Apple Promised to Enhance iCloud Security
The tech giant is going to add more security steps that would allow to keep hackers out of user accounts following the celebrity nude photo scandal. In addition, Apple will aggressively encourage users to take stricter measures.
The company will alert users via email and push notifications when detecting an attempt to change an account password, restore iCloud data to another device, as well when a device logs into an account for the first time.
Apparently, the company is moving quickly to restore confidence in iCloud security ahead of the very important event for Apple: the launch of its new iPhone is scheduled for September, 9. This is why the tech giant is going to broaden its use of the two-factor authentication security system in order to prevent future intrusions. If you don’t know, two-factor authentication demands users to have two of three things to access an account: for example, a password, a separate 4-digit one-time code, or a long access key the user gets on signing up for the service.
Apple is going to more aggressively encourage people to turn on the two-factor authentication in the new version of iOS, which release is also scheduled for September. The company explained that the attacks on celebrities’ iCloud accounts were individually targeted, and the investigation revealed that none of those cases had resulted from a failing of Apple systems.
iCloud allows the owners of Apple devices to store pictures and other material and access it from any iOS or Mac device. Although security in the cloud has remained a concern in past years, it couldn’t stop the rapid adoption of services offering reams of storage and management of data copied across from phones and computers.
A number of security experts claimed that the tech giant failed to make its devices and software easier to secure via two-factor authentication, as the latter requires a separate verification process after the initial log in. They argued that Apple could do more to advertise that option, since most people naturally don’t bother with security measures because of the extra hassle. They explain that the usability battle will always be there, but you can’t ever imagine using the bank card at an ATM without entering a pin. This is exactly how two-factor works: you have a card and you know a pin. One doesn’t work without another.
Source: ET