Yandex, sometimes called Russia’s version of Google, gathers data from millions of iOS users and sends it to Russia, according to a new report.
5 essential data analyst skills (and how to learn them)
If you’re reading this, you’re likely well aware of the fact that data analysts are in high demand. With more companies gathering staggering amounts of information — and scrambling to leverage it in their operations — data-savvy professionals are needed to make sense of it all.
Apple sued for alleged lack of transparency over iCloud data
A class-action lawsuit filed this week takes aim at Apple for storing some iCloud data on third-party servers.
The company is accused of breaching consumer trust to sell iCloud subscriptions. It states iCloud data will be “stored by Apple,” but offloads some of it to Amazon and other companies.
How to save gigabytes of data while traveling
Summer! That time of year where you stay in somebody else’s home via Airbnb, crank up their air conditioning and wear a sweater in the house, even though it’s 90 degrees outside. Aka the season where you leave the limitless comfort of your home Wi-Fi, to venture out into the world using just a restricted cellular plan.
Summer revives that old pioneering spirit of hardship, the bare essentials of living, and of making do with whatever you have. And just like the original English and Spanish invaders of the modern-day United States, you’ll have to do without the comforts of on-demand GPS and automatic app updates.
Today we’ll see how you can stretch your meager data allowance while traveling.
iWork, Office and Google Docs banned from German schools
Apple’s iWork platform has been banned from German schools alongside Microsoft Office 365 and Google Docs.
Privacy regulators say that using the cloud-based services “exposes personal information about students and teachers.” They also suggest that the data might be accessed by U.S. authorities.
How to ask Google to auto-wipe your activity data on iOS
You can now ask the Google app on iOS to automatically wipe your location and activity history.
The new feature, which was showcased during Google I/O in late May, takes the hassle out of covering your tracks. You only have to set it up once and it will take care of itself going forward. Here’s how to get started.
iOS 13 drops App Store’s 200MB cellular download limit
Apple is finally doing away with the App Store’s cellular download limit in iOS 13.
The cap was increased from 150MB to 200MB just last week, but as of this fall, you should have the option to ignore it altogether.
Google CEO takes a shot at tech giants which sell privacy as a ‘luxury’ product
Google and Apple’s feud has cooled a lot in recent years. But like a married couple who are staying together until the kids are at college, neither company is beyond throwing a bit of undercover shade at the other.
Tim Cook has previously taken issue with tech giants which gobble up user data. Now Google CEO Sundar Pichai has taken to the New York Times to blast unnamed tech giants which sell privacy as a “luxury good.”
Secret Apple data spilled through public Box links
Apple is one of a larger number of big companies that has been inadvertently leaking sensitive data through Box, the cloud storage service.
Security researchers found that staff were exposing data by sharing public links to files and documents that can be easily discovered. It’s thought more than 90 companies, including Box itself, are affected.
Apple pulls third-party SDKs from Shazam in latest update
Apple has pulled all but one third-party SDK from Shazam in its latest update.
The move wipes out analytics firms, ad networks, open-source projects, and more — including Google AdMob, Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads, and DoubleClick. Only HockeyApp, a Microsoft platform for beta testing, is still available.
Apple plans to limit accelerometer and gyroscope access in Safari for iOS
Apple plans to limit Safari’s access to the accelerometer and gyroscope inside your iOS device in an upcoming software update.
iOS 12.2 will prevent websites from having access to motion data by default, rendering certain content unusable — even on Apple’s own website. Users will be able to change this inside Safari’s settings, however.
Facebook will remove iOS app that paid users to ‘spy’ on them
Facebook will shut down the iOS version of its Research app after a TechCrunch report revealed how it was paying users aged 13-35 to install a VPN, allowing it to gather data on their phone and web activity.
This follows an incident last August in which Apple asked Facebook to remove its Onavo VPN from the App Store, since it was violating Apple’s data collection policies.
Apple acquires AI startup with a focus on privacy
Apple has reportedly acquired an artificial intelligence startup that specializes in on-device machine learning software.
Silk Labs’ technology processes data without sending it to the cloud, which is a perfect fit for Apple’s privacy-conscious approach to AI. It’s not clear how much Cupertino paid for the company when the deal was struck earlier this year.
Twitter brings useful data saver feature to iOS
The official Twitter app for iPhone and iPad can now help you cut down on your data usage.
