Cloud a good idea?

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Being new to IOS and skeptical by nature, I’m hesitant to use the Cloud to store all the info I’ll eventually put on this phone. Banking I understand is extremely safe(more so than on say a windows laptop) and other items of a personal nature, So, I would like to get some input on using this pie in the sky server somewhere?

Thank you! Any other important advice or links appreciated. I’m very new at this!

“Difference between Neurotic and psychotic? Neurotic builds castles in the sky; Psychotics move in.” Is the cloud we hear about in this neighborhood?

Paranoid hippie dude

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Nathan Parker, wavy

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There is some good info on iCloud security at Apple Support. Make sure you use a strong password for your Apple ID, that’s always a plus where security is concerned for any account.
Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202303

MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, and SOS at times.

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Nathan Parker, DriftyDonN

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DriftyDonN wrote:

Banking I understand is extremely safe

Why is this any different to any other computer? Hackers don’t care what your OS is as long as they can persuade you to give them money.

cheers, Paul

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DriftyDonN

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I believe I have read that IOS and Mac in general are more secure. Also that mobile banking etc ie on cell phones is actually safer than laptops/desktops. Cannot verify the truth of this. However I just don’t feel very comfortable storing my info on a server I don’t have control over. I don’t image my systems and put the images on an unseen server in some far away land(?) who knows. So I am simply asking for advice that contains useful information.

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As a fellow paranoid hippie dude, I can understand your reluctance.

I store just about everything nowadays on Dropbox — not willing to join either the Microsoft or Apple walled garden — and I use Google Drive when I want to intentionally share things.

Makes life much simpler. More secure? Maybe yes, maybe no. You have to weigh the potential problems with local storage (everything from hardware failure to ransomware) vs the problems with cloud storage (which are many and varied).

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Nathan Parker, DriftyDonN

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[Alex5723]

DriftyDonN wrote:

Being new to IOS and skeptical by nature, I’m hesitant to use the Cloud to store all the info

iCloud servers were never hacked. Accounts of iCloud users were hacked after users fell to scam mail…

Apple will surrender iCloud data when requested by law.

Online banking app.. is as good as the app used. My bank use FaceId for authentication to log me in.

The data on an iOS device IS encrypted and you need a key (FaceID, TouchID, PIN) in order to get access.

The data on iCloud ISN’T encrypted but you need your AppleID and password to get access.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Alex5723.

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Nathan Parker, Myst, DriftyDonN

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I have 2 iMacs, 1 MacMini, an old 13″ MacBook Pro, a newer 15″ MacBook Pro, an iPhone, and an iPad Mini.

I use iCloud to sync only my Calendar, Contacts, Keychain and Find my Mac between them. I do not sync mail, photos, etc. There are 5GB available at no cost – I have 4.4GB of that free.

I do NOT use iCloud Drive which is the storage service and is paid after a minimum number of GBs. I back up my computers/data locally on a regular basis.

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Nathan Parker, Elly, NetDef, DriftyDonN

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I have no other mac/apple products so have no need for sync. I appreciate the info and this helps me decide what to backup. Now as to HOW…well I’ll work on that. I’m pretty sure the info is out there!

Thank you!!

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Myst

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DriftyDonN wrote:

I appreciate the info and this helps me decide what to backup. Now as to HOW…well I’ll work on that. I’m pretty sure the info is out there!

To use iCloud Backup go to your Settings and tap on your Apple ID at the top. Tap on “iCloud” then scroll down to “iCloud Backup”. Tap on it and everything you’ve selected previously to manage in iCloud on the list of Apps will sync and backup to your phone. Anything you may lose or if your iPhone is lost/stolen, can be recovered with the latest backup. “Find My iPhone” is a good feature to add to your iCloud apps. You can search around for more info on the Find My iPhone app if you choose to use it.

MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, and SOS at times.

