Soon, all your apps will benefit from this brilliant new privacy feature after Apple announces developer deadline.
Soon, all your apps will benefit from this cool new feature after Apple announces developer … [+]
Apple’s iPhone is one of the most secure and private devices out there. So much so that Apple puts privacy at the heart of its marketing.
One of the most important aspects of security and privacy is usability, and Apple is pretty good at that, too. Its iPhone security tools such as the Keychain password manager are adding new features all the time.
Apple’s apps are a key part of your iPhone experience, and developers already have to adhere to the App Tracking Transparency rules that mandate they ask for explicit permission to track you across other apps and websites.
Now, another new feature is coming to all apps that will boost your security and privacy even more. From June 30, Apple is mandating that developers have to provide the option for people to delete their accounts inside the iPhone app itself, if their app supports account creation, according to 9to5Mac.
This will make it easier for people to, for example, delete Facebook using the Facebook app, instead of iPhone users having to visit the website. Apple is also mandating that the option to delete your account is easy to find within the iPhone app. At the same time, the app maker must ensure people can fully delete their account—not just deactivate it—and that all personal data is deleted, according to the Apple developer website.
The new iPhone app feature has been a long time coming—it’s been delayed twice over the course of a year. But the new changes have now been detailed in Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines 5.1.1(v), which reads:
“If your app doesn’t include significant account-based features, let people use it without a login. If your app supports account creation, you must also offer account deletion within the app. Apps may not require users to enter personal information to function, except when directly relevant to the core functionality of the app or required by law.
“If your core app functionality is not related to a specific social network (e.g. Facebook, WeChat, Weibo, Twitter, etc.), you must provide access without a login or via another mechanism. The app must also include a mechanism to revoke social network credentials and disable data access between the app and social network from within the app.”
With so many people using apps only for many of their services, this iPhone feature is a brilliant way to keep on top of things and give you more control over your data. When you simply delete an app from your iPhone, you don’t delete the account itself, which can leave you with loads of unused accounts hanging around that could be a goldmine for hackers.
So it makes sense to take advantage—why not have an app and account clear out this July when hopefully all developers will have added the feature? If you do decide to keep various apps on your iPhone, you can also take steps to ensure they are secure. Always use unique passwords for all your accounts and use the Security Recommendations tool in your iPhone Settings > Passwords to change any that are repeated or not secure.
At the same time, try to only download apps that you will use, and check the reviews before you make the final decision.
