iOS’ Call History Is Being Uploaded to iCloud ⇥ theintercept.com

Kim Zetter, the Intercept:

The logs surreptitiously uploaded to Apple contain a list of all calls made and received on an iOS device, complete with phone numbers, dates and times, and duration. They also include missed and bypassed calls. Elcomsoft said Apple retains the data in a user’s iCloud account for up to four months, providing a boon to law enforcement who may not be able to obtain the data either from the user’s carrier, who may retain the data for only a short period, or from the user’s device, if it’s encrypted with an unbreakable passcode.

Apple says that they’re doing this to allow users to call back from any connected device. That’s a fine explanation for me, but I’m curious why they’re apparently retaining these logs for four months.

Of note, Apple is reportedly in the process of improving the security of iCloud. As you might expect, there’s no word on any progress since this rumour broke in February. I don’t anticipate hearing an official word before WWDC next year.