This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
Apple recently announced Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, which provides end-to-end encryption for user data. The company also announced that it will soon offer support for physical security keys in two-factor authentication with Apple ID. This option is now available to beta users with iOS 16.3.
First of all, Apple announcedthat starting in 2023, users will be able to enhance the security of their Apple ID and iCloud accounts with hardware security keys. This means you have a physical hardware device that you can set up as a second level of two-factor authentication for your account. Apple says this security key system is integrated into the device-to-device transfer process.
iOS 16.3 includes support for physical security keys
So once you authenticate your iPhone with the security key, you don't have to do it again when you get a new iPhone, as long as you use the device-to-device transfer process when setting up a new iPhone. On Wednesday evening, Apple released the first iOS 16.3 beta for developers published. As is now reported, the latest version already seems to support the feature. Incidentally, Apple itself will not produce a hardware security key. Instead, the company will rely on third-party offerings. The company is working with the FIDO Alliance to ensure cross-platform compatibility with open standards. Currently, only a few data stored in iCloud, such as health data and passwords, are end-to-end encrypted.
Enhanced data security for iCloud
However, Advanced Data Protection lets users encrypt almost anything stored in iCloud—from photos, notes, and voice memos to entire device backups. With regular iCloud protection, data is synced with a key that allows Apple to access that data when the user needs it. With Advanced Data Protection, Apple no longer stores that key in iCloud. Instead, it is stored exclusively on the user's device. This means it is harder for third parties to access that data if there is an attack on Apple's servers. This option was introduced in the U.S. with iOS 16.2, which is now available to the public. Apple says it will make this option available globally in 2023, when the security keys for signing in to Apple ID will also be available. (Photo by Unsplash / Frederik Lipfert)
