Hi all. I was wondering how iOS handles Contacts images, when it comes to encryption. It would be simpler without ADP (Advanced Data Protection), but I have it enabled.
ADP end-to-end encrypts your images, but contacts still uses the legacy (less private) encryption methods. So what happens with the photo tied to the Contact? Is it encrypted, or not? I’d assume as it’s Contact data, it gets treated as part of everything else the Contact holds. I’d just like to know for certain, hence this post. Bonus points if you can provide a source.
As far as I know, it‘s like the Share Name and Photo feature of iMessage, which is end-to-end encrypted. What algorithm they use, is unclear. I suppose it‘s similar to how Signal profiles work.
Huh, I never considered it from the iMessage standpoint. Isn’t that (currently) just a messaging protocol? I didn’t think it manages your contacts. I thought Apple just used CardDAV, which supports contact images. It was their excuse for why they couldn’t end to end encrypt that data, with ADP.
This Name and Photo Sharing feature is proprietary and does not have anything to do with CardDAV directly. I think if you sync your Contacts in your iCloud (with ADP enabled), your Contact info is still unencrypted.