Apple iCloud Sharing Left Former Employees With Access to Internal Files

Apple left some former employees with continued access to confidential internal documents because shared files synced through personal iCloud accounts were not fully revoked during offboarding, according to reporting citing former staff. The exposed material reportedly included sensitive product launch planning documents, and in some cases updates to those files continued generating notifications on ex-employees’ personal devices after they left the company. The issue appears tied to Apple encouraging workers to use a combined personal Apple Account with work iCloud storage while not placing all internal files inside managed folders that are automatically cut off at departure.

A separate publication from OpenAI included what it described as message transcripts showing a departing Apple employee discussing copying or transferring files from an Apple iCloud account, including by AirDrop and external storage, while preserving personal notes and shared work files around the time of resignation. The messages also showed the former employee continuing to discuss Apple internal engineering and product matters with a current employee after leaving, adding to concerns about insider risk, weak access revocation, and gaps between Apple’s security posture and its controls for protecting corporate data during employee exits.