Apple's new privacy site explains exactly how it uses your data

Discussion in 'privacy general' started by ronjor, Sep 29, 2015.

  1. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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  2. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Apple goes all-in on privacy
    https://threatpost.com/apple-goes-all-in-on-privacy
     
  3. wshrugged

    wshrugged Registered Member

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    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 1, 2015
  4. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    I am impressed :)

    Too bad their devices cost so much :(

    But hey, used is far more anonymous, anyway ;)
     
  5. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    I like their stance but I really dont like their products.
    If you are technologically challenged then Apple is probably your best bet. If you a technically inclined then I would go down the path of linux and customized android.
     
  6. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    I see it a little different. I see Apple as a very polished and well done linux (unix). To me it has nothing to do with technical know-how. It has to do with whether you want and like a nicely done polished product, or rough-around-the-edges half-baked buggy stuff that you have to constantly mess with...
     
  7. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    Customization of Android and Linux allow you far greater control over privacy settings than Mac OS and iOS.

    For example, I run Qubes OS which allows me to run windows in an isolated VM with controlled network access, multiple Linux VMs with different trust zones essentially allowing me to eliminate data leakage. This is far more secure and private than Mac OS.

    As for iOS. Customized permissions controls (xprivacy) does give an advantage in controlling data leakage. Further advances such as the ability to run virtual containers (still new technology for android but advancing quickly). I believe this outweighs iOS.
     
  8. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    The problem with Android is that you must avoid Google, and that limits you.

    It's also very cool that data on iOS devices is encrypted locally. And Apple supposedly doesn't know the keys/passwords. However, there was the issue that cloud backups were not encrypted with users' local keys/passwords. Has that been fixed?
     
  9. MisterB

    MisterB Registered Member

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    You don't need an Apple device to use OS X. Hackintoshing is a well established subculture.

    I've been recently experimenting with OS X 10.6(Snow Leopard). Hardware compatibility and drivers are the main issue since there is no support from Apple for use of OS X on non Apple computers. I mainly use laptops so swapping out boards to get a compatible machine is not an option. OS X in a VM is and that is where I'm going next. Snow Leopard is even supported by Virtualbox. At this point I have it working on a bootable thumb drive with only basic display modes and drivers. Kind of cool, OS X portable.
     
  10. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    Yes, that is cool :)

    But I was thinking of iOS devices. I'm happy with Linux for PCs.

    There are the various Linux smartphones. Maybe that's the best path.
     
  11. Rigz

    Rigz Registered Member

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    My only beef with Apple is that they don't have a pro laptop with user changeable parts anymore, and since I usually buy used computers it makes them a little less appealing as I don't want to go to an Apple store just to get a new battery put in the machine. As far as the software goes it can all be customized enough to my liking with a little bit of tinkering if you know your way around the system.

    I've gone the Hackintosh route in the past, but the system was no where near stable enough to use as my daily worker.

    Does anyone here use Little Snitch on their OS X machine?
     
  12. MisterB

    MisterB Registered Member

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    That is my issue with Apple as well. I have no problem with their OSes and their privacy policy is great but I don't like their hardware at all. I don't care for the fashonista exterior designs and the disposable unserviceable interior is a complete deal breaker for me, new or used.

    With the iPhone, it is worse because you can't remove the battery and completely power it down which is essential security with any device that has the capability of spying on you. As good as their privacy policy is, I won't get anything that I can't completely pull the plug on.
     
  13. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    Are there any you would recommend?

    Ubuntu Phone looks interesting as does Plasma Mobile but I am not aware of any that are user ready.
     
  14. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    I haven't looked carefully at any of them. No matter how secure and private the phone is, you're still stuck using cellular networks. And there's zero privacy with them. So you just have VoIP using WiFi hotspots. And that's not a very useful phone, unless you're very urban. So ...
     
  15. roark37

    roark37 Registered Member

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    I own and use no Apple products but their privacy push in the last year and especially this latest I am very impressed by and will consider Apple products in the future because of it. I wish Google would follow suit and do similar with their policies but I am doubtful that will happen. But I have been looking for a web based email provider that did not have tracking so because of this Apple stance I am considering their Icloud service although I am not sure a non Apple user can have a free web only email account. If it can be done and the Icloud email was only opened in an exclusive browser used only for that would that eliminate tracking? Thanks.
     
  16. MisterB

    MisterB Registered Member

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    That's exactly what I'm doing with my Android phone. I only have a voice connection to the cellular network. Carrier data is disabled both by the lack of a data plan and in the phones internal settings. I have two VOIP provider's apps in the phone and they are only used on Wifi. One of them is Google Voice and Hangouts so avoiding Google on this phone is a moot point. That being said, the wifi only is turned on when used for Voip calls both for security and battery life so data transmitted to Google is minimal. It also helps to turn Auto-sync off so any data connections have to be manually initiated.

    The only other apps installed are a hosts file editor and OpenVPN connect. A VPN is absolutely essential on a smartphone regardless of the platform.

    The big issue for me is geolocation. The carrier network is always going to have your physical location. That is a big problem because you have to keep any apps that use the data connection from getting that information. There are dual sim phones that can use one carrier for data and one for voice but the data carrier is still going to know where you are. The only option I've found is to just use wifi for data.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2015
  17. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    I meant no carrier account, as well. And maybe you also physically disable the cellular radio. So hey, it's not really a "cellphone". But it looks like one. And it can do VoIP :)
     
  18. MisterB

    MisterB Registered Member

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    There are many tablets that don't have WAN chips so there is no need to hack a phone with one unless you really like it for some reason. I'm going the opposite direction with this phone and primarily using it for telephony which involves a carrier account plus voip so I can avoid the high carrier phone rates when I have Wifi.
     
  19. deBoetie

    deBoetie Registered Member

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    The ironic thing is that the plain-old cellphone has (possibly) better legal protections than the standard data equivalent. Of course, the metadata and location information is available, but in a civilized society (not many of them about), that would be warranted.
    I'm much more inclined to go all-out on a well-secured laptop with good wifi range that I'd be with anything else, for everything.
    Does anyone have more information on the statement Snowden made regarding the poison SMS message that could take over any smartphone? Sounds like hyperbole to me, but you never know.
     
  20. MisterB

    MisterB Registered Member

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    Just came up this morning. Nothing about how the "smurfs" get into a phone but both android and ios can be compromised with them according to Snowden.

    https://www.bestvpn.com/blog/28930/why-smart-phone-owners-should-be-scared-2/
     
  21. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    I love the names, gotta give them points for having a sense of humor
     
  22. deBoetie

    deBoetie Registered Member

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    Personally, I hate the names, just like the smiley face in the Google datacenter backbone private circuit monitoring. These people are doing evil and unethical and unconstitutional things, and they can spend their time thinking it's a joke or a proper job. It's groupthink making the unacceptable normal.
     
  23. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    It's not that far from, for example, LulzSec. Or carders. Or botnet builders. The contexts are different, but it's the same mindset.
     
  24. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    I definitely dont condone their actions and agree with your sentiment.
    In the US these actions were definitely illegal but I am not sure of the status of the actions within the UK.
     
  25. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    USA still the best. But barely.
    I don't believe apple. I think they're bs-ing like vw.
     
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