Encryption
EncryptionBy MacRumors Staff on May 20, 2026Jump to How Tos ArticlesEncryption How TosEnable End-to-End Encryption for Your iCloud BackupsFriday February 7, 2025 5:20 am PST by Tim HardwickApple's Advanced Data Protection for iClo
Table of Contents
- 1. Encryption How Tos
- 2. Enable End-to-End Encryption for Your iCloud Backups
- 3. How to Create a New Group in Signal Encrypted Messenger
- 4. How to Encrypt a USB Flash Drive in macOS Mojave
- 5. Encryption Articles
- 6. Discord Voice and Video Calls Now End-to-End Encrypted by Default
- 7. Apple Warns Canada's Bill C-22 Could Force Encryption Backdoors
- 8. PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8
- 9. iOS 26.4 Beta Adds End-to-End Encryption for iPhone-to-Android RCS Texts
- 10. Apple Begins Testing End-to-End Encryption for RCS Messages in iOS 26.4 Beta
- 11. End-to-End Encrypted RCS Messages Referenced in Latest iOS 26.3 Beta
- 12. Proton Sheets Launches as Encrypted Alternative to Google Sheets
- 13. UK Still Demanding Global Access to iCloud User Data, Filings Suggest
- 14. UK Reportedly Withdraws Demand to Access Encrypted iCloud User Data
- 15. WhatsApp Backs Apple in Legal Fight Against UK Encryption Demands
- 16. UK Court Rejects Government Secrecy in Apple's Fight Against Backdoor Request
- 17. Activist Groups Challenge UK Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
- 18. Apple to Support Encrypted RCS Messaging in Future Software Update
- 19. US Probes UK's Apple Encryption Demand for Possible Treaty Violation
- 20. Apple's Data Encryption Changes in the UK Explained
- 21. Apple Pulls Encrypted iCloud Security Feature in UK Amid Government Backdoor Demands
- 22. US Lawmakers Urge Intelligence Chief to Fight UK iCloud Backdoor Order
- 23. Could Apple Pull iCloud Services From the UK Market?
- 24. Apple Ordered by UK to Create Global iCloud Encryption Backdoor
- 25. Telegram CEO Arrested in France Over Content Moderation Issues
- 26. Videos
- 27. Guides
- 28. Upcoming
- 29. Other Stories
Encryption
By MacRumors Staff
Encryption How Tos
Enable End-to-End Encryption for Your iCloud Backups
Friday February 7, 2025 5:20 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple's Advanced Data Protection for iCloud feature uses end-to-end encryption to provide the highest level of cloud data security that Apple offers. Here's everything you need to know about enabling it on your devices.
The encrypted security feature gives you the choice to further protect your important iCloud data, including iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, and more.
Apple's use of...
How to Create a New Group in Signal Encrypted Messenger
Tuesday January 26, 2021 5:56 pm PST by Tim Hardwick
Signal Encrypted Messenger has become increasingly popular among smartphone users, thanks above all else to its emphasis on privacy and security. Signal chats are end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one – not even the Signal service – can see the messages that you send and receive to other users.
In addition, Signal supports the creation of group chats, and like regular conversations in the...
How to Encrypt a USB Flash Drive in macOS Mojave
Sunday December 16, 2018 8:56 am PST by Tim Hardwick
In macOS Mojave, you can choose to encrypt and decrypt disks on the fly right from the desktop. Using this convenient Finder option, we're going to show you how to encrypt a USB flash drive (or "thumb drive"), which is useful if you're traveling light and want to take sensitive data with you for use on another Mac.
Finder uses XTS-AES encryption, the same encryption that FileVault 2 uses to...
Encryption Articles
Discord Voice and Video Calls Now End-to-End Encrypted by Default
Wednesday May 20, 2026 4:43 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Discord says it has switched on end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default for every voice and video call across its platforms, including desktop, mobile, web, and consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.
The rollout covers DMs, group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams. There's no opt-in required, or any setting to change. Stage channels are the only exception, given that they're built for...
Apple Warns Canada's Bill C-22 Could Force Encryption Backdoors
Friday May 8, 2026 4:22 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple and Meta have opposed a Canadian bill that the companies say could force them to create backdoor access to encrypted user data, should it pass through the country's parliament.
Proposed by Canada's ruling Liberal Party, Bill C-22 contains provisions that could be similar to a UK data access provision order sent to Apple last year, depending on how they are implemented.
Back in Feb...
PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8
Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform.
Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
iOS 26.4 Beta Adds End-to-End Encryption for iPhone-to-Android RCS Texts
Monday February 23, 2026 10:42 am PST by Juli Clover
With the second iOS 26.4 beta, Apple and Google have started testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users.
Apple started testing E2EE for RCS in the first beta, but the feature was limited to iPhone-to-iPhone communications with iMessage turned off. In this beta, iPhone users can send encrypted messages to Android users.
iPhone users...
Apple Begins Testing End-to-End Encryption for RCS Messages in iOS 26.4 Beta
Monday February 16, 2026 10:49 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple is testing secure messaging between Android and iOS devices with iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4. The updates introduce end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, a security feature that is not currently available for cross-platform messaging.
Apple has been working with the GSM Association to implement E2EE for RCS messages. iMessage, the messaging protocol for...
End-to-End Encrypted RCS Messages Referenced in Latest iOS 26.3 Beta
Tuesday January 13, 2026 5:06 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple appears close to supporting end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, almost a year after the GSM Association said it was working to implement the privacy feature for messages sent between Android and iPhone devices.