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DriftyDonN

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Drifty here- To my understanding, HACKING and talking me into giving my information are two entirely different things. Getting my middle name would take an act of…well it would be a miraculous occurrence. So I’m not too worried about being conned. Now sometimes I trust people when I’m looking in the face and get taken for that trust but that’s a bit different than giving ID info. Neither  have anything to do with operating systems in any way I can see…..well I suppose if you are click happy perhaps…but not to worry. I didnt get old being TOO stupid! (grin)

Drifty

I’m trying out sandboxie and my password wallet doesnt work in here -my password is …I dont recall! 😉

 

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I back up my iPhone to my Mac by plugging it in to the computer with a USB adapter. I also update it that way so it doesn’t use the iPhone’s GBs for the download/install.
I think you can do the same using iTunes in Windows (not the Windows Store version) – at least you used to be able to.

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Nathan Parker, DriftyDonN

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Very good to hear that— but why itunes?? Ive noted apple saying that but I really dislike itunes I got an ipod about oh man 17 yrs ago?? maybe a little less…5th gen I think? I still use it but the battery will likely go soon and there is not fix for that. I cannot solder!

But itunes was so confusing! I just drag n drop mp3’s to it and I can make playlists but that about it. As a backup program? Wow. Why not something like macrium?

But, knowing I can back up thru my pc( windows…can I?) Saving the data i’m allowed. 5 or 6 gb /month  w/ boost…I am on my wi fi all the time. I;m babbling. and really have to go…later y’all. I was very selective about what I allowed to go to icloud and double back up most of the time so time to update itunes- mine is old-so old its not even on this box–its on an old lenovo that overheats -MoBo so I;m told…

time to run…

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I use iCloud for syncing calendars, contacts, photos, notes, safari, find my everything (iPhone, iPad, MacAir). I don’t use Keychain. So basically I use iCloud and iCloud Drive to sync/store all apps mentioned plus some. I don’t worry because Apple has done a good job encrypting much of what’s out there. I also use Time Machine on my MacAir with an external HD to back up the device, as well as a usb plugin that’s encrypted to tote around of photos and notes. We take chances in this life and nothing is risk free. Making yourself aware of what’s out there as a potential hack, and knowing how to protect your device is key. That’s called doing your best and having confidence Apple is helping to keep your data protected. This is my opinion, experience and knowledge. Nothing is foolproof, but I’m not going to stop short of using services I like that are attached to my equipment. I use common sense and keep up with the latest news concerning our devices. This is why AskWoody is a valuable resource in learning and hearing from folks who share your concerns.

It’s your decision what you want to do with the new iPhone @DriftyDonN, and after hearing from a few folks here whose needs and experiences vary, you may decide to trust iCloud or might still need to do more looking around on the forum before taking hold.

MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, and SOS at times.

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DriftyDonN

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Like others here, I use cloud file services to sync active project and reference files between devices.

But I do not use cloud services for my backups . . . (for one thing it would be really expensive for the years and years of stuff I’ve accumulated over time.)

Also: considering enabling MFA on your cloud file storage service.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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[DriftyDonN]

well i have to ask….MFA?

wait…. 2FA???

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by DriftyDonN.

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Multi-factor authorization (sometimes known as 2FA, or two factor authorization).

I have it enabled everywhere, with a confirmation message sent to my phone. Not infallible, but very hard to defeat.

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Nathan Parker, DriftyDonN, Myst

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I am familiar w/ the term as 2FA but MFA didn’t ring any bells. Makes sense but it’s gotten so everything seems to have at least 2 ways to say it. I find myself asking “whats that mean?” more often these days-

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DriftyDonN wrote:

well i have to ask….MFA?

Back to basics: Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

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DriftyDonN

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Both iCloud and OneDrive offer two-factor authentication.  You would be most unwise not to take advanatge of this.

