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Safari is sending every search query to Apple

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Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#101

Post by ljfuller »

jsmthrowaway wrote: post #82
bo1024 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not at all inaccurate. Might be alarmism, I don't know. But I think it just demonstrates the ways in which users' expectations about privacy are mismatched with the products they use. For example, your average non-tech-savvy user would never realize that an important privacy setting is in a search setting marked "suggestions". It's hard to say more without seeing the text of Apple's Privacy Documentation that is…

> For example, your average non-tech-savvy user would never realize that an important privacy setting is in a search setting marked "suggestions". Is this not clear enough? http://i.imgur.com/i1Zq3E4.png

Apparently not :-)

Those instructions disable "Spotlight Results" only in Spotlight-as-in-desktop-Spotlight.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#102

Post by kingnight »

cmelbye wrote: post #61

This is inaccurate alarmism. It shouldn't be surprising that the search bar makes autocomplete requests to Apple as you type. The address, phone number, and map link that popped up when you typed in the name of a local business, for example, didn't just appear out of thin air. However, it seemed suspicious to me that Apple would make it impossible, as the author claims, to type in the Safari address bar without sendi…

Would you be able to confirm what occurs with the default settings on (suggestions on for both spotlight and Safari) and the browser is kicked into private mode. I'd presume nothing is sent to Apple but can't test at the moment.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#103

Post by dvhh »

bo1024 wrote: post #77
cmelbye wrote: post #61

This is inaccurate alarmism. It shouldn't be surprising that the search bar makes autocomplete requests to Apple as you type. The address, phone number, and map link that popped up when you typed in the name of a local business, for example, didn't just appear out of thin air. However, it seemed suspicious to me that Apple would make it impossible, as the author claims, to type in the Safari address bar without sendi…

It's not at all inaccurate. Might be alarmism, I don't know. But I think it just demonstrates the ways in which users' expectations about privacy are mismatched with the products they use. For example, your average non-tech-savvy user would never realize that an important privacy setting is in a search setting marked "suggestions". It's hard to say more without seeing the text of Apple's Privacy Documentation that is…

Let's imagine that the name would be replaced by a slightly let popular company, say one which name begin by an F or a G even one with an M, pichfork would have been already out.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#104

Post by superuser2 »

mikeash wrote: post #78
cscurmudgeon wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Weekly Outrage Time on HN. Have any of the commentors used the latest Safari? Safari does not passively collect data. It is doing much more. It has what can be called search actions. Example Type in a Nissan dealer's name => Brings up with an Icon a clicky that would take you to the nearest Nissan dealer location on Maps. Type in wiki X => Brings up with wiki page for X. Pray tell how would they accomplish without pr…

Who's assuming something nefarious is happening? I find it odd how quickly Apple defenders jump to "let's not assume they're evil" in these cases, when no speculation on motivation is presented. I personally don't care about motivation. I'm not even sure that a large company like Apple can meaningfully have motivations the way that we as individual humans think of them. All that matters is what they do.

It's obvious from the title that we're supposed to see this as a privacy violation, otherwise it wouldn't be news (or the headline would be about the functionality).

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#105

Post by cmelbye »

kingnight wrote: post #102
cmelbye wrote: post #61

This is inaccurate alarmism. It shouldn't be surprising that the search bar makes autocomplete requests to Apple as you type. The address, phone number, and map link that popped up when you typed in the name of a local business, for example, didn't just appear out of thin air. However, it seemed suspicious to me that Apple would make it impossible, as the author claims, to type in the Safari address bar without sendi…

Would you be able to confirm what occurs with the default settings on (suggestions on for both spotlight and Safari) and the browser is kicked into private mode. I'd presume nothing is sent to Apple but can't test at the moment.

Sure: No requests are made while typing in address bar in private mode with default settings.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#106

Post by ljfuller »

cmelbye wrote: post #61

This is inaccurate alarmism. It shouldn't be surprising that the search bar makes autocomplete requests to Apple as you type. The address, phone number, and map link that popped up when you typed in the name of a local business, for example, didn't just appear out of thin air. However, it seemed suspicious to me that Apple would make it impossible, as the author claims, to type in the Safari address bar without sendi…

Howdy,

There are two "Spotlight Suggestions":

- "Spotlight Suggestions" in Safari

- "Spotlight Suggestions" in Spotlight

Both query the same servers, both use the same name, and both return the same information.

A reasonable person might believe that, having followed Apple's instructions for disabling "Spotlight Suggestions" (the Spotlight kind), they'd disabled "Spotlight Suggestions" (the Safari kind) -- especially if you didn't actually see any suggestions appear in Safari (I didn't!).

Mark Rowe, Safari developer at Apple: "That’s probably a fair complaint." https://twitter.com/bdash/status/524005838743035904

There needs to be a single checkbox: "Do not share my Spotlight data with Apple".

There's already a single checkbox for "Diagnostics & Usage Data", and that should be respected too. The network query posted here is actually a search metrics POST, not a live search query, and it's used as metrics for local and remote search performance.

p.s. It was also just pointed out to me that, having selected a specific search engine, a user would not be remiss in believing that their searches would be sent to the only the search engine they had selected.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#107

Post by ggreer »

pserwylo wrote: post #14
orng wrote: post #4

Simple workaround: don't use safari. Long term solution: don't by Apple products. Or at least don't run their software.

Not quite sure why you got down voted. I bought an iPod nano several years ago, because I quite liked the hardware/software that Apple made. However when I found out that they intentionally broke compatibility with 3rd party music software that isn't iTunes, I made the decision to never buy Apple products again. I don't feel that I'm particularly missing out by making this decision (although I am aware that many othe…

Can you link to an explanation of how Apple intentionally broke 3rd-party syncing with iPod Nanos? I don't know what kerfuffle you're referencing.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#108

Post by mikeash »

cscurmudgeon wrote: post #99
mikeash wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You said, "But let us not assume something nefarious is happening." Why even bring that up unless you think somebody might assume nefariousness? Why do I label you as an Apple defender? Because... you're defending... Apple.... Is this a trick question? How would Apple provide this feature without sending data? I don't see how that's a relevant question. You imply that it's OK for them to do this as long as it's neces…

"Let us not do X" can also be uttered before someone does X. Are you saying that online community of Apple haters (I am not calling you a hater) is not prone to assumptions?

I'm saying nothing about Apple haters. No commentary made there, neither express nor implied.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#110

Post by [deleted] »

ggreer wrote: post #107
pserwylo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not quite sure why you got down voted. I bought an iPod nano several years ago, because I quite liked the hardware/software that Apple made. However when I found out that they intentionally broke compatibility with 3rd party music software that isn't iTunes, I made the decision to never buy Apple products again. I don't feel that I'm particularly missing out by making this decision (although I am aware that many othe…

Can you link to an explanation of how Apple intentionally broke 3rd-party syncing with iPod Nanos? I don't know what kerfuffle you're referencing.

[deleted]
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