How safe are your iCloud pics?

02 September 2014 - 02:06 By © The Daily Telegraph, AFP
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DIAMOND GIRL: Jennifer Lawrence pairs classic with a bling ear cuff
DIAMOND GIRL: Jennifer Lawrence pairs classic with a bling ear cuff

Nude pictures of Oscar award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and private photographs of about 100 other high-profile stars have been posted online in a widescale leak.

Word of the images began spreading early on Sunday amid reports that the photos had been obtained by hacking iCloud accounts, Mashable and other media reported.

The leaked photos prompted angry reactions from the stars.

"This is a flagrant violation of privacy. The authorities have been contacted and will prosecute anyone who posts the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrence," her agent told entertainment media.

By late Sunday, Twitter had started suspending accounts that linked to the Lawrence photos.

Among the celebrities whose pictures were allegedly stolen and posted online were Rihanna, Avril Lavigne, Amber Heard, Gabrielle Union, Hayden Panettiere and Hope Solo, according to Mashable.

What is iCloud?

Apple launched its iCloud in 2011 to wirelessly back up its users data. When activated, information including photos, e-mails, apps and contacts from iPhones and iPads is automatically stored in the system, which is accessible from any internet-connected device via the owner's Apple ID.

Are the pictures genuine?

Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice denied the pictures posted of her were real, tweeting: "These so-called nudes of me are FAKE people. Let me nip this in the bud right now. *pun intended.*"

But the comment from Lawrence's agent indicates the photos are real.

How did hackers access the pictures?

Access to iCloud is via a username and password.

Hackers often exploit the "forgot my password" feature, which sends an e-mail to the e-mail address registered with the account, prompting the user to enter a new password. If the hacker had access to the e-mail account, they could change the password to one of their choosing through guessing the answers to their security questions.

How safe is the iCloud?

iCloud data is encrypted both on Apple's servers and while in transit from your device, and the company maintains the master key necessary for decryption if necessary, such as a request from the government.

How can I increase the security of my iCloud?

Apple's two-step verification method prompts users attempting to log into an iCloud account from a device not previously linked to the account to enter a four-digit pin code, greatly increasing the security of your information.

How can I delete something stored on there?

Info can be deleted from the service by accessing Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup > Manage Storage from any iOS device. Under the Documents and Data menu, delete what you wish.

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