Apple’s new Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is available now with the release of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, although the feature is only available to users in the US at launch.
Coming to the rest of the world in early 2023, Advanced Data Protection gives users the choice to protect the vast majority of their most sensitive iCloud data with end-to-end encryption so that it can only be decrypted on their trusted devices.
The update takes the total number of sensitive data categories using end-to-end encryption to 23, up from 17 currently, leaving the only major iCloud data categories not covered being iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar because of the need to interoperate with the global email, contacts, and calendar systems.
With the new Advanced Data Protection feature, Apple will additionally offer end-to-end encryption for Device Backups and Messages Backups, iCloud Drive, Notes, Photos, Reminders, Voice Memos, Safari Bookmarks, Siri Shortcuts, and Wallet Passes.