I’m a huge fan of privacy and security rights. Please recommend apps compatible with the newest M1 chip-powered iPad Pro that I can use to encrypt my files like how VeraCrypt/TrueCrypt does. I came across Cryptomator but it’s synchronized with cloud encryption. I’m specifically looking for an encryption system that creates a container file or does whole-disk encryption. Thanks a lot!
There is no such thing as an app that can offer “whole-disk” encryption on an iPad since no app can alter or access any other app’s file area. iOS and iPadOS are “sandboxed” systems where apps are only allowed access to their own file silo apace and cannot access any other app’s silo.
Plus, the operating system itself encrypts all your data on your iPad Pro already. Nobody can de-crypt and access your data without knowing your device specific screen lock passcode.
The kind of app your talking about only provides an app specific passcode as well - any app can offer and use an app-specific passcode or password but it is up to each app developer to include that feature. But other than an app specific passcode, they don’t add any additional security since even their data is already encrypted by iOS/iPadOS.
There are any number of vault or secure storage apps available in the App Store. Beware of ones where the developer is a single person or a largely unknown developer. Such apps have a notorious history in the App Store of being suddenly dropped by their developers when there are major iOS or iPadOS changes (e.g. a number of photo “vault” apps were abandoned by their developers when the switch from a 32 bit to a 64 bit system was implemented and many users found it was thus impossible to access their locked photos after they upgraded the operating system).
Again, your data is already encrypted inherently by iOS. And nobody, not even Apple can decrypt it without knowing your screen lock passcode. It is the setting of that passcode that sets the encryption keys so they are wholly unique to your device and your screen lock passcode. Even if you normally use touchID or faceID to unlock your device, you have to enter the screen lock passcode every time it reboots to reset the encryption keys (or when the device is not unlocked for 48hrs you'll need to type in the passcode to get back into your device and data).
It is one of the foundations of Apple's public privacy statement that they will never build any sort of back door access to users devices and data on them (this despite pressure from law enforcement agencies and governments to do so). The fact that Apple is the only technology company currently suing the company that makes and sells the Pegasus sypware software I would say is evidence of Apple's commitment to user data privacy.
None of your encrypted device data ever need be stored in iCloud. What you sync or backup to iCloud is entirely up to you. There are people who use iCloud solely for Find My (and Activation Lock) and remote location tracking of their device if lost, but they turn every other iCloud feature off.
Encryption and Data Protection overview - Apple Support
Hi, Michael! Thanks for shedding light through clarifying the basics about my concern. Here’s my dilemma, since iOS is close-source, there’s a reason for me to still suspect that the manufacturer has its way to access my files or even the metadata of my device. You mentioned the apt term of an encryption system that i’m looking for - secure storage app. I think that’s how VeraCrypt works. It may not be perfect in terms of securing my personal files, but I do want the concept that I can create a container, where I can save my personal files like how VeraCrypt does, using AES or stronger encryption mechanisms. I hope you can recommend something like that. Thanks!
Encryption for M1 chip-powered iPad Pro
