Apple is committed to privacy: extra label for apps in the App Store

Apple recently launched a campaign to improve privacy in the App Store. The most important measure is that the American company requires developers of apps to clearly state with their apps in the App Store which data from users they collect and share. This information will then be prominently displayed on the App Store page of the relevant app. It is most likely a summary of the privacy conditions.

The labels that accompany the apps should make it possible for users to see at a glance how their privacy is being handled. It states which data is used to track the user and which data is collected and linked to the user. It also states what type of data is collected, what the privacy policy is and whether third-party code is used for advertising. The user must give permission for all these things.

Start on December 8

Starting tomorrow, December 8, Apple will require the privacy labels when submitting a new app and when updating an app. Current versions of apps will continue to work. However, its users must consent to obtain an Identification for Advertisers (IDFA) code that allows apps to track users for advertising purposes.

Other privacy changes in iOS

But the privacy labels aren’t the only changes Apple has made to privacy. It has built an option in its iOS and iPadOS operating system that allows users to choose to share a less accurate location with apps. Furthermore, there is also the “Recording Indicator” in iOS. This is an icon in the status bar that indicates that the camera or microphone of the device is recording.

VPN: a secure “tunnel” to the internet

Internet users who still have concerns about their privacy and would rather not share data about their real location can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). What is VPN? It is a kind of safe “tunnel” between the device you are using and the internet. It protects your internet traffic against peeps, busybodies and censorship. It is not free to (continue to) use it, but it is the easiest and most effective way to secure your internet traffic and hide your online identity.

As soon as you as a user are connected to a secure VPN server, the internet traffic between your device and the internet goes through an encrypted tunnel. Nobody can look in there. That does not apply to hackers, governments and even your own internet provider.