Apple will require developers to explain their API use

In an effort to bolster user privacy and crack down on fingerprinting, Apple has announced that developers will soon be required to provide detailed explanations for their app's use of certain APIs before submitting them to the App Store.

The APIs in question are now classified as "required reason APIs," meaning developers must articulate the purpose of these APIs in their apps when submitting them for review. Currently, there are around 30 APIs to which the new rule...

28 July 2023 | App Stores

India demonstrates its security-focused ‘BharOS’

India has demonstrated its security-focused homegrown mobile operating system, BharOS.

Government officials teased a homegrown mobile OS earlier this month. Local media outlet Business Standard initially reported it would be called ‘IndOS’ and will be a collaboration between the government, academia, and startups.

"India is one of the largest mobile device markets in the globe. Our objective is to create a secure Indian mobile operating system that could also create...

25 January 2023 | App Stores

InAppBrowser tool reveals hidden JavaScript injections

A tool created by developer Felix Krause reveals hidden JavaScript injections through in-app browsers.

In-app browsers offer a convenient way for developers to let users browse specific websites without leaving their apps. However, they can be used to invade users’ privacy.

A JavaScript injection can be used via an in-app browser to collect data about users including their taps on a webpage, keyboard inputs, and more.

Armed with this data, a “digital...

19 August 2022 | Hacking & Security

Google’s new Play Store section forces developers to explain their data collection

Google is rolling out a new section in Play Store listings that forces developers to explain what data they’re collecting and how it’s being used.

The new section is titled ‘Data safety’ and will appear alongside the usual sections like ‘About this app’ and ‘Ratings and reviews’:

Apple released a similar feature as part of numerous privacy-enhancing features in last year’s iOS 14. Google showed off its version last year but is only beginning to roll...

27 April 2022 | Android

Apple letter urges lawmakers to reject sideloading bill

Apple has written a letter urging lawmakers to reject a bill that would force the company to allow any apps to be installed on its mobile operating systems.

The letter, addressed to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and Republican Chuck Grassley, claims the proposed bill will hurt user privacy and security if passed.

In question is the S. 2710 bill that would allow software downloaded from the web or other sources to be “sideloaded” on iOS.

“Sideloading...

4 February 2022 | App Stores

App Annie reveals the most popular SDKs following iOS 14.5’s release

Mobile data and analytics experts App Annie have shared the most popular SDKs following the release of iOS 14.5.

iOS 14.5 delivered significant new protections for user privacy which have drastically limited access to user-level data. A report from Flurry Analytics earlier this month discovered that 96 percent of iOS 14.5 users in the US are blocking ad tracking.

As to be expected, App Annie found that Apple’s own SDKs lead by unique iOS installs globally—taking the...

27 May 2021 | Developer

Report: 96% of iOS 14.5 users in the US are blocking ad tracking

According to a new report, around 96 percent of iOS users in the US are using Apple’s new privacy feature to block ad tracking.

Starting with iOS 14.5, apps that wish to track users for advertising purposes must ask for explicit user consent.

Flurry Analytics has been tracking daily opt-in and opt-out rates following iOS 14.5’s launch and found that – of a sample of 2.5 million active users – only around four percent in the US are allowing apps access to their...

7 May 2021 | App Stores

Chinese ad tech attempts to bypass Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency

Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature hasn’t been publicly released yet, but a Chinese state-backed ad technology wants to circumvent it.

ATT is due to be rolled out alongside iOS 14.5 sometime this spring. The feature, which has drawn both praise and criticism, will allow users to control whether their data can be shared for advertising purposes on an app-by-app basis.

According to a recent survey, just 38.5 percent of respondents said they will...

9 April 2021 | Developer

EFF calls Facebook’s campaign against Apple’s iOS 14 privacy changes ‘laughable’

The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) has called Facebook’s campaign against Apple’s iOS 14 privacy changes “laughable”.

Facebook took out full-page newspaper ads last week in protest at Apple’s privacy changes in iOS 14:

https://twitter.com/DaveStangis/status/1339183289349918721

Apple’s new policies require apps which collect information about users to disclose what data they’re grabbing—and request specific permission to do...

22 December 2020 | Developer