Dell E5570 Latitude, Intel Core i5 6440@2.60 GHz, 8.00 GB - Win 10 Pro

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DriftyDonN

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I read an article a couple of hours ago( dont recall exactly where) that went over several options for encryption. !. Icloud is not end to end encrypted(as pointed out) 2.Mention several 3rd party programs to encrypt then send to cloud server of your choice…not exactly what I thought it was. #. He did mention Idrive which had a free limited size or a paid larger one, but the speed was horrendous. @0 min or so to upload(ok its encrrypting and UPloading) but download of same 1 gb file took the same amount of time(~5mbs DOWNload) ridiculous. So I went ahead and activated cloud and selected a few things I was ok with to start. It went into spin cycle “connecting to icloud-wait” or some such then it just went away. I went into the settings for icloud and made some changes and I guess I have some stuff “up there” I dont know! I did not put cc # but did use apple store to DL a couple free apps(dark sky (lots of ads and minimal content for free version. Also a QR reader..time will tell about that. Also loaded Bank app but got an error under text entry-I forget what it was but I was able to access checking. Will try deposit a check next week and perhaps check out paying with a wave by. I dont know if this iphone 11 has fingerprint function, it does want face ID but Im nit too comfy w/ that . So its been a busy day. Time for dinner prep and couple other household chores . see y all1

Thanks!!

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DriftyDonN wrote:

I appreciate the info and this helps me decide what to backup. Now as to HOW…well I’ll work on that. I’m pretty sure the info is out there!

How to Selectively Back Up iPhone Data

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DriftyDonN

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Is there any way to get rid of the health app on iphone11??

I truly appreciate all the info you guys are putting out here. I’m having trouble recalling it all and I just read it! But here it is in writing so alls good!

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PKCano wrote:

I think you can do the same using iTunes in Windows

You can backup iOS device to a Windows PC (with or without encryption) using iTunes.

Restoring, when needed, is much faster too.

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DriftyDonN

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I do not have an iPhone, or some other “i” device, and find the idea of keeping my things on someone else’s server as not something I want to do, unless it is absolutely necessary — and that is a need I have not had yet. I can exchange files between my Win 7/Linux PC and my Mac over the router at home and for small transfers I always have the less fancy possibility of using an USB thumb drive.

But I wonder — and forgive me for asking such a naïve question: isn’t there some other way, besides using some Cloud- based service, to copy things from an iPhone to a PC and vice versa? For some reason, perhaps a very good one, this question, so far, has not been considered here. Otherwise, perhaps other loungers might be interested to read the answer and, for my part, I know several people who have iPhones and for whom such knowledge might come handy, always assuming that something like that is both possible and practical. Particularly if it is only necessary to do it now and then.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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The only way I know to transfer photos, videos and bookmarks from your iPhone to your PC is by downloading iCloud Drive to your PC. I don’t use it but have in the past. Or you can import them to the PC through iTunes using Windows photo app. Haven’t done it but maybe someone else here on the forum has.

MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, and SOS at times.

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OscarCP

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[Alex5723]

OscarCP wrote:

to copy things from an iPhone to a PC and vice versa? For some reason,

NO. This is part of iOS high level of security and privacy.
Just attaching your iPhone to a Windows PC (don’t know bout Linux) will let you copy just Photos and nothing else.
Using iTunes you can copy video, music…from Windows PC to apps like VLC…
There are many 3rd party apps that claim to copy any data you want.
From my experience none work as advertised.

Example : ~2 weeks ago Apple has offered a 1 week free download of the new Pearl Jam’s ‘Gigaton Visual Experience’.
I have downloaded the video/audio album using Apple TV+ app, but found no way, using some 3rd party apps, to copy the file to my PC (wanted to stream to home theater system with 4K TV). None had access to Apple TV+ data.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Alex5723.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Alex5723.

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DriftyDonN wrote:

Is there any way to get rid of the health app on iphone11??

No. Apple’s build-in apps can’t be uninstalled.
You can disable all option of Health.

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DriftyDonN

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This will also serve in place of my weekly macOS column since I haven’t thought of a topic to write this week. 🙂

I use iCloud with my Apple devices since I own multiple Apple devices, and iCloud makes it easy to keep things in sync. This link includes all of the services that use an Apple ID.

