What data does Big Sur send to Apple?

That link is little more than an internet conspiracy theory.

First of all, it has nothing to do with Big Sur. The problem the other day was caused by nobody being able to download and install Big Sur. People who were affected (which is not everyone by the way - I didn’t notice a thing) weren’t actually running Big Sur yet.

Secondly, this is a critical part of macOS security. Apple is checking to make sure that you are running an app whose certificate has been revoked. That only happens when Apple discovers that malware has been distributed with a valid security certificate. Apple now requires these certificates just for this purpose - so they can revoke them, if necessary.

Don’t believe everything you see on the internet. And if it is about Apple, be extra suspicious. Why do you think there were so many problems anyway? Nothing generates more hype than Apple. And when something goes wrong, people want to capitalize on Apple’s hype by posting nonsense like that.

Read about privacy information in the Safari and App Store areas here.

https://www.apple.com/macos/big-sur/

This answer is a typical gaslighting strategy attempting to do damage control. The problem with the apple servers brought to surface the fact the OS sends unencrypted information about the software one runs on her/his own computer, every time those programs run. Read the details in the article.

This is not right, to put it mildly. At another level, it is creepy and I feel violated.

If I knew this, I would not have bought my MBP 2 months ago.

I came to the conclusion that if you want and value privacy, you have to use a linux computer & distribution. Unfortunately for practical reasons (availability of certain software that we use), we have to use windows, macos. Apple goes to a direction where they want to make the macOs as locked down as mobile devices, i.e. the point where you can only run software vetted by Apple. This is bad on so many levels.

I paid $$$$ for a device that spies on me.

Proudrooster wrote:

There were two problems.

1. The Big Sur download problem

You think?

2. Once Big Sur was installed, programs wouldn't open on computer connected to the Internet due to the new reporting software servers at Apple being bogged down.

False. Due to #1, nobody had actually managed to install Big Sur. The people who did experience this problem experienced on earlier versions of the operating system.

I still want an official response on this from Apple, it sounds sketchy and anti-privacy, especially since the data is going to a 3rd party.

Completely false.

+1

Proudrooster wrote:

I still want an official response on this from Apple, it sounds sketchy and anti-privacy, especially since the data is going to a 3rd party.

You're not going to get that here.

This is a user forum. You are not talking to Apple.

Proudrooster wrote:

However Apple has explained the purpose of these changes and claim it is mostly to keep malicious software and Fortnite off of your computer.

Hilarious!

I hate to break it to you, but if you don't want Apple collecting your IP address, you are going to have to discontinue your use of a few more services, in addition to basic security. You will need to disconnect your e-mail, your text messages, your photos, your music, your maps, your contacts, and the rest of your iCloud files. And that's just Apple. All the people freaked out over Apple's data collection practices are going to totally lose it when they find out about what Google, Facebook, and the advertising industry does with your IP address.