Have you ever wondered what your apps are doing while you’re using them, or they are running in the background? Apple’s privacy report feature, created in 2021, enables you to see this information upfront and dive into what’s really happening on your device during key usage times. With data privacy taking center stage as a main concern and priority for mobile users all around the globe, this is a welcome addition to the smartphone arena. While this is largely a positive development, understanding the report takes a pinch of advanced knowledge that most people won’t find intuitive. So, this guide focuses on what the iOS privacy report on the iPhone actually is and how you can gain some understanding of the key features.
iOS App Privacy Report
So, what exactly is this privacy report and why is it worth talking about? Well, for years, mobile users have suspected and understood that their data is manipulated by apps on their phones. However, accessing this information has never been straightforward and there has been an undeniable call for providers to offer a higher level of transparency. Apple has answered this call, and you are now able to see what an app is doing in various categories. For instance, you will now have direct data about how many times the big social media platforms used your microphone, because yes, they do that.
What Are the Benefits of This?
There are some clear benefits here that everyone will undoubtedly herald. Not only does it make general browsing and interaction with apps more comfortable, but it also opens the door to an increased ability to control what is being used and where. This means you can protect the things you want to keep private and manipulate factors that may work in your favor in more direct ways. It’s worth exploring these points in more detail to paint a fuller picture.
Increased Trust and Reputation
A brand’s reputation is a major focus in any business strategy. Companies need to be upfront and dependable to retain the edge over competitors and keep on enticing new customers to the fold. Without trust, this is arguably impossible. Allowing users full access to their data analytics in a transparent format such as this means that people will be more inclined to sign up and engage, or stay loyal to this particular brand regardless of their network, etc.
Better Security
Is there anything more disorientating than knowing someone is using your personal information or even your voice but not having all the facts? It feels like a major violation because it is. Therefore, a privacy report feature allows you to mitigate security risks on your phone that may cause harm, for example, in your financial apps. This is invaluable when it comes to maintaining high standards of safety online and in how your data is distributed in the wider commerce sectors.
Greater Control
It is also apparent that consumers wish to be in control of their data, usage, and information. This is a natural response and is now possible thanks to the privacy report. Whereas before these key points were elusive, they are now printed in plain sight for any user to sift through at their leisure. This affords a greater degree of control that should never be undervalued or dismissed because this is what customers want.
Limiting Third-Party Access to Sensitive Data
Apps often use our contact lists, photos and even the microphone for reasons that are sometimes controversial. Therefore, if you notice any big red flags such as an app taking liberties with your mic or using contact data, you can stop it in its tracks.
How Do iPhone Users Access This Report?
So those are the big benefits, but how do you gain access to the report to impact the necessary changes and create a more autonomous digital profile?
Update Your iOS
Everyone with an iPhone has seen the pop-up about iOS needing to update. Unless you have successfully installed the latest and greatest from Apple, you won’t be able to find this report in your settings. Therefore, the first task to complete is to plug in your phone and let the iOS download to the most recent version. To access the report it has to be above 15.2, which should not be a problem for the newer models of iPhone. Anything less than this will not work, so if you have an old device that is limited in terms of what it can access iOS-wise, this may not work until you upgrade to a newer piece of kit. The steps to update are as follows:
- Go to the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Click on the Software Update option.
- Download and install then wait until it is finished.
Allow Access For the Report to Get Started
After the iOS has been successfully updated, it is now time to go back to your settings and allow access. This will mean that the privacy report can begin gathering the data it needs to generate a comprehensive play-by-play for you to read through and act upon. It is good to know that this is your data and Apple doesn’t keep any of it, it is purely stored on your device for these specific purposes. Go back to your settings and click on the Privacy tab. At the bottom of the list is the App Privacy Report, switch it on and allow access. It will record around a week’s worth of activity, so there is little point checking in immediately. However, do come back to it after a few hours to make sure it is up and running and you haven’t made any mistakes. There will be a little data already because it all updates in real-time.
What Does the Report Do?
The basics of this have been covered above, but it’s always good to get into a little more detail. Every time you use an app or a website, the privacy report pays attention. It compresses this information and categorizes it into digestible formats for you, the reader, to browse through and observe. The result allows people to have more flexibility and control over what their apps are doing. If you don’t like the amount of access an app has, you can simply delete the app and use a different competitor’s app instead or adjust the settings so that it works for you.
What Are the Limitations?
Of course, there can never be 100% transparency and despite this being a largely positive motion, there are some limitations to take note of as well. For example, sometimes apps gain access to your contact list. If this happens, you will be notified, and it will be stated on the privacy report. However, there will be no further justification or insight into what they did with that access. So, in this sense, you will be none the wiser. This is known as Data and Sensor Access, and it verifies which of your personal storage like contacts, photos, and microphone have been tapped into. You will be able to see a timestamp and a quantity in terms of points of mining, but you won’t have any more information than that.
So, there are still some gaps that require filling in the future, but the privacy report is generally a good feature to dive into. Know what to look for and chase up all the red flags to protect your data.