Huge free upgrade handed out to millions of iPhone owners – claim it right now

APPLE has distributed a major iPhone upgrade to millions of users.

The brand new iOS 16.3 update was released overnight – and it doesn’t cost a penny.

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Apple regularly rolls out upgrades to iOS, their iPhone operating system.

It’s the system you use to navigate your iPhone, download and access apps, and everything else.

There are several new features bundled into the update, including something called iCloud Advanced Data Protection.

This means your iCloud backups are much more secure.

The update also includes a brand new wallpaper, fixes for a number of bugs and some security updates.

To check for the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

User support!

Unfortunately, not all iPhone owners are able to update to the latest iOS 16.3 software.

If you can upgrade to iOS 16 then you’re good to go, but either way you’ll be missing out on a very old iPhone model.

Here is a list of all iOS 16 (and iOS 16.3) supported devices:

• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone Xs
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

Not being able to get the latest iOS means you lose access to the most up-to-date security fixes.

These are important updates that plug holes used by hackers to gain access to your systems.

So using a very old iPhone that cannot be updated can put you at risk.

If you can’t update to iOS 16, consider upgrading your iPhone sooner rather than later.

iCloud advanced data protection

Apple’s regular iCloud system is called Standard Data Protection.

It works using something called encryption, which makes your data unreadable – unless you have the right “key”.

This is to prevent someone snooping on your data.

Apple stores this information in its data centers, but also has the “encryption keys” that can unlock much of your information.

These can be backups, photos, documents, notes and more.

The idea is that it is sometimes useful for this to be the case.

“The encryption keys from your trusted devices are secured in Apple’s data centers,” Apple explains.

“So Apple can decrypt your data on your behalf when you need it, such as when you sign in to a new device, restore from a backup, or restore your data after you’ve forgotten your password.

“As long as you can sign in with your Apple ID, you can access your backups, photos, documents, notes, and more.”

There are also 14 categories of data – including health and iCloud Keychain passwords – that are fully encrypted and Apple does not have access to them.

Unfortunately, someone else—even a trusted company—provides your encryption keys with privacy risks as well.

Apple regularly rejects requests from police to unlock iPhones.

But it can — and in many cases does — provide the police with iCloud backups.

Advanced data protection

This is where advanced data protection comes in.

The idea behind Advanced Data Protection is that the number of data categories Apple does not have access to increases.

So once turned on, Apple cannot access 23 different categories of data.

That means it’s much harder for advanced hackers to spy on what’s inside iCloud.

But it also prevents governments from being able to ask for information about what you do in most cases.

Here is the full list of fully end-to-end encrypted data types under Advanced Data Protection:

• Cloud Backup (including device and message backup)
• iCloud Drive
• Pictures
• Notes
• Reminders
• Safari
• Siri Shortcuts
• Voice memos
• Wallet passes
• Password and key ring
• Health data
• Home data
• Messages in iCloud
• Payment information
• Apple Card transactions
• Map
• QuickType Keyboard learned vocabulary
• Safari
• Screen time
• Siri information
• Wi-Fi password
• W1 and H1 Bluetooth dongles
• Memoji

The only three categories that don’t get full protection are iCloud Mail, Contacts and Calendars.

For everything else, Apple does not have encryption keys.

So if a police force asked for your photos, Apple wouldn’t be able to comply.

And if a hacker managed to break into Apple’s systems, they wouldn’t be able to snoop on your messages.

How to use advanced data protection on iPhone

Apple launched Advanced Data Protection in the US with the iOS 16.2 update.

And it’s available to the rest of the world with iOS 16.3.

The obvious problem with Advanced Data Protection is that Apple will struggle to help you recover your account.

So you need to set up extra security measures before turning it on or you risk getting banned from your account.

That means setting up account recovery.

You need to go to Settings > iCloud > Advanced data protection.

Then tap on Account Recovery to ensure that your account can be recovered.

This may mean adding a recovery contact that can help you unlock your account.

Or it could mean generating a 28-character recovery key that you’ll need to write down — which will ultimately help you unlock your account.

Once you’ve enabled account recovery, you can turn on advanced data protection.

This should significantly improve your privacy, especially if you have a lot of information stored in iCloud.

Just don’t fall out with your recovery key or lose track of that 28-character key.

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