YOUR iPhone can reveal exactly how apps are using your most private information.
A clever iPhone hack – only possible since last year – can highlight the dangers of over-sharing.
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It’s called the App Privacy Report, and it’s tucked away in your iPhone privacy settings.
“App Privacy Report helps give you visibility into the ways apps use the privacy permissions you’ve granted them, as well as their network activity,” Apple explained.
It’s only available in iOS 15.2 or later, so make sure you’re updated by going into Settings > General > Software Update.
Then find it by going into Settings > Privacy > App Privacy Report.
You’ll need to actively turn it on, at which point it will begin scooping up info on how apps use your private data.
“App Privacy Report starts gathering information only after you turn it on, so it may take a little time for details to appear,” Apple said.
“You’ll see more info as you continue using apps on your device.
“The data in your App Privacy Report is encrypted and stored only on your device.”
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You can turn it off at any time using the same process.
And switching it off will clear the data from your device.
What’s in iPhone App Privacy Report?
There are two main areas that the report focuses on.
The first is Data & Sensor Access, which monitors when an app has accessed “privacy-sensitive data or device sensors” in the past week.
That would include details about an app accessing your Location, photos, Camera, Microphone, Contacts and more.
If you tap on an app and data type, you’ll be able to find out more.
Lots of apps will be using this information legitimately.
For instance, Apple Music might need Contacts data to show your profile photo.
The second focus is Network Activity.
This will include info about domains that apps have contacted – or websites you’ve visited within apps.
“A domain is the name of a website that allows it to be found on the internet,” Apple explained.
“This information also helps provide visibility into domains that may be collecting data about you across different apps and websites.”
You’ll see domains contacted within the last seven days.
It could include you clicking on an article in an app or playing a video.
You’ll also see the most-frequently contacted domains across all of your apps.
But you won’t get a report on network activity from private browsing sessions within browser apps.
All of this should give you a good idea of whether an app is abusing your trust.
“App Privacy Report is designed to give you more visibility into how apps access your data,” Apple said.
“If an app appears to be accessing your data in a way or at a time that you didn’t expect, you can update your privacy settings or revoke permission.”
It’s possible to check your App Privacy Report at any time, and as often as you like.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
