iOS apps secretly collect data

2 min
 
Tags: iOS Apple Data Tracking user GPS

iOS apps secretly collect data

There are a lot of iOS apps on the market that are suitable for the iPhone and supposedly make everyday life easier. However, it has been shown that more than 80% of these iOS apps for the iPhone do collect data, even though the description says otherwise. This means that the majority of iOS apps are equipped with permanent tracking in the background.

Very often, these apps are offered as harmless and the user is promised that no data is collected. There are also clear regulations for this. It is also interesting to see to what extent the app passes on the respective information to the operators or also to third parties.

Thus, most of the users' data is collected by the app despite everything. The label cannot be relied on. Technical evaluations have shown that. Immediately after the program is launched, the manufacturer is contacted without the user's consent. This is especially true for sensitive data, which shares information about which websites the user visits and how long he stays there. Behind it are often Facebook and Google, as well as the largest market research companies and advertising groups. However, it is unclear what will happen to the data.

Data is secretly collected

Normally, it is mandatory that the user agrees to this collection of his data. However, there is a lack of information. Very often, sensitive information is involved. Smartphone users should therefore be particularly careful with apps that also pass on the GPS location. This location data often passes into the hands of larger corporations. As a result, the information is offered for sale. However, this is a clear case of data misuse. The tracking data can be forwarded to third parties directly after the start.

Apple is criticized

Typically, Apple is known for setting higher standards than other companies when it comes to privacy. Nevertheless, for Apple, privacy and data protection do not mean what people normally understand by it. Meanwhile, there are more than a dozen false claims, which, for example, also refer to video programs made specifically for children. The information of the provider companies is not checked by Apple at all, there are only isolated random checks.

Passing on ID number and more

The ID numbers are also forwarded to numerous tracking services. This is also the case, for example, with national weather services offered by Apple via app for the smartphone. The sensitive information, such as the requested GPS data of the users, is passed on to Amazon and Google. However, the user knows nothing about this.

Google in the background

Often the libraries or the so-called ready subroutines are connected with it. These should normally perform certain tasks in the programmed apps. This makes the situation easier for the programmer and saves a lot of work. However, the finished app is also little controlled. Most of the libraries come from Google.

Financial income of programmers

In this way, the app provider can earn a lot of money through personalized advertising. This works with the background tracking and the information passed on. Of course, an operator's goal is to increase their financial revenues. However, this is at the expense of the user. The user knows nothing about this. That is why the goal is to consistently implement the applicable EU data protection law.