Lost Trust In Apple

Apple does not sell data to other parties; your data is your data. When you updated your device, you likely accepted Turing on iCloud. You can delete your data on iCloud if you choose. Turning off sync in settings > Apple ID > iCloud is the first step. You can then go to iCloud.com and delete whatever you would like.

FredFree wrote:

I have always been protective of my data. My contacts, my texts, my notes, etc. are my data, not Apple's. Apparently in an update all of my data got sync'd to the iCloud without me knowing it.

iCloud can only be turned on by you. During device updates you may be presented with an option to enable iCloud, which you must have selected.

Apple now has this data forever to sell.

Nope. Apple does not sell your data.

I just went in to turn off the sync to iCloud, which I previously had off and apparently Apple turned dozens of sync's on with an update.

Settings > Apple ID > icloud

Notes and Reminders will not let me delete the data from the iCloud and keep it on my phone only.

Disable sync. The log into iCloud.com to delete whatever you would like.

This data that I put on my phone and intended to keep on my phone was transferred by Apple to the iCloud and Apple will not let me bring it back to be only on my phone.

Nope. Apple does not turn on iCloud, only the user does. You can delete any of your cloud data.

can I delete all selected information from the iCloud including traces of my information that Apple has transferred, and/or sold to other companies?

See above.

Through the greedy and sneaky transferring of my data, and other policies of Apple, I have lost all trust in Apple to do the right thing for Apple's customers, sadly. I'll be pulling out from Apple products, as will family and friends.

That's your choice, but Apple is probably the most privacy focused company that offers the services used.

Apparently in an update all of my data got sync'd to the iCloud without me knowing it.

Did not happen here, for what it's worth.

Apple now has this data forever to sell

Apple does not sell your data. You have written guarantee on that if you choose to read it. I can't think of another company that goes to the lengths that Apple does to protect your data, but you might be able to find one.

Apple will not let me bring it back to be only on my phone.

You are misinformed if you believe this.

I'll be pulling out from Apple products, as will family and friends.

You should spend your money however you choose. We don't really care where you spend it.