Apps Should Not Use Contact Data: Apple | TechTree.com

Apps Should Not Use Contact Data: Apple

Promises fixes for such apps soon.

 

Following the furore over Path.com using data from members' contact list, Apple has decided to make amends with respect to apps that collect user data without their consent. It has stated that any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch application that is acquired through the App Store will have to specify explicitly that the contact data will be accessed. However, as a user you will only be asked for consent, but you would still have no say in how your data will eventually be used.

An Apple spokesperson said, "Apps that collect or transmit a user’s contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our guidelines. We’re working to make this even better for our customers, and as we have done with location services, any app wishing to access contact data will require explicit user approval in a future software release".

While the company is working on the fix, no official timeframe has been specified as yet. Having said that, users need to learn about exercising due caution when sharing confidential details online. A look at Twitter's privacy policy will set alarm bells ringing, especially if you use your smartphone to access the microblogging service.


 

Apps Should Not Use Contact Data: Apple


 

The policy states that optional data such as cell phone numbers, address book, and other contact information can be used by the service for marketing purposes. It also goes on to add that its servers store all the data including your IP address, browser type, the referring domain, pages visited, your mobile carrier, device and application IDs, and search terms. Data such as your username, full IP address, or email address, will be store on the servers for at least 18 months, basically meaning that all you contact information is just one hack away!

Networking and socialising online may be a good way to keep in touch with your friends, but be careful as to what you share with such web services, because they might not be so friendly with you after all.


TAGS: Apps, Security, Internet, Apple, Twitter, Kamakshi

 
News Corner
IMP IMP IMP
##