As shared by Tiino-X83 on X (Twitter), the latest iOS 26.3 beta includes references to a new carrier bundle setting that will let carriers enable and disable E2EE for ...
Proton Sheets Launches as Encrypted Alternative to Google Sheets
Thursday December 4, 2025 2:59 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Proton today announced the launch of Proton Sheets, its end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet web application designed to offer a privacy-focused alternative to Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.
Unlike traditional spreadsheet tools, Proton Sheets encrypts all user data by default, including filenames and metadata. That means no one, not even Proton, can access the contents of users'...
UK Still Demanding Global Access to iCloud User Data, Filings Suggest
Friday August 29, 2025 3:13 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
The UK government's secret demand for Apple to create backdoor access to encrypted user data was far broader than previously known, reports the Financial Times. British officials didn't just want to break Apple's Advanced Data Protection feature, but sought to tap a swathe of standard iCloud services used by millions worldwide.
New court filings published on Wednesday by the Investigatory...
UK Reportedly Withdraws Demand to Access Encrypted iCloud User Data
Tuesday August 19, 2025 1:32 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
The British government has agreed to withdraw its controversial demand to access Apple users' encrypted iCloud data, according to the U.S. director of intelligence.
Tulsi Gabbard said in a post on X (Twitter) the UK had dropped its plans to force Apple to provide a back door that would have "enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil...
WhatsApp Backs Apple in Legal Fight Against UK Encryption Demands
Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:52 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
WhatsApp plans to support Apple in its ongoing legal battle with the UK Home Office over user data privacy, the messaging platform's boss Will Cathcart has told the BBC.
The Meta-owned service warned that the case "could set a dangerous precedent" by encouraging other governments to demand access to encrypted communications.
Apple launched legal action after receiving a secret government...
UK Court Rejects Government Secrecy in Apple's Fight Against Backdoor Request
Monday April 7, 2025 4:20 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple has filed a legal appeal against a UK government order requiring the company to create a "back door" to its encrypted cloud storage systems, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) confirmed on Monday (via Reuters). The confirmation means that the Home Office cannot keep all the details of its demand out of the public domain.
The high-profile challenge follows reports earlier this year ...
Activist Groups Challenge UK Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Friday March 14, 2025 4:38 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Two human rights groups have filed a legal complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in an attempt to quash the UK government's demand for Apple to allow backdoor access to its encrypted data (via Financial Times).
Earlier this year, the UK government invoked the Investigatory Powers Act to demand that Apple create a backdoor granting secret access to encrypted user data...
Apple to Support Encrypted RCS Messaging in Future Software Update
Friday March 14, 2025 3:13 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple says it will add support for a new Rich Communication Services (RCS) specification that includes end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for messages sent over the protocol in future software updates.
"End-to-end encryption is a powerful privacy and security technology that iMessage has supported since the beginning, and now we are pleased to have helped lead a cross industry effort to bring...
US Probes UK's Apple Encryption Demand for Possible Treaty Violation
Thursday February 27, 2025 3:24 am PST by Tim Hardwick
U.S. officials are looking at whether the United Kingdom violated a bilateral agreement by demanding Apple create a "backdoor" to access end-to-end encrypted iCloud data, according to a letter from National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard (via Reuters).
The investigation comes after Apple's recent decision to withdraw its Advanced Data Protection feature from the UK after the British...
Apple's Data Encryption Changes in the UK Explained
Wednesday February 26, 2025 8:44 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple on February 21 withdrew its Advanced Data Protection feature from the United Kingdom following government demands for backdoor access to encrypted user data. The move came after UK officials reportedly ordered Apple in secret to provide unrestricted access to encrypted iCloud not just in the UK, but worldwide.
The development has naturally left some Apple device users in the UK asking ...
Apple Pulls Encrypted iCloud Security Feature in UK Amid Government Backdoor Demands
Friday February 21, 2025 7:17 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple has withdrawn its Advanced Data Protection iCloud feature from the United Kingdom following government demands for backdoor access to encrypted user data, according to Bloomberg. The move comes after UK officials secretly ordered Apple to provide unrestricted access to encrypted iCloud content worldwide.
Customers who are already using Advanced Data Protection, or ADP, will need to...
US Lawmakers Urge Intelligence Chief to Fight UK iCloud Backdoor Order
Thursday February 13, 2025 5:24 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Members of key congressional oversight committees have called on the United States' new top intelligence director to pressure the United Kingdom to withdraw its controversial demand for Apple to create a backdoor into encrypted user data stored in iCloud, according to The Washington Post.
Last week The Post revealed that a secret UK order, issued under the Investigatory Powers Act last...
Could Apple Pull iCloud Services From the UK Market?
Friday February 7, 2025 9:04 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Given today's bombshell report revealing the UK government's unprecedented demand for backdoor access to encrypted iCloud data, it's clear that Apple now faces a massive challenge. How it responds could have major implications for not only the company's privacy stance, but also its global operations as well as its reputation.
According to The Washington Post, the British government has...
Apple Ordered by UK to Create Global iCloud Encryption Backdoor
Friday February 7, 2025 2:37 am PST by Tim Hardwick
The British government has secretly demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud, reports The Washington Post.
The undisclosed order is said to have been issued last month, and requires that Apple creates a back door that allows UK security officials unencumbered access to encrypted user data worldwide – an unprecedented demand not before...
Telegram CEO Arrested in France Over Content Moderation Issues
Monday August 26, 2024 4:56 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris late Saturday evening. The arrest occurred shortly after Durov arrived on a private jet from Azerbaijan and is said to be part of a joint investigation by several agencies investigating alleged failures in content moderation on the Telegram platform that may have...
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