iPhone users are handing over their personal data with the click of a button, a new study finds.
Popular apps like Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X collect user information through notifications, even if users choose not to open them.
Even more concerning, tests by security researchers at app developer Mysk show that it's not entirely clear why tech companies collect data, and much of it has nothing to do with improving the user experience. Thing.
“We were surprised to learn how widespread this practice is,” Tommy Miske said. As told to Gizmodo, reported a disturbing trend on Thursday.
“Who would have thought that the simple, innocuous action of ignoring a notification would result in so much unique device information being sent to a remote server? Considering the fact that developers can do it on demand? That makes me worried.”
Research shows this scary technique violates Apple's privacy rules because it uses a method called “fingerprinting” to identify users based on their device details in order to send targeted ads. I have not.
Notifications allow fingerprinting to continue even if the app is closed, which typically blocks the app from tracking such information.
“You can intentionally send a notification to the target device so that the app runs in the background and sends back details,” Maiske said.
According to the report, notifications from Facebook collect your IP address, the number of milliseconds since your phone was restarted, how much free memory your phone has, and many other details.
LinkedIn reportedly uses the same technology to know your time zone, display brightness, and mobile carrier you use.
Both companies flatly denied Mysk Inc.'s findings, saying they only use notification data to improve the user experience.
A LinkedIn spokesperson said, “The data collected is shared externally to confirm that the notification was sent successfully and in case a member chooses to launch the app in response to a notification. “It is only used to queue temporary app experiences that will never be used.” he told Gizmodo.
Meta spokesperson Emil Vasquez issued a similar statement. “We may periodically use this information, even when your app is not running, to deliver timely and reliable notifications using Apple's APIs. This is our policy. It is consistent with that.”
TikTok and X were also found to be mining user data through notifications. Neither company responded to requests for comment from Gizmodo or the Post.
Apple is expected to release new updates soon that will better protect users from data mining by giant companies.
App developers will be required to explain why and how they collect such information to prevent companies from using it for improper reasons.
