iCloud and iMessage deletion questions. Help me retain some privacy!

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Level 1

8 points

iCloud and iMessage deletion questions. Help me retain some privacy!

So, the situation is, is that I have a very snoopy mother who makes me give my password to her when it comes to iCloud and stuff. Before, I was on her iCloud for some years and never made my own. When I was on her iCloud, she could use Find My iPhone to track me and go through my messages and iMessages. Once i learned that she was looking through my messages, I decided to change to a new Apple ID for a sense of "liberation". In only 3 or 4 days, she's found out that I've switched and wants my information. I'm ok with handing it over, but I want to know how can I protect my privacy when it comes to my messages. The only two devices of mine that are connected to my apple ID/iCloud are my Macbook Air and my iPhone 6s.

So my questions are: Can she even access my messages from just knowing my new apple ID and password or does she need more information to get to them? If not, Is there any way I could possibly delete the messages and message threads on any iCloud synced device so that whenever she signs in from here on out, that she wouldn't be able to access those messages I've deleted.?

She's not going to be on my iCloud for more than a few minutes at a time, I'm also wondering if since she's going to be signing out and signing in multiple times, will the past messages delete from her device once she signs in for the second, third, and beyond time?

Posted on May 25, 2016 10:41 AM

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Answer 1

javaliga

Level 10

120,179 points

May 25, 2016 11:06 AM in response to jpdelemar

I'm very reluctant (and I suspect others are also) to provide any answers here. This is an issue between you & your mother and I don't want to interfere. There is a very similar ongoing thread in another forum:

can my iphone still be tracked on airplane mode

and you can see the various opinions there. The general guidance I will give here is that rather than "sharing" an Apple ID, you should be using Family Sharing. These should get your mother started:

Family Sharing - Apple Support

Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support

Family Sharing and Apple ID for your child - Apple Support

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Answer 2

jpdelemar Author

Level 1

8 points

May 25, 2016 11:11 AM in response to javaliga

I'm 18, moving out the house to go to college in the fall. She's a mom who's not going to listen. I'm just looking out for myself right now. I don't care about the tracking, just care about the snooping.

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Answer 3

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

May 25, 2016 4:42 PM in response to jpdelemar

There are no degrees of access. Access is access.

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Answer 4

May 25, 2016 4:48 PM in response to jpdelemar

jpdelemar wrote:

I'm 18, moving out the house to go to college in the fall. She's a mom who's not going to listen. I'm just looking out for myself right now. I don't care about the tracking, just care about the snooping.

If your mom is still supporting you, paying your phone bill, it definitely would be an issue you'd need to work out with her. However, if she just wants to know where you are, perhaps you could compromise by setting up Find My Friends. That would give her the ability to see where you are but not access any of your messages or other information. I always found, as a young person, that if I voluntarily provided my mother with some information, she was less likely to go looking for more.

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