iPhone may not be as ‘private’ as people think, researchers warn

Researchers from Finland’s Aalto University recently highlighted privacy concerns surrounding Apple’s iPhone. Although Apple is known for prioritizing privacy, researchers found that hiding personal data from Apple can still be challenging. The study focused on eight pre-installed Apple apps, including Safari, Siri and iMessage, which are an integral part of the Apple ecosystem and difficult to remove.

What researchers say about the iPhone

Researchers say Apple’s privacy protections are surprisingly weak and its user interface often exacerbates confusion. For example, while users can choose to enable Siri, data collection continues in the background regardless of user preference unless settings are specifically changed, which can be complex and scattered across different locations.

While the exact purpose of the collected data is unclear, it is speculated to help train artificial intelligence systems and personalize user experiences. Apple has not confirmed or denied these claims.

In response to these findings, we encourage users to explore third-party alternatives, such as Firefox, and check the privacy settings within their Apple devices to limit data sharing. While this study raises legitimate concerns, it’s important to acknowledge that it only looks at Apple and isn’t comparing it to Google’s Android system.

Despite the outstanding challenges, Apple has introduced a variety of privacy settings and controls that allow users to customize their privacy preferences. Users can take proactive steps to increase their privacy by browsing iPhone settings and limiting permissions for third-party and Apple apps.