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Keeping your information private if you own an iPhone, MacBook, or iPad can be very confusing, according to a new academic study that looked at Apple’s built-in apps like FaceTime, Safari, Siri, and Touch ID. There is a gender.
This new study from Finland’s Aalto University looked at how apps built into Apple devices actually behave, even when they’re unused and dormant in the background.
People are becoming increasingly aware of how websites and apps collect and process data. Look at the recent backlash against Temu’s “free cash giveaway”.
Academic researchers at a Finnish university investigated the privacy settings of Apple’s default apps. We’re talking about apps that you can’t get rid of unless you have great technical talent.
These are apps that are included in most Apple products, primarily iPhones, Macs, and iPads.
Specifically, eight apps were examined: Safari, Siri, Family Sharing, iMessage, FaceTime, Location Services, Find My, and Touch ID.
iPhone comes with Apple apps (Getty Stock Images)
Associate Professor Janne Lindqvist, head of Aalto’s computer science department, said it was “virtually impossible” to get rid of these apps.
This, coupled with the data collection that takes place in the background of the device, has Lindqvist concerned.
Associate Professor Lindqvist said: “We focused on apps that are an integral part of the platform and ecosystem. These apps are locked into the platform and virtually impossible to remove.”
“The way the user interface is designed, users have no idea what’s going on. For example, users are given the option to enable or disable Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant.
MacBooks come with many of the same apps as iPhones (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“However, enabling only refers to whether you want to use Siri voice control.
“Siri collects data in the background from other apps you use, regardless of your choices, unless you know how to go into settings and specifically change them.”
The study asked participants to change settings to protect their privacy, but no one could control them.
“We found that participants were unable to prevent any app from sharing their data with other applications or service providers,” said Amel Burdusen, a postdoctoral researcher at Aalto.
Academic researchers are worried about what they’ve discovered (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The researchers further note that “the online instructions for restricting data access are very complex and confusing, and the required steps are scattered in many different places. You can go to the app’s settings or go to the central settings There is no clear direction on whether to move to or both,” he added.
Lindqvist claims that the data collected by the app could be used to train the artificial intelligence system behind Siri to provide a personalized user experience.
LADbible has reached out to Apple for comment.
Featured image credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Stock Images
Topics: iPhone, Apple, Technology, Hacks, World News
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