To get the latest security protections against viruses, exploits and whatever other nasty stuff is out there, it’s wise to keep the software for our devices updated.
For iPhones, that’s especially true now. That’s because Apple’s iOS 13, the most recent mobile software for iPhones, arrived last week. Similar updates to the operating system for iPads, iPadOS, was released this week. And they offer many new tools that help safeguard our digital privacy.
Apple walked me through a list of the new privacy features. Among them is a shortcut to automatically create a burner email address for signing in to apps. The software also has a call-silencing feature to shut down robocallers. And there are new buttons to minimize sharing of location data with third parties.
In an era when digital privacy is in the spotlight, these tools are more than welcome. So I tested iOS 13 for a week to figure out which of the new features are easy to use and how best to take advantage of those items that are buried in the system settings. (Android users, stay tuned for a similar how-to guide on Google’s new privacy tools soon.)
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One word on when you should adopt iOS 13: New operating systems are typically chock-full of software bugs, and this one is no exception. So it would behoove most iPhone owners to wait a few weeks for those glitches to be fixed before installing the free update.
For now, bookmark this column to find out more about iOS 13’s top new privacy features. Then return to it after you download the update.
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Signing in to apps with a burner email address
Apple’s most significant new privacy tool in iOS 13 is a button that lets you use an Apple ID to sign in to apps and websites. It’s called Sign in with Apple.
Versions of this already exist elsewhere. Google and Facebook, for instance, let you use your Google or Facebook accounts to log in to different websites and apps. But Sign in with Apple has a special privacy-centric twist.
When you use it to register for a website or app, iOS 13 will present you with an option to hide your email address that is linked to your Apple ID. If you choose to use it, Apple will create what is essentially a burner email address so that you can sign up for the app or website while hiding your real email address from the third party.
Whenever the website or app then tries to contact you, it will email the burner address and not your real email address. Apple will forward the note to you so you are aware of it. Then if a business starts sending spam to the burner email address, you can easily delete your account and the business won’t have your real email address.
I tested Sign in with Apple with a few apps like the travel-booking app Kayak. It worked smoothly. Here’s how: When I opened the Kayak app, the button labeled Sign in with Apple showed up. After clicking through, I saw the option to hide your email address. From there, Apple generated a random string of characters as a burner address and automatically set a password for the account.
Sign in with Apple then made logging in and out of the Kayak app a breeze. I didn’t have to memorize the burner email address or password; after signing out of the app or website, I signed back in by scanning my face and using Apple’s Face ID biometric system.
There are some downsides. If you try to sign in with the burner email account on, say, a web browser that lacks Sign in with Apple, you will have to manually enter the email address and reset the password.
So this feature is most convenient with apps and sites that you plan to use primarily on the iPhone, to spare you the hassle of jotting down strange email addresses and their passwords.
Shoo, robocallers
Robocallers can make random calls to you throughout the day, which is invasive. But a new option in iOS 13 lets you silence calls coming from all unknown numbers. I ...
> With iOS 13, you can strip metadata from a photo before sharing it. In the Photos app, you choose the photo and tap the icon of a square with an arrow pointing upward. Then click Options, and for the option that says Location, switch it to the off position.
I thought that previously, location metadata was stripped on export - and that this is a new option to retain it. But now I've realised that I might have been wrong. Shows how difficult it is to keep track of pribacy issues these days.
Same. If you use the “web” link under the HN post you can often go via google to the article behind the paywall though. FWIW I didn’t find the article clickbait either.
Reads like an advertorial. Nothing about all the ways that Apple is violating privacy unknown to the majority of it's users. Eg.
- all numbers called go to Apple, no way to stop them spying on you
- stopping iCloud sync/backup is elaborous and error prone
- WiFi and Bluetooth emit their presence at all time
- etc, etc.
iDevices that share the same Apple/iCloud ID will have content synched amongst the devices, and will "ring" once a call is received if the Handoff/Continuity feature is enabled and therefore you will see calls on the log of both phones.
12 comments
[ 13.8 ms ] story [ 396 ms ] threadFor iPhones, that’s especially true now. That’s because Apple’s iOS 13, the most recent mobile software for iPhones, arrived last week. Similar updates to the operating system for iPads, iPadOS, was released this week. And they offer many new tools that help safeguard our digital privacy.
Apple walked me through a list of the new privacy features. Among them is a shortcut to automatically create a burner email address for signing in to apps. The software also has a call-silencing feature to shut down robocallers. And there are new buttons to minimize sharing of location data with third parties.
In an era when digital privacy is in the spotlight, these tools are more than welcome. So I tested iOS 13 for a week to figure out which of the new features are easy to use and how best to take advantage of those items that are buried in the system settings. (Android users, stay tuned for a similar how-to guide on Google’s new privacy tools soon.) Interested in All Things Tech? The Bits newsletter will keep you updated on the latest from Silicon Valley and the technology industry.
One word on when you should adopt iOS 13: New operating systems are typically chock-full of software bugs, and this one is no exception. So it would behoove most iPhone owners to wait a few weeks for those glitches to be fixed before installing the free update.
For now, bookmark this column to find out more about iOS 13’s top new privacy features. Then return to it after you download the update.
Unlock more free articles. Create an account or log in Signing in to apps with a burner email address
Apple’s most significant new privacy tool in iOS 13 is a button that lets you use an Apple ID to sign in to apps and websites. It’s called Sign in with Apple.
Versions of this already exist elsewhere. Google and Facebook, for instance, let you use your Google or Facebook accounts to log in to different websites and apps. But Sign in with Apple has a special privacy-centric twist.
When you use it to register for a website or app, iOS 13 will present you with an option to hide your email address that is linked to your Apple ID. If you choose to use it, Apple will create what is essentially a burner email address so that you can sign up for the app or website while hiding your real email address from the third party.
Whenever the website or app then tries to contact you, it will email the burner address and not your real email address. Apple will forward the note to you so you are aware of it. Then if a business starts sending spam to the burner email address, you can easily delete your account and the business won’t have your real email address.
I tested Sign in with Apple with a few apps like the travel-booking app Kayak. It worked smoothly. Here’s how: When I opened the Kayak app, the button labeled Sign in with Apple showed up. After clicking through, I saw the option to hide your email address. From there, Apple generated a random string of characters as a burner address and automatically set a password for the account.
Sign in with Apple then made logging in and out of the Kayak app a breeze. I didn’t have to memorize the burner email address or password; after signing out of the app or website, I signed back in by scanning my face and using Apple’s Face ID biometric system.
There are some downsides. If you try to sign in with the burner email account on, say, a web browser that lacks Sign in with Apple, you will have to manually enter the email address and reset the password.
So this feature is most convenient with apps and sites that you plan to use primarily on the iPhone, to spare you the hassle of jotting down strange email addresses and their passwords.
Shoo, robocallers
Robocallers can make random calls to you throughout the day, which is invasive. But a new option in iOS 13 lets you silence calls coming from all unknown numbers. I ...
I thought that previously, location metadata was stripped on export - and that this is a new option to retain it. But now I've realised that I might have been wrong. Shows how difficult it is to keep track of pribacy issues these days.
So...clearly, you already like The New York Times. Perhaps you should subscribe.
(Or just clear your cookies.)
iDevices that share the same Apple/iCloud ID will have content synched amongst the devices, and will "ring" once a call is received if the Handoff/Continuity feature is enabled and therefore you will see calls on the log of both phones.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7053494?answerId=282888...