Privacy Red Flag with Device Name!!!

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Level 1

8 points

Privacy Red Flag with Device Name!!!

We all know that Apple ID is kinda secure and private with our names and email address when we download third party apps. But as I go through the privacy details of third party apps in the App Store, I realise many of these apps uses 2 kinds of identifiers. User ID (which is fine since we explicitly gave our permission to third party developers to use by creating an account with them) and Device ID. For many of us, we like to name our iPhones and iPads with our real names and some of which are really unique. My question is whether the name that we use to name our devices in (settings-general-about) is private to third party apps? If the device name is easily accessible by developers then Apple should really warn users about a privacy violation. Also will our phone serial numbers and anything else linked to our device ID be easily called for by developers? Have read through all the resources regarding privacy published by Apple in their latest push for privacy but don’t seem to find an answer to this loophole

Posted on Jul 13, 2021 6:35 AM

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Answer 1

rose_10

Community Specialist

Jul 14, 2021 7:19 AM in response to gangster82

Hi gangster82,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!

We are happy to provide you with some information related to app tracking. "App Tracking Transparency allows you to choose whether an app can track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites for the purposes of advertising or sharing with data brokers. " Get more details in If an app asks to track your activity.

Also check out User Privacy and Data Use for more information.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

mingoslkd

Community Specialist

Jul 16, 2021 6:40 AM in response to gangster82

Hi gangster82,

Thank you for your follow up. “To get you the answers you need, we’d suggest reaching out to Apple Support."

Check out Use the built-in security and privacy protections of iPhone and Checklist: If you want to see if anyone else has access to your device or accounts for more information about privacy and data.

Have a nice day!

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Answer 3

gangster82 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 15, 2021 8:42 PM in response to rose_10

Still doesn’t answer the question of the security and privacy of our device name. Something that most of us often overlook. Happily naming our devices with our real names. I know Apple ID is secured but not so much for the device name. We can all be vulnerable through our device name which may be collected and used to track us. You got to do better than this Apple. Come up with an appropriate answer. I have read through all the resources Apple provided online regarding privacy. Nothing answers my very specific question. Should we or should we not use our real names while naming our devices. I.e John Woo’s iPhone John’s Woo iPad etc.

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Privacy Red Flag with Device Name!!!

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