bank), it never came through to Proton mail, not even to spam. I suspect some companies disallow email from foreign IP addresses (Proton is in Switzerland), because I also have the same problem with GMX, located in Germany, but I have no proof.
I have no problem at all using Huawei's products. If the Chinese are spying on me, they have completely different reasons because their opinion police and mind control has different criteria. But of course they don't give out their backdoors. And their products are in no way inferior to Apple for what I need.
Yes, and then micro-sd cards are light, tiny and can be transported safely without any problems, their capacity of up to 256 gig.
That’s why I never store anything on some else’s computer - that said, I don’t really own my phone, iPad, or my info given Apple’s proprietary bullshit.
Being an early adopter of Apple tech - remember the “1984’ ad? - I was that market and back in those days, if Apple made it, we bought it and put it to work -made a ton of money using it too - even went onto a career using Apple product where I had my own Apple Corp. reps and that job enabled me to retire at 45yo.
So, how is it owning an Android device? - I think I may be up for a change. 😀
Haha I have an iPhone but follow a strict set of rules to reduce as much tracking as I can and never use iCloud, keychain etc. Android is a no go for me. I eventually want to get an unplugged phone but until then it’s like the lesser of two evils.
I hear you, Jason - we’re pretty rural with a REALLY crappy ISP (no competition except StarStink - which we WON’T do) so having a “Smart” phone does fill a niche for us given the nature of modern life but I’m real close to plugging my old Bakelite 1938 Tombstone dialer back into the wall and let the bots start counting clicks. 😹
Man, it's sad to see Apple crumble like that. Every time me and my friends would get into silly arguments about which phone is better, I would always give Apple the benefit of the doubt and say " At least their privacy and security is better than us". I can't even say that now 😞
Yea unfortunately as I’ve been saying for awhile we really need to get in the mindset of taking control and responsibility in our own hands. No one is safe unfortunately
Thanks for this. Just wondering if it isn’t possible to use a local drive encryption with something 3rd party I control and sync THOSE files in the Cloud?
Great question yes this is possible using something like veracrypt
Jason, Apple's response to the UK's demand for a backdoor into their iCloud+ Advanced Data Protection option was "NO.". This is consistent with their Privacy Policy (https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/).
As you mentioned, this is an overreach by the UK government, who as a result are preventing their Citizens from using this advanced encryption offering from Apple and by extension, using any similar encryption offering from other companies. Apple has 1.5+ billion other customers that still have the Advanced Data Protection feature that they need to continue to support.
Apple is one of the only end-to-end ecosystems in which privacy and security is engineered into every product and service they offer (https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/). It foolish and dangerous to recommend that non-UK Apple Users move their data away from Apple iCloud storage services, under the implication that Apple has done something to compromise their privacy pledge to their customers. They haven't - this is a difficult position they have been put in and instead of succumbing like other social media and telecom vendors have, they stayed true to their privacy pledge to their customers.
Tell the whole story Jason.
If you notice the date I wrote this back on February 25th. Obviously things have changed a bit since then. Thanks for your feedback.
Jason - Your focus on privacy is valuable to all of us and it is not easy for anyone to cover every angle. Thank you for your efforts. Here is the official response from Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/122234.
It is important to note that Apple put in bold the following: "Our communication services, like iMessage and FaceTime, remain end-to-end encrypted globally, including in the UK."
Thanks
Sad news. Not using any Apple products myself but I've always admired them for their stance on privacy and data protection.
To answer that last question, I think some companies will hold the line without flinching, some will surrender without a fight, and some will give up some ground but not all of it. Seems to be split three ways so far, a third and a third and a third, the net being about 50-50. Usually seems to be the case in “normal” times, too; the people with more clout than the rest of us give it up way too easily. They could do much good from their position but chicken out instead.
I have just done the things you suggested, plus silenced Alexa and switched to a more secure messaging app. This is outrageous and shows just how badly “big brother” wants to be in bed with you. Keep up the good fight
Thanks for the head's up about DuckDuckGo, and thanks for the tip about Brave.
I switched to Proton mail years ago but I found I was never receiving my bills and statements (e.g., from my health insurance company or my cell phone carrier), and when I needed to get a code via email for a site login (e.g. a bank), it never came through to Proton mail, not even to spam. I suspect some companies disallow email from foreign IP addresses (Proton is in Switzerland), because I also have the same problem with GMX, located in Germany, but I have no proof.
Aaaaagh!
I have no problem at all using Huawei's products. If the Chinese are spying on me, they have completely different reasons because their opinion police and mind control has different criteria. But of course they don't give out their backdoors. And their products are in no way inferior to Apple for what I need.
Yes, and then micro-sd cards are light, tiny and can be transported safely without any problems, their capacity of up to 256 gig.
My next phone I have decided is a Huawei. Been on apple products since 1990, Macintosh’s, iPad, iPhone, ipod…this makes me cringe
Jason, you wrote this article on February 20th, I believe, and the 50% discount expired on January 14, 2025. What's this all about?
It doesn’t expire, did you try it?
😳😳😳
No hyperbole. Historic. If we’re lucky our great grandchildren will learn about this day. If not, we lost.
That’s why I never store anything on some else’s computer - that said, I don’t really own my phone, iPad, or my info given Apple’s proprietary bullshit.
Being an early adopter of Apple tech - remember the “1984’ ad? - I was that market and back in those days, if Apple made it, we bought it and put it to work -made a ton of money using it too - even went onto a career using Apple product where I had my own Apple Corp. reps and that job enabled me to retire at 45yo.
So, how is it owning an Android device? - I think I may be up for a change. 😀
Haha I have an iPhone but follow a strict set of rules to reduce as much tracking as I can and never use iCloud, keychain etc. Android is a no go for me. I eventually want to get an unplugged phone but until then it’s like the lesser of two evils.
I hear you, Jason - we’re pretty rural with a REALLY crappy ISP (no competition except StarStink - which we WON’T do) so having a “Smart” phone does fill a niche for us given the nature of modern life but I’m real close to plugging my old Bakelite 1938 Tombstone dialer back into the wall and let the bots start counting clicks. 😹
What would you recommend for international messaging? Many use WhatsApp.
Definitely not WhatsApp. I would check out signal or session. Signal is more widely used but session is completely anonymous.
I use signal
Rotten apple .