How to Secure Your iCloud Account from Spies

Have you ever wondered if someone is spying on you through your iCloud account? That’s exactly what happened to Britney Spears when her father Jamie hired a security firm to set up a way to spy on her through iCloud.

Because Jamie Spears had Britney’s Apple ID password, he was easily able to gain access to her digital information through iCloud. She was unaware of this while it was going on. Thankfully, Britney is out of her father’s reach now that her conservatorship has ended.

Introducing the “Cloud.”

The Cloud—that mysterious-sounding whatever-it-is that sprung up the past few years—is one of the innovations that have some people worried. However, using the Cloud to store and share computer information could make your life a lot simpler…just like using an ATM for banking convenience or social media to stay in touch with friends.

Using the cloud to store your personal or business documents, files and photos could save you time, trouble and a lot of headaches searching for specific files when you need them.

Think of the cloud as a securely guarded warehouse on the Internet where you can store and save any electronic file you want: letters, photos, spreadsheets, medical records…anything.

Saving anything to the cloud is as easy as saving it to your computer, once you set up an account with a cloud service. And retrieving (accessing and opening) any file stored in the cloud is just as simple a process. And here’s why that could make life easier for you.

Some benefits of the cloud.

Whether you plan to use cloud storage for yourself or for a small company, there’s a cloud storage system that should work for you. They all offer convenience and benefits that make their service worth considering:

Scalability. You can go small or go big with cloud services. Your data is stored and “measured” in gigabytes, and services start off by giving you a set amount for free. That just might be all you need. But if you want to store data for your small business and don’t want to buy more hardware, you can rent more data storage space pretty inexpensively.
Reliability. Many people back up their hard drive in the cloud in case their hard drive crashes. The peace of mind that comes from knowing data will never just disappear one day could be well worth the nominal cost.
Collaboration. If you work in an office or on creative projects as part of a team, you know the hassle of emailing files back and forth, waiting to get a file back, and keeping track of versions. The cloud system is the modern way to collaborate. Everyone on the team, wherever they are, can share the file by sending a link to it in the cloud. Team members can make changes and save the new version in the cloud so that everyone sees the updated file.

Some benefits of the cloud.

Scalability. You can go small or go big with cloud services. Your data is stored and “measured” in gigabytes, and services start off by giving you a set amount for free. That just might be all you need. But if you want to store data for your small business and don’t want to buy more hardware, you can rent more data storage space pretty inexpensively.
Reliability. Many people back up their hard drive in the cloud in case their hard drive crashes. The peace of mind that comes from knowing data will never just disappear one day could be well worth the nominal cost.
Collaboration. If you work in an office or on creative projects as part of a team, you know the hassle of emailing files back and forth, waiting to get a file back, and keeping track of versions. The cloud system is the modern way to collaborate. Everyone on the team, wherever they are, can share the file by sending a link to it in the cloud. Team members can make changes and save the new version in the cloud so that everyone sees the updated file.

Apple iCloud
This service is available for any (Apple) Mac computer or any iOS device. (iOS is Apple’s own operating system, which includes iPhones and iPads.) The iCloud application is built into all new Apple devices but it is not available to computers that use Windows. It starts you off with 5 GB of storage at no charge.

What’s accessible through iCloud

When you think of iCloud, you might be thinking mainly about the photos stored there. While these can certainly be accessed by someone who has broken into your iCloud account, they aren’t the only personal information available on your iCloud.

Aside from photos, your iCloud account contains records of iMessages, FaceTime calls, notes, and your browser history. As you can imagine, the combination of all of this data provides a startling window into your personal life. Cybercriminals and hackers can use this information to harm you.

If there’s such a big risk of exposing your personal information, is it worth it to continue using iCloud? For most people, the convenience of linking your devices and storing your data is worth the risk. You just need to be aware of how to secure your account against online threats.

How to check whether you’re being spied on

If you’re worried someone has been spying on you through your iCloud account, there is an easy way for you to check. Note that this requires you to use your computer rather than your phone. Here are the steps you can take:

Go to System Preferences on your Mac.
Click Apple ID.
Check which devices are listed in the left column. These are all linked to your account.
If any of these devices are not yours, you can get rid of them by selecting the device and then clicking Remove from Account at the bottom of the screen.

Have you discovered an unwanted device on your account? Think through your next steps carefully. Once you remove this device from your account, the unwanted user will likely find out you’re aware of their spying. Cybercriminals can become even more intimidating once there are boundaries enforced. You may want to seek out a domestic violence or support professional to help walk you through this process.

Tips for protecting your iCloud account

While Apple is very conscientious about privacy and security, it inevitably relies on a variety of third parties to host iCloud data. Furthermore, clouds are open systems with a larger surface area for attackers to target. All of this means you should be careful whenever you’re using iCloud or another cloud to store your data. Here are some best practices for securing your iCloud account.

1. Use an extremely strong password and enable 2FA

Your iCloud account should have a very secure password consisting of a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. It’s even better if you use a password manager like 1Password to randomly create a password and then store it for you. This goes for all of your online logins, not just your iCloud.

If you haven’t already done so, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for your Apple ID. This makes it so that unknown devices cannot access your iCloud without your permission, even if they have your password. Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security to enable 2FA.

2. Keep your devices updated

A device that’s running an older software version is a device at risk of a security breach. Of course, your iCloud account is more likely to be compromised if your device is hacked. That’s why it’s so important to keep all of your device’s software updated.

Aside from improving your online safety, updating your devices gives you access to exciting new features. Your devices are more likely to be compatible with newer devices as well.

3. Encrypt all of your Apple devices

Data encryption is an extra layer of security that protects your data on your various devices. It’s wise to take a moment to check whether each of your devices is encrypted so that your data stays safe.

On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault to check whether FileVault disk encryption is on. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Once you enter your passcode, scroll down to the bottom of the screen. If you see the Data protection is enabled message, this means your phone data is encrypted.

4. Access iCloud using a VPN if possible

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) makes it much tougher for hackers to track your online activity. If you have a VPN, be sure to turn it on whenever you’re accessing iCloud. In fact, we recommend turning on your VPN any time you go online.

Don’t have a VPN? You can still protect yourself by never accessing your iCloud from an open WiFi network. Only access your iCloud from trusted networks such as your home or office WiFi.

Your iCloud account stores a lot of your personal information. The best way to protect yourself is to develop great online safety practices. You won’t have to worry about spies as long as you keep careful tabs on which devices can access your account.