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Why do I need encryption software?

Is your Mac, iPhone and iPad safe? Really?

Can you rely on the operating system to be error-free?

Apple has always been committed to protecting its users and invests heavily in the security of macOS, iOS and iPadOS. But no system is infallible. Despite all efforts, experts continue to discover security gaps - some of them critical. A comprehensive overview of previously reported security incidents for Apple devices can help better assess the risk.

Here is a list of reported security incidents on Apple devices

Have you configured all security settings correctly?

Fine-tuning security settings is often more complicated than it seems. While many features of Apple operating systems increase convenience, they can also present potential vulnerabilities. It’s important to regularly review the latest security best practices.

We developed SimpleumCheck to help you make your Mac more secure

Are you alone on your device or is someone looking over your shoulder?

In the past, Apple devices were considered nearly impregnable fortresses, often overlooked by cybercriminals who focused on supposedly more vulnerable systems. But those times are over. As the popularity of Apple products has increased, malware, viruses, trojans, and ransomware for these products have also increased dramatically. These malware can download data that they have access to unnoticed.

I’m far too uninteresting to be attacked. Really?

This assumption, often referred to as the “I have nothing to hide” mentality, is dangerous and misleading, especially in today’s digital world.

Automated Attacks: Many cyberattacks are automated and do not target specific individuals, but rather anyone who is vulnerable. That is, it’s not about how “interesting” or “important” you are, but whether your devices and data are easily accessible.
Value of Data: Personal data can be valuable to cybercriminals even if it doesn’t seem valuable to the average person. This data can be sold, misused or used for blackmail.
Connection to others: Even if you don’t think you’re interesting enough to attack, you could be connected through contacts or networks to others of interest to an attacker. Your device could serve as an entry point or springboard for further attacks.

Oh, what’s supposed to happen?

Private

Financial Losses: Criminals can use stolen bank or credit card information to withdraw money or purchase goods.
Identity Theft: Criminals can use personal information to impersonate the person concerned, take out loans, or conduct other financial transactions on their behalf.
Blackmail: Using stolen personal photos or information, criminals could attempt to blackmail the victim.
Social Impact: Personal information or private communications may be made public, which may cause embarrassment, disadvantage or social isolation.
Emotional distress: Losing personal information can cause stress, anxiety and a feeling of being vulnerable.
Real Life Security Risks: If personal information such as addresses or travel plans is stolen, it could increase the physical security risk to a person or their family.

Professionally

Financial Losses: Companies may suffer significant financial losses due to fraud, extortion, or penalties for violating data protection laws.
Loss of trade secrets: Important business information or patents could be passed on to competitors.
Reputational Damage: Data theft can undermine customer trust in a company, which can result in loss of business.
Operational Interruptions: Data theft may result in the need to shut down systems, which may impact business operations.
Recovery and Prevention Costs: Organizations may need to spend significant amounts to recover stolen data and prevent future attacks.
Legal Consequences: Companies could face legal action from customers or partners if their data is compromised.

Protect your data with an additional layer of security

SimpleumSafe has sophisticated encryption technology and has been available since 2016 without any security incidents. Compared to macOS, iOS and iPadOS, SimpleumSafe is a small software and that is good for security, because the size of a system increases the likelihood of errors and therefore security gaps.

SimpleumSafe protects your data by:

Encrypted files and folders
No unauthorized access from outside
Encrypted filenames and attributes
Encrypted cloud
Encrypted synchronization
Encrypted backup
Encrypted photography
Encrypted scanning
Encrypted document view
Encrypted editing of documents
Encrypted image viewer
Assistance with password quality
Passwords are not saved
Biometric authentication
Screen protection
2-factor authentication (Mac)
Checking the app for manipulation every time it is started

The security concept of SimpleumSafe with continuous encryption and minimal opening to the outside is unique.

SimpleumSafe 3.3 iOS - Release Notes

10-30-2023

New: Encrypted document scanning for iOS!

📱 Scan on the go: With the power of your iPhone or iPad, you can instantly convert any document into a digital format. No more searching for a scanner when you have one right in your pocket!

