Apple: Download iOS 8 and your selfies and messages will be better protected

With the launch of iOS 8, Apple has pledged that it can better protect user pictures, contacts and messages, thanks to a new way the operating system manages personal data

iPhone 5 loaded with iOS 8

Apple says it can prevent governments from snooping on your data provided you download the latest version of its operating system, IOS 8.

The extent to which governments spy on their citizens was revealed last year when US intelligence agency whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked a load of documents to a number of newspapers. He revealed that there were a number of sophisticated tools that the US and UK spy agencies use to collect data - relating to phone calls, text messages, emails, Skype calls and social media messages - on a mass scale.

One of the most worrying aspects of the revelations was that large technology companies that provide communications services - including Microsoft, Yahoo and Facebook were offering spooks “backdoor” access to their customers’ data.

In addition to this, technology companies such as Apple also have to give police access to individuals’ devices or accounts if they are suspected of committing a serious crime and if the police have a warrant. People who have had their phones stolen can also get police to make this sort of request to Apple.

This week, Apple released the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 8 - software that can be downloaded to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. With the launch, Apple has pledged that it can better protect user data, thanks to a new way the operating system manages personal data.

With iOS 8, all photos, messages, emails, contacts, call history, notes and reminders are protected by an individual’s passcode. Apple is not able to bypass your passcode and therefore cannot access this data - unlike with some of the company’s competitors.

“So it's not technically feasible for us to respond to government warrants for the extraction of this data from devices in their possession running iOS 8,” Apple explains.

Apple also claims that it has never allowed any government access to its servers - where your iCloud pictures and other information would be stored. “And never will,” it says.

You will have to make sure that you have a very strong password - using a range of numbers and letters - and that you change it regularly if you want to avoid any naked selfie mishaps.






Despite these reassurances, it's likely that intelligence agencies in the UK and USA have tools that could break into your account even if Apple staff can't do so themselves.