Apple's Tracking You Even When Settings Are Turned Off, Researchers Find
Apple makes bold promises about how it's the world's only privacy-first smartphone ecosystem, giving users the ability to completely turn off tracking. But it's not true
An independent research now claims that Apple collects data about you and your iPhone even when the phone settings claim to have disabled tracking altogether.
Shocked? Don't be. Apple makes bold promises about how it's the world's only privacy-first smartphone ecosystem, giving users the ability to completely turn off tracking.
This new report by independent researchers paints a different picture, though. Turns out, Apple is collecting extremely detailed information about you through its own apps even after tracking is turned off.
Pexels
Apple promises that the iPhone Analytics settings can be turned off to "disable the sharing of Device Analytics altogether." Two app developers and security researchers, Tommy Mysk and Talal Haj Bakry looked at data collected by Apple's apps for iPhones - the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, Books, and Stocks.
?
¡ª Mysk ???? (@mysk_co) November 3, 2022
1/5
The recent changes that Apple has made to App Store ads should raise many #privacy concerns. It seems that the #AppStore app on iOS 14.6 sends every tap you make in the app to Apple.?This data is sent in one request: (data usage & personalized ads are off)#CyberSecurity pic.twitter.com/1pYqdagi4e
They found that turning off analytics did nothing for Apple's data collection. Essentially, tracking remained the same with or without the setting.
What is Apple tracking?
Researchers say that the App Store app on iPhones is harvesting virtually all information about your activity - including every single thing you did, what you tapped on, what apps you look for, the ads you saw, how long you looked at any given app, and how you found that app.
Pexels
In addition, the app is able to send details to Apple about you and your device. This information includes ID numbers, information about the phone, screen resolution, keyboard languages, and how you're connected to the internet. As Gizmodo reported, this information is used for device fingerprinting.
Also read: New EU Law Could Force Apple To Allow Sideload Apps, Download From Third-Party Stores
However, not all iPhone apps are hidden trackers. Researchers found that the Health and Wallet apps didn't collect or transmit any analytics data at all. Most apps that did use analytics data depend on a consistent ID number that allows Apple to track you across services.
Pexels
There's more! Mysk told Gizmodo that when they ran similar tests in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, they found that the data isn't transmitted when analytics settings are turned off.
Also read: Former Apple Employee That Duped Company Of $17 Million Pleads Guilty
"Privacy. That's iPhone," Apple announces to the world with large hoardings across the globe with its yearly rollout. But is that really the case? Apple's definition of tracking is different. The company's website notes that if Apple is not sending the analytics data to third-party apps and services, then it's not tracking. We're not sure that's practically true.
Pexels
What do you think about Apple's alleged breach of its privacy policy? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
References
Germain, T. (2022, November 8). Apple Is Tracking You Even When Its Own Privacy Settings Say It¡¯s Not, New Research Says. Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/apple-iphone-analytics-tracking-even-when-off-app-store-1849757558
I live for all-things-technology - gadgets, novel climate solutions, and startups that are changing the game. In my leisurely hours, you can find me binge watching science fiction films, writing poetry, or dancing to pop anthems.
Read More