Here are the services I personally use with iCloud:

• iCloud Drive: I mainly use iCloud Drive with apps that work well with it that I need to access between Apple devices, such as PDF Expert, Pages, Keynote, etc.
• iCloud App Storage: Some apps I use (such as Ulysses) opt to store data in iCloud. I use some that do. It is convenient when working across devices.
• iCloud Photos: I store my photo library in iCloud Photos since it makes it easy to take pictures with my iPhone and have them automatically appear across devices, as well as handle photo editing on my iPad.
• iCloud Mail: I use iCloud Mail, although I forward it to another email inbox since I’ve had my share of spam on it, and I’ve needed more powerful junk filtering. I occasionally use iCloud Mail Drop for sending large attachments. It works well.
• Messages: I do store messages in iCloud.
• iCloud Contacts: My primary contacts are stored in iCloud.
• iCloud Calendars: My primary personal calendar is stored in iCloud.
• Reminders: My primary to-do lists are stored in iCloud.
• Notes: My primary use of Apple Notes is stored in iCloud.
• Safari: I have iCloud enabled in Safari in case I need to sync bookmarks between devices. However, I use Brave as my primary browser, so the bulk of my bookmarks are there. I’ve moved Safari Reading List to Pocket (free plan) so I can access Pocket across browsers.
• iCloud Keychain: I have it enabled since some apps need it, but I use 1Password as my primary password manager.
• iTunes Match: I don’t need the full Apple Music, but I do use iTunes Match so I can sync my audio library between devices.
• Apple Podcasts: I sync Apple Podcasts over iCloud as well.
• Apple Books: I sync some ePUBS over Apple Books, although I primarily use Kindle for reading books that aren’t already in my school reading/study apps.
• iPhone and iPad Backups: I do backup my iPhone and iPad with iCloud in case something catastrophic happened and I needed cloud restore. I occasionally manually backup to iTunes/Finder (especially when changing devices) since restores over iTunes/Finder are faster.
• HealthKit: I store some data in HealthKit (mostly activity data, although I do store some manual health measurements during my annual physical). I use HealthGorilla to get my medical records since I can’t get them any other easy way.
• HomeKit: I use a few HomeKit apps, and I will be using HomeKit Secure Video soon.
• Other Apple Services: I do use App Store, have previous iTunes Music/Movies purchases, use Apple News (free), use Apple Pay, and use FaceTime, Find My, and Family Sharing. I pay for 200GB of iCloud storage, but I don’t subscribe to Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+, or Apple Arcade. I don’t use iCloud either.

With that said, some of my cloud storage is diversified. Here are other cloud services I use:

• Syncing Browser Bookmarks: Primarily use Brave
• Syncing Reading Lists: I use Pocket (Free)
• Password Manager: I use 1Password
• Finance: I use Mint and Billings Pro, it is better to use real finance apps for any banking data you store in the cloud
• Dropbox: I primarily use it with apps that require it for syncing, which is a handful of apps. I’m on the free plan.
• Google Drive: I have a couple of clients that send me files on Google Drive. I don’t personally use it for file sharing myself. I’m on the free plan.
• Personal Email: My primary personal email account is through WebMate. It’s pretty solid and allows me to breakup my primary email from “big tech”.
• File Sharing/Online Backup: I also use WebMate Drive for online backup of my iMac Pro (using Arq), plus to sync files from my Drobo NAS to cloud storage (using GoodSync). I also use WebMate Drive as my primary file sharing service since it’s easy to use, and allows me to breakup some of my cloud use from “big tech”.
• Work/School: Work and School require me to use Microsoft 365, so I use my work/school email and OneDrive for work/school file sharing and emails. I may also spin up a Microsoft 365 Business Basic account coming up since I need to get up-to-date on deploying Microsoft 365.
• App Syncing: Some apps use their own internal clouds for app syncing. For the ones that do, I use them.
• Firefox Send: I occasionally use Firefox Send to send encrypted files to people.
• Photo/Video Sharing: I primarily use Flickr for photo sharing (I’ve found it to be more photography centric without the overhead of social media) and I primarily use Vimeo for sharing videos (since it doesn’t have ads like YouTube does).
• Verizon Cloud: I have access to Verizon Cloud but haven’t done much with it. It’s free with my Verizon plan, but it’s mainly setting there.

iCloud in general is safe and secure to use, and if you use it, simply practice three common sense practices:

1. Use a strong password for your Apple ID
2. Use Two Factor Authentication
3. While there’s a slim chance your account will be hacked if you do steps 1 and 2, don’t store anything in iCloud you’re not comfortable with being stored online and broadcasted to the world if something did happen.