🔐 First-class encryption: Your documents are more than just a piece of paper - they contain valuable and often confidential information. With SimpleumSafe’s advanced encryption technology, your digital documents are stored in a Safe, ensuring complete privacy and protection from unauthorized access.

📁 Optimized Storage: Forget about heavy folders or documents piling up on your desk. Now you can not only digitize them, but also organize and store them clearly in your SimpleumSafe app. Access any document whenever you need it with a few taps!

🔒 PDF Security: The universally accepted PDF format ensures that your documents remain in their original form and the integrity of your information is maintained. Combined with encryption, it offers the best of both worlds: accessibility and security.

💡 Eco-Friendly: Reduce paper waste and promote sustainability. Every document you scan and save digitally is a step towards a healthier planet.

🕒 Time Saving: Say goodbye to manual data entry or time-consuming photocopying. Scan, encrypt and store, all in seconds!

Scan documents with the camera. Documents can be cropped manually or automatically and can span multiple pages.

Learn more about Scan documents

Screenshot: Scan documents with SimpleumSafe for iOS

New: Lock Safe

Introducing an extension to SimpleumSafe - now the Safe Lock feature is further developed to support ongoing long-term operations even when your screen is locked! However, with this new feature, your Safe will stay open even when the screen is locked, making it extremely handy for tasks like data import or syncing that run over a long period of time.

Here are some notable benefits of this new feature:

Continuous Operation: Your data operations no longer need to be interrupted. Whether you’re importing large amounts of data or syncing files, these tasks continue seamlessly even when your screen is locked.
Increased Security: By keeping the Safe open but the screen locked, SimpleumSafe ensures your data remains protected while remaining accessible for ongoing tasks. It’s a mix of accessibility and security!
User-Friendly: This update adds a layer of usability. You can initiate tedious processes and move on to other tasks without hesitation.

All SimpleumSafe 3 release notes

SimpleumSafe 3.3 Mac - Release Notes

10-30-2023

New: Optional 2-factor authentication (2FA)

Double Layer Security: Increase security even further with an additional layer. After the password or biometric verification, 2FA intervenes as a second line of defense and requires a unique six-digit code. It is a double check to ensure your safe remains protected.
Advanced Security: The biggest advantage of the 2FA feature is its ability to provide an additional layer of security, making unauthorized access extremely difficult. It’s not just about what you know (your password), but also what you have (your second factor).
Dynamic Protection: The One Time Password (OTP) is not static; It is a moving target that changes every 30 seconds. This dynamic thwarts any malicious attempt to crack your Safe.
User-Friendly: The six-digit OTP is simple and effective, offering the perfect balance between ease of use and security. And since the OTP changes every 30 seconds, the risks of static passwords are eliminated.
Compliance and Best Practices: Implementing 2FA aligns with global cybersecurity best practices and can help meet compliance requirements, which is critical for professionals and businesses.
Affordable Security: Since no additional hardware is required, this feature is an affordable security upgrade. Your smartphone is your second factor, there are no additional costs.
Ensuring your security for the future: As cyber threats evolve, so should your security measures. The 2FA feature is a step towards securing your digital safe against emerging threats.

Screenshot: Open safe with 2-factor authentication

Enable 2-factor authentication (2FA).

In security settings, check the option to enable 2-factor authentication.
QR code generation:

When 2FA is activated, a QR code is generated. This QR code is your gateway to establishing a 2FA connection.
Alternative setup via 2FA key:

If you prefer a manual setup or scanning the QR code is not possible, a 2FA key will also be generated alongside the QR code. Simply enter this key manually into your OTP generator app to configure OTP generation.

Set up and use two-factor authentication

Screenshot: Setting up 2-factor authentication

New: Lock safe

Here are some notable benefits of this new feature:

Continuous Operation: Your data operations no longer need to be interrupted. Whether you’re importing large amounts of data or syncing files, these tasks continue seamlessly even when your screen is locked.
Increased Security: By keeping the Safe open but the screen locked, SimpleumSafe ensures your data remains protected while remaining accessible for ongoing tasks. It’s a mix of accessibility and security!
User-Friendly: This update adds a layer of usability. You can initiate tedious processes and move on to other tasks without hesitation.

All SimpleumSafe 3 release notes