Its new data saver feature takes steps to reduce the amount of data required to load tweets in your timeline. It’s also a blessing for those who like to avoid auto-playing videos.
Marco Rubio wants Apple to shed light on data-stealing Mac app
Florida Senator Marco Rubio isn’t happy about Mac apps. Specifically, he’s not happy about Mac apps stealing user data and sending it off to remote servers in China. And he’s perhaps most unhappy that Apple failed to act sooner than it did.
In a letter sent Wednesday, Rubio voiced his complaints to Apple CEO Tim Cook. In it, he asked why Apple failed to immediately act upon information it had about an app, Adware Doctor, which was behaving in a malicious manner.
Apple forces Facebook VPN out of App Store for stealing user data
Facebook has removed its Onavo Protect app from the App Store after reportedly violating Apple’s data-collection policies.
The VPN service was being used to gather information about how people use their devices outside of Facebook. Apple officials informed Facebook that Onavo violated new rules introduced in June, which are designed to limit data collection by app developers.
Zuckerberg fires back at Cook over Facebook privacy diss
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has taken exception to Apple CEO Tim Cook’s comments that Facebook doesn’t care about its customers because it sells their data to advertisers.
Zuck went on the defensive in one of his first interviews since news broke that Cambridge Analytica leaked the personal data of 50 million users. The interview touched a number of topics, but when asked specifically about Cook’s comments Zuckerberg unleashed a tangent on why Tim Cook is wrong.
iPhone X users report overheating, excessive data consumption
Life with an iPhone X isn’t as rosy as it should be for some adopters. Many report that their handsets are plagued by frequent overheating and excessive data consumption. Some have even resorted to placing their handset in a freezer to cool it down.
Upgrade your reading speed, data management and more [Week’s best deals]
The cool weather (finally) starts to settle in. But here at the Cult of Mac Store, we’ve got some hot new deals on gear and gadgets to keep you warm. That includes iOS management tools, super secure cloud storage, even a WiFi connected dartboard. Most are more than 60 percent off, read on for more details:
Apple Watch saves man from pulmonary embolism
Wearing an Apple Watch has become the difference between life and death for a New York man who never expected that buying one could save his life.
James Green, a 28-year-old from Brooklyn, describes himself as a serial data tracker. When he bought the original Apple Watch two years ago, he picked it up mostly for the notifications and tracking bike rides. Now, thanks to a heart-tracking app, it’s become a big part of his health story.
Series 3 vs. Series 1: Which Apple Watch is right for you?
Apple Watch Series 3 is now on sale, with prices starting at $329. If you want LTE connectivity — and you will — you’ll be coughing up at least $399.
That’s not cheap. But is it worth it? And should you even consider last year’s Series 1 model, which remains on sale as a more affordable alternative?
Find out right here in our 2017 Apple Watch comparison, which will help you decide which option is the best for you.
6 reasons why you should order an Apple Watch with LTE today
Apple Watch Series 3 is now available to pre-order ahead of its sales debut on September 22. If you move fast, you may still be able to claim one for launch day delivery.
But do you really need one? Maybe you already have a previous Apple Watch that’s still serving you well. Maybe you’ve never really seen the need for a smartwatch at all. Well, forget all that.
Here are 6 reasons why you should buy an Apple Watch with LTE today.
iOS 11 has another feature to stave off snooping cops
Apple has made a couple of changes in iOS 11 that make it more difficult for cops to get into your iPhone. We discovered one of those last month, and now another has been uncovered by security software developer ElcomSoft.
It makes it even more difficult for law enforcement to obtain the data on your iPhone, even if they have your fingerprint.
What to do if you were affected by the massive Equifax hack
Credit report giant Equifax confirms a “cybersecurity incident” may have compromised the data of 143 million U.S. customers.
Criminals gained access to Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, credit card numbers and more between mid-May and July of this year. It’s one of the biggest and most worrisome data breaches in history.
Here’s what to do if you’re one of the customers affected.
Apple promises it won’t store or sell your HomePod data
Apple has confirmed that it won’t store or sell any data collected by its HomePod smart speaker.
HomePod won’t send anything to Apple’s servers until a user activates it with the “Hey Siri” command. Apple encrypts any information received after that point. The data gets encrypted and sent using an anonymous ID.