Apple Inc. today announced plans to roll out new cybersecurity features that will help users more effectively protect their data from hacking attempts.

The first feature that Apple will release as part of the update is known as Advanced Data Protection. It’s set to become available in iCloud, the iPhone maker’s cloud-based file storage service. Apple says that Advanced Data Protection will enable users to protect many of the files they store in iCloud using end-to-end encryption.

End-to-end encryption is a cybersecurity method that enables users to encrypt a file before uploading it to a cloud service. This ensures that the original, unencrypted version of the file can’t be accessed by the operator of the cloud service. 

Apple’s iCloud service already provides end-to-end encryption for 14 data types. With the newly detailed Advanced Data Protection feature, Apple will extend end-to-end encryption to nine more data types including files from its Photos and Notes apps. According to the iPhone maker, the feature won’t become available for its iCloud Mail, Contacts and Calendar services because of technical constraints.

Advanced Data Protection made its debut alongside another new capability called iMessage Contact Key Verification. The capability is designed to address the increased risk of cyberattacks facing users such journalists, human rights activists and government officials. 

According to Apple, iMessage Contact Key Verification makes it possible to verify the identity of an iMessage contact using a password known as a Contact Verification Code. Additionally, the capability alerts users if Apple detects that hackers attempt to eavesdrop on their conversations. The iPhone maker says that iMessage Contact Key Verification is designed to block advanced threats such as state-sponsored cyberattacks.

The third cybersecurity feature that Apple announced today is called Security Keys for Apple ID. According to the iPhone maker, the feature will enable users to log into their Apple ID accounts using a hardware security key.

A hardware security key is a device used for two-factor authentication that often takes the form of a USB drive. It’s a more secure alternative to traditional login credentials such as passwords. Unlike a password, a hardware security key can’t be stolen by hackers in a data breach.

“At Apple, we are unwavering in our commitment to provide our users with the best data security in the world,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering. “We constantly identify and mitigate emerging threats to their personal data on device and in the cloud.”

The Advanced Data Protection end-to-end encryption feature for iCloud will become available in the U.S. by year’s end. Apple expects to start rolling out the feature globally in 2023. The iMessage Contact Key Verification and Security Keys for Apple ID capabilities, in turn, are also set to launch next year.

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