Mine and Your Privacy and Apple

This is an Apple centric article, but if you have any other phone, device or PC this article does have something for you – better cyber security.

Recent advertising from Apple has been emphasising the privacy you are buying into when you pay the Apple the tax! However various stories have been creeping out that things may not be as private as you think, especially as Apple starts to include advertising in it’s product line.

Can Apple identify us from “anonymous” data?

Apple facing fines for privacy violations

I have a range of Apple products (I do not have a Mac PC but I pretty much have everything else) and I pay the Apple tax for the increased security I get from the “walled garden” app store and other privacy enhancements. I particularly like the fact that the hardware and operating systems are entwined, which is not normally the case when you buy an Android device (Google phones being the probable exception).

Apple Privacy and Security Enhancements – I’m in

But I am not a fanboy, I am a realist and take responsibility for my own security and privacy.

I do not use the Apple iOS VPN and here’s why… Written whilst on holiday using a VPN.

I always read the manual and understand clearly what I am going to share. Now I know that is not possible for everyone – sometimes it takes extra research to really determine whether I want Apple or an iOS app to have access to my data – and I am always ready to change my mind. I got an Apple Watch for Christmas and nearly a month later, having read Apple’s manual, I am still tweaking the settings for a balance of functionality and privacy.

So where is this article going?

I came across this excellent article by Matt Burgess, on Wired UK that looks at the Apple Privacy issue, take you though many of the ways Apple keeps a check on you and offers a range of setting that you may wish to change to improve your privacy:

All the Data Apple Collects About You—and How to Limit It | WIRED UK

I worked my through the article and checked my settings. I had recently checked my app sharing settings but it did not hurt to review them again – and on doing that I did change one or two and dumped a couple of unused apps.

You and Your Privacy

Remember ultimately it is your responsibility – it is your privacy. If you are unsure, for example, when an app asks to upload your entire contact list, think carefully does it need it and if you are unsure, decline and either Google or ask around if this request is reasonable.

Get the privacy right and better cyber security follows…

I wrote about this as part of my cyber security degree. There is a correlation between increased privacy and improved cyber security. Both in your personal life and business.

For example by controlling who has access to your company information using role based access control, should one person give away their credentials, you have immediately limited the damage caused and the threat actor will not have access to everything.

So understanding your privacy can lead to better cyber security at work.