NATIONWIDE - Apple published on Wednesday the white papers or a guideline of how privacy works for some of their most popular apps.
- Apple published white papers on popular apps
- Apple says they do not collect data and help block third parties
- Apple making a push to market privacy as a selling point
It's a move they started doing soon after the San Bernardino terrorist attack four years ago.
It’s like spilling trade secrets, which is not customary for tech corporations let alone one of the most secretive companies in the world.
Apple essentially is telling customers how the apps work, which they haven't done before with features such as Safari, Photos, Location Services and Sign in.
For the web browser Safari for example, they explain when users are searching websites, data-collecting companies are gleaning information from you.
They build a profile and then you see ads.
Apple claimed their privacy practices actually block that activity.
They said they do this with technology called Intelligent Tracking Prevention.
It's built into the device, not the cloud.
They also claimed your Apple ID is never linked to the apps.
Apple also explained how “fingerprinting” happens when advertisers target you based on the browser you use, fonts and other apps you might have.
Apple said it blocks that too.
Why are they publishing all this today?
One can infer it's the holiday shopping season.
Apple is banking on saying to potential customers they don't care about collecting data to make money, buy their product instead if you want your privacy.
Apple did run into some privacy issues earlier in the year.
It was due to glitches with the voice assistant app Siri.