Washington Post finds 5,400 app trackers sending data from an iPhone

9to5 Mac ^ | May. 28th 2019 7:44 am PT | Ben Lovejoy

[Red Badger]

When I tell people I have no cell phone of ANY kind, they look at me like I have a third eye.............

[Swordmaker]

It’s is indeed FUD season. Washington Post publishes more FUD about 5,400 iOS apps sending some kind of privacy data from Apple Devices to app publishers supposedly without informing the device’s users. . . But article does not inform readers that often the data is necessary for the app to work as designed such as location information for Uber or Lyft being enabled to pick up the app users. . . —PING!

Apple Privacy FUD from the Washington Post Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[cuban leaf]

I use my smart phone to make phone calls, text friends, get notices of upcoming appointments, etc. I use it to check commute times and traffic and reroute when necessary. MY wife and I use Life360 to keep track of each other’s location. It’s why, after a 90 minute commute, my wife puts dinner on the table seconds before I get into the house.

I do all my bill paying through my heavily secured desktop computer though. Nothing that really MUST stay secure is done through my cell phone.

[Red Badger]

We still use snail mail to pay bills...........or in person..........

[rjsimmon]

they look at me like I have a third eye.............

Well, have you checked to see if they were correct?

[cuban leaf]

We pay all our bills through autopayment. I’ve not sat down to “pay bills” for a couple of decades. And we write maybe one check a year, if that.

I’ve not carried cash for so long that I found a quarter on the sidewalk a few months ago and, at first, thought it was a nickel.

That said, my wife has put us on a cash phase starting a couple of months ago. It is remarkably inconvenient. So much so that I went back to using plastic to buy gas. I fill up every two days (150 mile commute).

The cash only thing is only temporary, thank God.

[Dr. Sivana]

When I tell people I have no cell phone of ANY kind, they look at me like I have a third eye.............

So why doesn't your Freeper profile list you as being from Venus?

[Sergio]

bkmk

[4yearlurker]

Me too! I do not have a cell phone and never sent a text or took a selfie in my life. Life goes on and I'm doing okay.

[Skywise]

And it’s STILL worse on an Android.

The problem is that Apple has to allow app traffic out for legitimate purposes, but there’s no current way to block traffic to/from apps (as with an ad blocker for safari)

Still - without explicit permission the apps cant get access to your contacts, photos or camera and you can turn off location tracking to the app along with background refresh.

[arthurus]

None of this convinces me I should get any sort of cell phone.

[Red Badger]

My wife and I dine out a fair amount.

We see entire families and sometimes even couples sitting at their tables staring into their phones instead of conversing with each other.

Even babies! One couple I saw had some Sesame Street show on their phone sitting in front of a baby.................

[upchuck]

A solution.

The ONLY way to truly know your phone is off.

[daniel1212]

Ping interest, though I have no cell phone myself. But who knows what Comcast does with what it gains, while maybe MS will see how many of their default preferences are changed by me.

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

I am so glad I grew up when I did, I can’t imagine spending a dinner date with constant interruptions from a phone these kids today CAN NOT put that damn phone away for even 5 minutes!!! It is no wonder people are not getting married they are not spending time getting to know each other!!!

[upchuck]

there’s no current way to block traffic to/from apps

I disagree. See reply number 14.

[El Cid]

Ping to self

[Skywise]

Well, yeah. Turning it off would work too as would not carrying one!

[musicman]

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