Apple apps collect data without user permission, report says

Apple has always been presented as a brand that puts privacy first in the mobile world and protects user data with strict schemes when choosing apps. However, the report indicates that the Cupertino-based company is accessing data regardless of the permissions granted or denied by its customers.

Mysk firm keeps that iPhone can send analytics data to Apple from native iOS apps, regardless of whether the user has granted or denied permission.

“Apple analytics data includes an identifier called ‘dsId’. We were able to verify that this “dsId” is “Directory Service Identifier”, an identifier that uniquely identifies an iCloud account. That is, Apple analytics can identify you personally.” — researchers note on Twitter.

Myst claims that in iOS 16, Apple allows communication even if the user is using a VPN, and that this data is pulled from Apple-branded packages such as Health, Maps, and Wallet.

confidential data

Please note that we are talking about research that relates to the transfer of data from Apple services to its own servers, data that is transferred without problems for analysis and that is useful for improving offers in the store.

For the investigation, Myst used two different computers: a jailbroken iPhone running iOS 14.6 and a regular computer running iOS 16. Although the encryption does not recognize sent data on the latter, it was verified that both computers are capable of transmitting information to Apple servers, despite accepting or permission denied in both cases.

The problem arises in the type of confidential information being exchanged. According to Gizmodo, these entries include searches for apps related to LGBTQIA+ issues, abortion, and other personal topics that, in theory, should not be transferred to servers.

As a reminder, under European data protection law, technology companies such as Apple, Google and others can receive significant fines for such access to personal and confidential information.

I think people should be upset about this. Mysk said. “This is not Google. people choose the iPhone because they think it won’t happen. Apple has no right to track you.” As of now, Apple has not commented on this finding.