Nathan Parker

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Myst, OscarCP, Elly

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Nathan Parker: “While there’s a slim chance your account will be hacked if you do steps 1 and 2, don’t store anything in iCloud you’re not comfortable with being stored online and broadcasted to the world if something did happen.”

I would add to that these particulars, in case someone might miss certain implications of the above (starting on the lighter side to better drive the final point home):

“Do not keep in the Cloud (any Cloud) anything that can be copied and used against you in a court of law, or by some dictatorial regime or criminal organization whose leaders may not like what you write or propose to do about their activities.”

“Do not save there any of your reports and notes explaining and documenting your million-dollar idea/disruptive invention/probable epoch-making scientific discovery.”

“In general: do not keep in remote servers run by someone else you do not know and is not  easily and quickly reached, anything you would not like to see in the possession of anyone you have not personally chosen to entrust with a copy.”

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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DriftyDonN, Nathan Parker

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If someone were to hack my cloud storage, at least they’ll get sensitive information from me such as:

• All of the paperwork proving I’m actually a secret agent for the Arkansas Unintelligence Agency
• My collection of Daffy Duck pictures
• My never-ending to-do lists that remind me to check my other t0-do lists

Nathan Parker

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Myst, OscarCP

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I trust Apple more than any other big tech company when it comes to security. About two years ago the FBI was pressuring Apple hard to break their own iPhone encryption, so that they could examine the phone of someone who committed a terrorist act. Apple wouldn’t budge, even though the pressure was enormous. Meanwhile, it turns out that the FBI had hired a company to crack the encryption and get the data off of the phone! In other words, they didn’t need Apple to break their own encryption.

When I saw that, I knew that I could trust Apple with my data. This is why I WILL use an iPhone, and I WON’T touch an Android (Google) phone with a 10-foot pole.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

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In general, my philosophy is: If you want secure and safe handling of your data, pay for a good cloud service; don’t use a free service. The cloud service has to make their money somehow, and it will either be that you pay them straight-up, or that they monetize your data.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

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TeamDrive (Synqion in the US) is a secure, free for private use (2GB max), cloud service.

cheers, Paul

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wavy

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I will not put ANY important data/info on any server that is not in my house. Period.

I do understand there are services that use cloud technology out of my sight. Cannot control everything! No sleep lost.

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MrJimPhelps wrote:

In general, my philosophy is: If you want secure and safe handling of your data, pay for a good cloud service; don’t use a free service.

While that’s “generally” true, I recommend reading the fine print on the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy before signing up. I have seen paid services that still scan for advertising, use targeted advertising, or use customer data for advertising purposes. You’ll occasionally find one who wants to “double-dip” and take your money and use your data for advertisers.

So before signing up for any service, read the fine print thoroughly.

Nathan Parker

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Myst

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Trust no one
Encrypt before Transmit !!!😎

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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DriftyDonN

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Paul T wrote:

TeamDrive (Synqion in the US) is a secure, free for private use (2GB max), cloud service.

cheers, Paul

(Synqion in the US) mean that the service is under US jurisdiction with free access to the data by the FBI, NSA….just like the recent access to all browsing data without the need of a warrant.

Never use a hosting service, VPN.. under US jurisdiction, or one of the 14 eyes countries. If you need to use a hosting service encrypt all data with a private key.

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Alex5723 wrote:

the service is under US jurisdiction with free access to the data by the FBI, NSA

They are welcome to the data, it’s AES encrypted before transmission and only you have the key.

cheers, Paul

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