Apple: Aims to Flick the Privacy Flea

Apple Will Require Apps to Obtain User Permission Before Accessing Contact Data

US legislators sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook asking why the company does not require iOS developers to obtain permission from users before apps download users’ contacts. The inquiry follows close behind news that the Path app downloaded users’ address books without their permission. Apple has responded to the question with a promise to change that policy so apps requiring use of address book data request that information explicitly.

*More on this story here:

• http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57378450-83/lawmakers-ask-apple-to-explain-iphone-app-privacy-policies/

*More on this story here:

• http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9224292/Apple_to_ban_stealthy_iPhone_contact_data_harvesting?taxonomyId=17
• http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Apple-Future-iOS-release-will-require-user-permission-for-apps-to-access-address-book-1435404.html
• http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/15/10416360-iphone-flaw-allows-apps-access-to-your-contacts

[Editor's Comment  (SANs.org):

"I wonder if they will be in time to avoid a major disaster. I was surprised to read on slashdot that your data was safer on unapproved apps for jailbroken iPhones than on approved apps from Apple's store":

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/02/15/0036242/unauthorized-ios-apps-leak-private-data-less-than-approved-ones]

• Apple Responds To Privacy Risks Concerning Access To Contact Data [News] (makeuseof.com)

 

***Back story on NetsecurityIT.com:

1. http://netsecurityit.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/path-ios-app-stores-address-books-on-its-servers/
2. http://netsecurityit.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/update-path-apologizes-for-storing-address-books-on-its-servers/

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