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Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

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Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#451

Post by thatoneuser »

adarsh_thampy wrote: post #20

Apple's strategy is simple. They want to retain control over their customers; at the same time, force the developers into relying entirely on Apple as a middle man so that they can't cut Apple out of any transactions. This way, Apple gets their cut and user's get some level of privacy. That they can get away with this arm-twisting as "privacy" is to give credit to their brand positioning.

Why do you say "privacy" as though it's not really that? It is privacy and privacy is immensely valuable these days.

And what do you think Google and Microsoft and Facebook don't also try to control their customers? They do just as much but they also violate privacy.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#452

Post by thatoneuser »

ITT people who are blowing off privacy as though it's not valuable while simultaneously talking about Apple lock in like they're the only company to do that.

Idk what yall are on but privacy is valuable to most of us. That comes with a cost and it's not hard to see why - selling private data is how companies make more profit while charging less than apple. Don't wanna pay? You lose privacy. Want privacy? You pay. It's that simple. At last apple gives an option, meanwhile idk how Facebook and Google and all don't face regulation for the egregious privacy violations they commit.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#453

Post by [deleted] »

MichaelApproved wrote: post #255
EduardoBautista wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just to clear the text.

I doubt that's it. First, it's the same size and shape and position as the selectors below. Second, the usual "clear text" X only shows up when the input box is in focus. That doesn't look to be the case in the picture.

[deleted]

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#454

Post by taneq »

fastball wrote: post #218
galangalalgol wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except now you don't have control over your own device. I don't think they are orthogonal goals. Give me root on my iPhone and I'll switch for the privacy. Leaving gapps off an Android install is becoming crippling.

The idea that the ability to easily root your own phone is going to make you more secure is laughable.

There's two competing threat models here. The first is that some shady government agency is going to take your phone and try and break into it. This is an issue if you're actually going up against a government in some form. The second is that the phone itself sends stuff across the internet that you don't want sent. Rooting your phone may hinder the first but it's necessary for the second.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#455

Post by m463 »

geofft wrote: post #362
tfha wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest problem that I have is that it's privacy built on a closed source platform that works extremely hard to wall users in and create substantial vendor lock-in. As someone who has tried multiple times to dip their toes into the Apple world, I can tell you that it's highly hostile to users who try to pick and choose how much they want to be an Apple citizen. If you don't agree to sign up for Apple cloud on the…

This is quite at odds with my experience with my iPhone, so I'm confused. I don't have an iCloud account. I'm not sure what "basic functions for a smartphone" I'm unable to use, but, I don't want my photos backed up to iCloud - I'll handle that on my own, for the photos I actually want somewhere other than on my local device. Everything otherwise seems to work. I don't use iMessage. I've ticked the little box that sa…

I have an iphone, but I think a few things would be nice:

- not identify yourself to apple

- be able to firewall apps - be able to determine who your app is contacting and block them

- allow running of your own software (without asking permission from apple)

- be able to turn off location services (even if the Location Services checkbox is off, apple continuously contacts ls.apple.com)

- be able to turn off "side features" of wifi (crowdsourced location of your access points), bluetooth (ibeacons) and nfc (currently you can't disable)

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#456

Post by lern_too_spel »

babypuncher wrote: post #419
laughinghan wrote: post #415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is multimedia quality between Android phones using MMS much better than iPhone-without-iMessage? I thought it's the same, which isn't lock-in, that's just iMessage being a superior service to MMS, and in fact the iPhone is going out of its way to not lock you in and allow MMS. On the other hand, if the iPhone is intentionally crippling MMS, that's pretty slimy lock-in.

SMS is just as bad on Android phones as it is on iPhones. The problem is it's an ancient crappy standard and carriers are uninterested in fixing it. That is why Apple created iMessage. Apple does nothing to cripple SMS on iPhones. The only thing Apple is guilty of is not opening up iMessage to non-Apple devices. With Apple Music and TV+ making their way to other ecosystems, I'm hopeful this might change.

> SMS is just as bad on Android phones as it is on iPhones.

False. Unlike iOS, Android supports RCS.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#457

Post by lern_too_spel »

IOT_Apprentice wrote: post #337
tfha wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest problem that I have is that it's privacy built on a closed source platform that works extremely hard to wall users in and create substantial vendor lock-in. As someone who has tried multiple times to dip their toes into the Apple world, I can tell you that it's highly hostile to users who try to pick and choose how much they want to be an Apple citizen. If you don't agree to sign up for Apple cloud on the…

I'm unclear about your iMessage comment, as Android or other platforms can send and receive messages just fine with users on iMessage. As a followup, how is Android, or chromium any better in that regard, given Googles plans to disallow proper adblocking as it interferes with their business model?

> How is Android, or chromium any better in that regard, given Googles plans to disallow proper adblocking as it interferes with their business model?

You can install Firefox on Android with ublock origin.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#458

Post by lern_too_spel »

babypuncher wrote: post #400
myself248 wrote: post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Furthermore, they're based in a jurisdiction that's subject to warrantless blanket subpoenas with zero oversight. They may not be selling our data explicitly to the lowest bidder, but everything they gather is still accessible to whoever sits in the White House and whatever their minions think would be fun to dig up. What makes Apple different is that since their business model doesn't depend on gathering and selling…

Except Apple went to court and proved that they can't hand over this data even if they want to. US law allows law enforcement with a warrant to require Apple to hand over any data they have, but Apple isn't required to help them crack the users password so they can decrypt it.

> but Apple isn't required to help them crack the users password so they can decrypt it.

Apple would have to argue that in court. They would almost certainly lose.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#459

Post by lern_too_spel »

babypuncher wrote: post #398
maxxxxx wrote: post #381

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With the push to more and more iCloud I would assume they have a lot of data but I am not sure.

Didn't Apple prove to the FBI in court that they literally cannot access a users iCloud data without their password? Obviously that still isn't as trustworthy as open source tools you can verify yourself, but it's a far cry better than any privacy guarantee you're getting from Google.

> Didn't Apple prove to the FBI in court that they literally cannot access a users iCloud data without their password?

No. Apple regularly hands over iCloud data to government investigator. In China, Apple handed over its keys, so the Chinese government does not even need to involve Apple to get iCloud data.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#460

Post by Kleinlieu »

m463 wrote: post #455
geofft wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is quite at odds with my experience with my iPhone, so I'm confused. I don't have an iCloud account. I'm not sure what "basic functions for a smartphone" I'm unable to use, but, I don't want my photos backed up to iCloud - I'll handle that on my own, for the photos I actually want somewhere other than on my local device. Everything otherwise seems to work. I don't use iMessage. I've ticked the little box that sa…

I have an iphone, but I think a few things would be nice: - not identify yourself to apple - be able to firewall apps - be able to determine who your app is contacting and block them - allow running of your own software (without asking permission from apple) - be able to turn off location services (even if the Location Services checkbox is off, apple continuously contacts ls.apple.com) - be able to turn off "side fea…

- be able to firewall apps - be able to determine who your app is contacting and block them

FYI you can do this with an ad blocker app that users VPN.

- allow running of your own software (without asking permission from apple)

There’s the option to sideload apps but it does require a Mac and developer knowledge.

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