Apple starts encrypting all iCloud emails ![rw-book-cover](https://venturebeat.com/security/apple-starts-encrypting-all-icloud-emails/?w=1200&strip=all) ## Metadata - Author: [[Eric Blattberg]] - Full Title: Apple starts encrypting all iCloud emails - Category: #articles - Summary: The Transform Technology Summits start October 13th with Low-Code/No Code: Enabling Enterprise Agility. Register now! Apple has stepped up efforts to protect its iCloud customers, as the technology giant promised it would last month. - URL: https://venturebeat.com/2014/07/15/apple-starts-encrypting-all-icloud-emails/ Apple has stepped up efforts to protect its iCloud customers, as the technology giant [promised it would last month](https://venturebeat.com/2014/06/14/apple-will-start-encrypting-emails-flying-from-one-provider-to-another/). Apple now encrypts all inbound and outbound iCloud email, not just email sent between its iCloud users. That means Apple will encrypt all emails sent between @me.com and @mac.com email addresses and third-party email services. Some content could not be imported from the original document. [View content ↗](https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.549.0_en.html#goog_476535588) Apple has yet to announce the change, but [Google’s transparency website](https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/saferemail/?hl=en) — which discloses the percentage of emails encrypted in-transit between Gmail and other providers — shows Apple’s new security measures are in place. ![Google report on Apple email encryption.](https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/google-report-on-apple-email-encryption.jpg?resize=1000%2C448&is-pending-load=1)Above: Google report on Apple email encryption. A report from German news site [Heise.de](http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/iCloud-Mail-Versand-jetzt-auch-verschluesselt-2260410.html) asserts that Apple is using the RC4 encryption algorithm, which is less secure than other encryption methods, like AES encryption. The security community has a lot of problems with RC4, which was designed in 1987. [Microsoft recommends disabling RC4 when possible](http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2013/11/12/security-advisory-2868725-recommendation-to-disable-rc4.aspx). There is widespread speculation that [the NSA can reliably crack RC4](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/06/nsa_cryptobreaking_bullrun_analysis/). So, while more encryption is a step in the right direction for Apple, security-conscious folks may still want to stay away from iCloud email. *Via [9to5Mac](http://9to5mac.com/2014/07/15/apple-begins-encrypting-icloud-email-sent-between-providers/)*, Apple starts encrypting all iCloud emails, Eric Blattberg, 01gnmd0rq37aqbbb3z8zfhkw1e.