iCloud backups are comprehensive in a way that Android backups still aren’t, and if you’ve been following the San Bernardino case closely, you know that Apple’s own legal process guidelines ( PDF) say that the company can hand iMessages, SMS/MMS messages, photos, app data, and voicemail over to law enforcement in the form of an iOS device backup (though some reports claim that Apple wants to strengthen the encryption on iCloud backups, removing the company's ability to hand the data over to law enforcement).įor most users, this will never be a problem, and the convenience of iCloud backups and easy preservation of your data far outweigh any risks. Apple encourages the use of this service on every iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch that it sells, and when you do use the service, it backs up your device every time you plug it into its power adapter within range of a known Wi-Fi network. If you're looking for comprehensive privacy, including protection from law enforcement entities, there’s still a loophole here: iCloud. It’s an effective tool for keeping thieves from grabbing your data even if they can take your phone. Privacy advocates have praised Apple’s commitment to full-device encryption by default, and after a false start last year, all new Android phones shipping with version 6.0 or higher should be encrypted by default as well. That’s not news, but it’s become newly relevant since the company and the FBI started a very loud, very public fight about the data stored on a particular iPhone. Since iOS 8 was released in September 2014, Apple has encrypted the local storage of all iPhones. FBI paid at least $1.3M for zero-day to get into San Bernardino iPhone.Feds: someone gave us the passcode in NY drug case, so we don’t need Apple.FBI director warns that feds will bring more encryption-related cases.Lawsuit: Who did the FBI pay to get into the San Bernardino attacker’s iPhone?.FBI didn’t fully know its own capabilities during showdown with Apple.

Icloud backup iphone