iCloud is Apple's cloud storage and sync service, reviewed for Advanced Data Protection, sharing, retention, tracking, and account controls.
85
Good
85
Good
iCloud is stronger than most cloud storage on encryption, but shared links, backups, and Apple account settings still matter.
iCloud is strongest where Apple limits AI training and offers unusually strong protection through Advanced Data Protection and encrypted services.
Its weakest area is the surrounding account and sharing layer, especially for backups, links, albums, and Apple-wide service settings.
90
Excellent
Apple centers iCloud's privacy posture on encryption and account security rather than AI training of user content.
Advanced Data Protection can make the vast majority of iCloud data inaccessible even to Apple in many categories.
End-to-end encrypted categories such as backups, photos, notes, and keychain data create a strong baseline against broad reuse.
85
Good
75
Good
80
Good
90
Excellent
Latest Finding
Open: support.apple.com1. Encryption
Apple centers iCloud's privacy posture on encryption and account security rather than AI training of user content.
2. Controls
Advanced Data Protection can make the vast majority of iCloud data inaccessible even to Apple in many categories.
3. Encryption
End-to-end encrypted categories such as backups, photos, notes, and keychain data create a strong baseline against broad reuse.
4. AI Use
Some metadata and usage information still remain under standard data protection even when Advanced Data Protection is enabled.
5. Controls
Shared or compatibility-driven features can weaken the otherwise strong no-access posture.
Founded
Unknown
Founder
Unknown
Parent Company
iCloud
Lifecycle
Active
Category
Cloud Storage & File Sharing
CEO
Unknown
Security Team
In house
Date Added
05-18-2026
Once you delete a chat, you cannot recover it. Deleting a chat removes it both from your visible chat history and the system after the retention window.
Some metadata and usage information still remain under standard data protection even when Advanced Data Protection is enabled.
Shared or compatibility-driven features can weaken the otherwise strong no-access posture.
85
Good
Advanced Data Protection is designed to keep end-to-end encryption on shared content when all participants have it enabled.
Many iCloud categories can only be decrypted on trusted devices signed into the Apple account.
Third-party app data stored in iCloud is always encrypted in transit and on server.
Users can choose whether to enable the highest-protection mode rather than being locked into one sharing model.
Shared Albums, iWork collaboration, and 'anyone with the link' sharing do not support Advanced Data Protection.
Apple and third-party data centers may still be used to store and process some data.
75
Good
iCloud's reviewed source focuses on encryption, account security, and sharing controls rather than ad-tech.
Trusted-device decryption and Advanced Data Protection reduce the amount of cloud-accessible content available for profiling.
Users can keep many sensitive iCloud categories end-to-end encrypted by enabling Advanced Data Protection.
Some metadata and usage information still remain under standard protection and can support operational telemetry.
Web access, shared links, and compatibility-driven features still create observable access patterns outside strict E2EE categories.
80
Good
Advanced Data Protection and trusted-device encryption reduce long-lived vendor access to many stored categories.
Users can turn Advanced Data Protection on or off and manage recovery contacts and recovery keys.
End-to-end encrypted categories keep stored content inaccessible to Apple in many cases.
Shared-content protections can persist when all collaborators use Advanced Data Protection.
Some metadata and compatibility-related categories still remain under standard protection.
Turning Advanced Data Protection off uploads required encryption keys back to Apple servers and reverts the account to standard protection.
90
Excellent
Users can enable Advanced Data Protection for Apple's highest iCloud security mode.
Recovery contacts and personal recovery keys give users alternatives to vendor-assisted account recovery.
Trusted-device decryption means users retain primary control over access to many encrypted categories.
Users can still review and manage shared links, shared albums, and collaboration paths separately.
If users lose their recovery methods under Advanced Data Protection, Apple cannot help recover the protected data.
Some collaboration and web-access features fall back to weaker protection models.
