Clipboard security/privacy

Question

Level 1

48 points

Clipboard security/privacy

While working on some spreadsheets on my Mac, I opened a dating app on my phone and saw “Pasting from Mac” upon launch.

I’ve never noticed this before because pasting from just the iPhone’s clipboard doesn’t notify the user, but of course over Bluetooth from a nearby device it does... so my questions:

1) does anyone else have this issue, or has anyone come across it before?

2) why is this happening? Is it ok?

3) are there any actual settings to prevent an app from taking content from your clipboard?

4) if Apple allows this.. why? And if they don’t, are they doing something to stop it??

edit: how can I, or anyone else, contact Apple with concerns about this?

iPhone X

Posted on Apr 2, 2019 1:04 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 2, 2019 1:59 PM in response to KasaiS

It is syncing the clipboard across devices that have handoff enabled and that share an Apple ID. It is not taking content from the shared clipboard unless you paste it. And it warns you that's what is happening. I don't see anything to be concerned about.

And if you don't like this behavior turn off Handoff. it isn't the only thing that is shared by handoff.

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Answer 2

LACAllen

Level 8

43,612 points

Apr 2, 2019 1:13 PM in response to KasaiS

This is expected behaviour and is a "Continuity" feature.

The 2 devices share an Apple ID and have Bluetooth enabled.

See >>> https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204681

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Answer 3

Apr 2, 2019 1:16 PM in response to KasaiS

If you don't want this feature turn off Handoff. Settings/General/Handoff.

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Answer 4

Apr 2, 2019 1:23 PM in response to KasaiS

Clipboard handoff is a feature of iOS. It's just there. Anything you save to the clipboard on any device will be available on any other device that has handoff enabled, for a short time. I've never checked to see how long. I use this feature frequently. Handoff is an all or nothing feature; you can't turn off some features and not others. As you should not be sharing an Apple ID with anyone I don't see how it is a security issue.

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Answer 5

Apr 2, 2019 2:20 PM in response to KasaiS

KasaiS wrote:

As soon as I launch the app, my clipboard is accessed. This, to me at least, seems like a concern regarding privacy.

That would seem to be a problem with the dating app itself. I suggest you consult the developer to find out what their privacy policy is and to inform them of this behavior.

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Answer 6

KasaiS Author

Level 1

48 points

Apr 2, 2019 1:17 PM in response to LACAllen

No I know the features of continuity; I love it. I just want to know why it’s being ‘put into effect’ without me even touching a text field on my iPhone to copy the content into.

Why is my clipboard being accessed- from any device, without my initiation.

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Answer 7

KasaiS Author

Level 1

48 points

Apr 2, 2019 1:33 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence I'm in complete agreement with you on Handoff and everything else you're saying, but my question (and perhaps I should've phrased it in the initial post) is why the application on my iPhone is accessing my clipboard without me doing anything. As soon as I launch the app, my clipboard is accessed. This, to me at least, seems like a concern regarding privacy.

The only reason I'm bringing up the fact that it's my Mac's clipboard is because I wouldn't have noticed if it were just my iPhone clipboard, since there's no pop-up saying 'pasting from iPhone' on an iPhone. that's all.

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Answer 8

LACAllen

Level 8

43,612 points

Apr 2, 2019 1:37 PM in response to KasaiS

Yes, your op was vague and it seemed you knew nothing about this feature.

To your privacy question, as asked... if they are both your devices in your control, where is the privacy concern?

If you allow others to have access to a device signed in to your Apple ID, you have risked your privacy, not Apple.

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Answer 9

LACAllen

Level 8

43,612 points

Apr 2, 2019 2:00 PM in response to KasaiS

Can you address this concern??

You know none of us are Apple right?

How do you expect us to "address this concern"?

All I can do is suggest you should not have it.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://apple.com/feedback

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Answer 10

KasaiS Author

Level 1

48 points

Apr 2, 2019 1:19 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

That will just stop the app from accessing the clipboard from other devices via continuity... I don’t want it to access my clipboard at all, without me actually pressing paste.

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Answer 11

KasaiS Author

Level 1

48 points

Apr 2, 2019 1:50 PM in response to LACAllen

Well I’ve read it again, and if you look at my bullet questions (1, 2, 3, 4) I ask nothing about what handoff or continuity is. Nowhere do I ask what it is. I even state that I know pasting from an iPhone won’t show this “pasting from” message. I specifically said it happens upon launch.

My concern: the application is taking content from my clipboard (which I only knew about thanks to the handoff notification, hence the mention of it) without me doing anything. Can you address this concern??

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