Secure Your iPad or iPhone Backup via Encryption Using Your iTunes

Introduction

In view of Apple’s recent encryption battle, it has become even more palpable that the company is able to decrypt some data backed-up using iCloud.  That being said, users who are exerting a lot of effort in keeping their data secured may now decide to use instead the traditional locally-stored encrypted iPad or iPhone backups.  You do not have to be a techie to know this, it can be simply done using iTunes for both PC and Mac.

Secure Your iPad or iPhone Backup via Encryption Using Your iTunes

How Many Choices To Backing-Up Your Apple Devices?

There are two choices in backing up your iPad or iPhone; you can either backup through iCloud or through iTunes locally.  iCloud is admittedly the more convenient option because it is done automatically, and yes, the backups are encrypted without fail, but the bad news is, as Apple admits, iPad and iPhone backups stored on Apple’s servers it can also be decrypted.  So much for talks about your data being secured and all.

However, a ray of hope is provided as Apple is not able to decrypt iPhone 5s and newer versions because of its Secure Enclave as long as they are pass-code protected. There is only one way the authorities or even Apple can get into a user’s data and that is if the users choose to back up their device remotely to iCloud.

Some Useful Steps For Security Purpose

Thus, businesses and users whose data security is almost as important as their life, the safest way to backup is with local backups using iTunes, Apple’s encrypted backup alternative.  Just follow the following easy steps:

1. Link your iOS gadget to your PC or Mac then access iTunes
2. Save the data that you have downloaded from the iTunes or App Store by touching “File> Devices > Transfer > Purchases.
3. Wait until the transfer is finished.

Secure Your iPad or iPhone Backup via Encryption Using Your iTunes

4. Touch the device icon found at the top of the screen to show the Summary Menu

5. Touch “Backup” and check the instruction “Encrypt iPhone backup” box and designate a password. Remember that you will never be able to recover your iTunes backups if you do not have the correct password so make sure that you don’t ever lose or forget your password so keep it somewhere really safe.

6. When the process ends, you can check if the backup is done successfully in iTunes – Preferences – Devices. You have to see your device name complete with the date and time the backup was created in iTunes.  If the backup was encrypted, you should also see the icon of a padlock right beside the name of the device.