Apple have now pulled E2EE for UK users (or ADP). From The Verge,
Some types of iCloud data are end-to-end encrypted by default, and will remain so even in the UK. This includes passwords, health data, payment information, and iMessage logs. iCloud file backups, photos, notes, and voice memos are among the data types that will no longer be encrypted.
I wondered what my options are now. I never thought the UK could/would do such a thing or that it would happen but it has. I am happy to learn how best to protect my data. If I am completely off the mark and misunderstanding things, please inform me. I just feel really annoyed. I am not annoyed over this lack of data protection for UK users; I’m more annoyed over my own government. I feel cheated. This feels wrong to me.
I have a lot of iCloud file backups. My photos are important as well others. Below are what I have backed up (will only include those that are vitally important to me) and how much space it takes. I want to know what service is best to back these up. Currently I am using up 448.8GB of 2TB and paying ÂŁ8.99 per month (p/m).
These are my important apps that I have backed up, and yes I absolutely must keep backed up (E2EE on):
Photos: 337.8GB
iCloud Drive: 42.4GB
Passwords and Keychain (can’t see how much space this takes up)
Notes: 777MB
Books: 269.1MB
In your suggestions, can you please use easy to understand lay language? Thank you so much. All your advice is appreciated <3
Cryptomator may be a more compelling option if you live in the U.K. and are concerned that the authorities may have ordered other companies beyond Apple to circumvent E2EE.
This forum and Privacy Guides website has a lot of info and resources well explained for you to learn and choose the alternatives you want for all the apps/services. All of the options are great so you can choose the on you like with the price point you are comfortable with.
This may time time because I recommend trying them out first and see what you like and what you don’t about the apps but they are all great options.
My personal recommendations since you asked:
For Photos - Ente or Proton Drive
For iCloud Drive - any cloud storage service provider with Cryptomator or again, Proton Drive. I use Cryptomator + Koofr given the affordable plans.
For Passwords -Proton Pass or Bitwarden
For Notes - Notesnook or Proton Docs
For Books - Calibre, Koodo reader
Please search through Techlore and Privacy Guides more and their videos. You will find all the answers.
Thank you so much. It’s my first time posting on this forum so didn’t know where to look for the articles you linked. I will read through them of course. I did do some research for Books and came across KyBooks 3 on the App Store but I am not sure how good and private that is.
Thank you for all of the links. I am thinking of moving to a separate Cloud away from Apple. Whilst I am happy with what I am paying (£8.99 for 2TB (I’m likely having that space for a long time)), I am not happy with the actions of Apple. I will be looking through your links and see which service is best for me cost wise.
I did an audit and the apps I mentioned are most important for me. I have not heard of Cryptomator before but will certainly have a look. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I had been weighing up Proton v. pCloud. I have not heard of or come across Cryptomator or Koofr but I will do some research into this. Thank you.
I was thinking KyBooks could be an alternative app for Books but I don’t mind looking at Calibre or Koodo reader. Would you be able to give a little more info on these? Thank you.
Well, they both are fantastic options for all your reading needs/wants. They both are FOSS and actively being developed and maintained. All info should be available online. Research should help you. Koodo will also release a Pro option soon per their website I’m looking forward to new improvements there.
Try it out.
And Cryptomator is highly revered and so is Proton Drive (though it doesn’t have a Linux app and won’t for a while). Cryptomator and Koofr have very stable apps so it works well across OSs if you want sync.
But not if you are moving to fully FOSS options with Pixel and Graphene. Which given Apple’s actions in the past few years - a lot of people are thining about it. And I plan on doing the same as soon as I am able to buy a Pixel.
Thank you for your suggestions. I am looking into Calibre and Koodo Reader but not finding anything on how to have them on the iPhone. I will do some more research into these apps. Currently found KyBooks.
I have been doing some research into it all and have also come across sync.com and pCloud. They look good from what I can tell.
I will look into Cryptomator. It’s my first time looking into this. Sync.com looks easy enough to use and it is pretty cost effective too. My research shows that both work together but only on desktop not on mobile/phone.
For myself, once a month is often enough. So as part of my monthly chores I plug my iPhone into my laptop and make an encrypted back up of the phone. All baked into the iPhone and Mac OS so nothing to purchase. And I have my Mac laptop backed up hourly onto my local NAS. Pretty “old school” but I find it works for me and uses no cloud storage at all.
I would recommend backing up your iPhone atleast once a week if not twice a week. Make it a habit and you will be better off for it.
And backing up to a Mac/NAS is perfectly fine and works. You don’t need iCloud backups for it.
But I use all non Apple alternatives for all that iOS backs up so I don’t really need a back up as such other than just for settings and app list. But I will be moving to Graphene OS soon.
iMazing has some pretty robust backup options for Mac and Windows. It can do full backups or just export certain categories like photos. Also has a spyware indicators scanning function.
I used to do it overnight every night whilst on WiFi. However, up until recently, it had been backing up every two months or so.
I am wary this could be troublesome with current UK news. I would love to back everything up to a NAS locally but unfortunately I’m unable to do this. cost wise and also because I have never setup a NAS before.
