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SCARY and SERIOUS Question: Does macOS Big Sur Report Data Back To Apple?
- Thread starter BeautifulWoman_1984
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They're validating the software you're running. They don't look at your documents.
It reminds me a little about the GPS functionality when the first iPhone launched. All of a sudden, people worried about being able to be located. In then end, telecommunication companies were able to locate your mobile phone ever since they launched in the late 70s / early 80s, just not by GPS. Nothing new here.
Are you concerned about your medical data as well? After all, when you go to see a doctor a software is used for patient management. That software is bought and people working for that company can usually access the systems running in the field for updates/maintenance. So the same people could see your medical data. Let's say, you have a CT/MRI scan in a scanner made by GE, you can be sure the people working in the service center at GE could access your images.
Worried about your bank account? Many employees of your bank could access it.
In theory when I update my linux distribution, someone could track it back to me.
So in the end, there really isn't anything new. Apple just changed the way how they validate certificates.
Thank you for your in-depth reply GrumpyCoder! I really appreciate it!
I'm worried about all of my user information you mentioned... 😧 😧 😧
Yes.
I've just always thought of Apple as being by far and away the best big-tech company for protecting user privacy and protecting a user's personal files.
It doesn't appear that anything related to personal files or anything like that is involved.
macOS Big Sur 11.2 Beta 2 Removes Feature Letting Apple Apps Bypass Third-Party Firewalls and VPNs
macOS Big Sur 11.2 beta 2, which was released yesterday, eliminates a feature that allowed Apple apps bypass third-party firewalls, security tools,...
www.macrumors.com
As a Little Snitch 5 user, I am happy about this news.Re: LittleSnitchmacOS Big Sur 11.2 Beta 2 Removes Feature Letting Apple Apps Bypass Third-Party Firewalls and VPNs
macOS Big Sur 11.2 beta 2, which was released yesterday, eliminates a feature that allowed Apple apps bypass third-party firewalls, security tools,...
It's not that others are not concerned... it's that they have a handle on their tech life. They don't just stay oblivious to everything and make melodramatic threads about their own wilful ignorance. They learn the risks, and how to mitigate their own potential threats.
Download the program Little Snitch because it us reverse firewall! The stop accepting cookies in your browser. Then use a password manager of your choice!
Then I suggest that you not have an Internet account, or a phone (mobile or hardline, though mobile is easier to track and monitor), or an electric bill, or a water/sewer bill, or a mailing address, or own or rent a home, etc. etc. etc.
A lot of people who post on here from time to time are not really tech savvy. When they read articles like the one the OP referred to, it can be confusing as well as troubling to them. That is why they come to MR looking for guidance. The last thing they need is ridicule.
While BW's thread titles are not as dire as we are often led to believe, she means well and is just trying to put her mind at ease.
While BW's thread titles are not as dire as we are often led to believe, she means well and is just trying to put her mind at ease.
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That article you quote is highly exaggerated. Here's what happens: Most applications come with a certificate that says which developer wrote the application, and that certificate is signed by Apple. Now a hacker could create an application with the same number, and add a certificate that looks the same, but isn't signed by Apple. Only Apple can tell you that the certificate is genuine, and if it is genuine, then the application is genuinely what you wanted.
So when you launch an app, MacOS will send _the certificate_ to Apple which will check it. The certificate contains data by the developer, no data from your computer or data about you. And Apple will just send a message back to your computer that the certificate is Ok. That's it.
PS. If Apple wanted to violate your privacy, they would keep it secret and nobody would ever find out. Same for Android/Google. You've seen the nonsense that people have posted about the Covid tracing built into iOS and Android and how it is Apple an Android spying on you. If they wanted to spy on you, you wouldn't know.
So when you launch an app, MacOS will send _the certificate_ to Apple which will check it. The certificate contains data by the developer, no data from your computer or data about you. And Apple will just send a message back to your computer that the certificate is Ok. That's it.
PS. If Apple wanted to violate your privacy, they would keep it secret and nobody would ever find out. Same for Android/Google. You've seen the nonsense that people have posted about the Covid tracing built into iOS and Android and how it is Apple an Android spying on you. If they wanted to spy on you, you wouldn't know.
As you probably don't know, Little Snitch on Big Sur is currently unable to filter the connections made by certain Apple services, which are signed to bypass any and all on-machine firewalls. This will be remedied in Big Sur 11.2.
Also, Little Snitch is not shareware.
The sole reason for the list of services to bypass firewalls was to cut down on software piracy by checking if the app running was not blacklisted as a pirated copy. Simple as that.
here is some addtional info / another link / another opinion - Does Apple really log every app you run?
If one chooses to use technology, then they are responsible for educating themselves. Not others. Staying wilfully ignorant about things you use daily is a fools game. And constantly needing to be spoon fed information and reassurance is a horrible way to live your life. For both yourself and others.
With all due respect... people like you enable this type of behaviour. You're literally enabling ignorance and self-stagnation.
I didn't say anything about staying willfully ignorant. I also haven't evidence of BW being guilty of such. She reads articles from here and elsewhere and like many others here, she creates thread when she gets concerned and needs some clarity. I see nothing wrong with helping her any time she needs help.
You made some assumptions about the OP and you don't know a thing about her.
If you don''t want to help a fellow Mac user, maybe you should consider using a different forum where you wouldn't have to be bothered trying to be helpful.
Like any person who has advanced computer knowledge, I am happy to help anyone who has put in some effort on their own to solve whatever the issue is, but got stuck. Not those that leave 100% of the problem solving up to someone else, like BW. It's sad that this needs to be explained to you.
it is too ready for Big Sur read about it at Little Snitch 5 for Mac Big Sur.
I guess you didn’t see the big link on first page about Big Sur!
It's unbelievable to me that this hasn't problem of mine hasn't created more discussion???
I've never heard of Microsoft doing this?
Does Microsoft Windows report back information to Microsoft about what a user is doing?
I've never heard of Microsoft doing this?
Does Microsoft Windows report back information to Microsoft about what a user is doing?
Because you have fabricated the problem? Of course Microsoft stores logs. They don't record your keystrokes, just as Apple doesn't.
Yes, Windows 10 sends pretty extensive telemetry back home with no way to opt-out. (Google "windows 10 telemetry" if you're interested).
What macOS does at this moment is basically "Hmm, the user is running an executable. *makes fingerprint of executable* Hey mothership, is this malware? Nope? Okay.
I'm not saying it's a great thing, but it's relatively harmless and it can be disabled (mainly by developers who often run their own executables).
For someone who's apparently so worried about privacy, you certainly know nothing about it. When things concern me, and I don't understand them, I take the time to learn about them.
You use Windows and macOS, and can't even be bothered to learn about the privacy guidelines of them. That certainly doesn't seem like someone interested in privacy.
Do you typically stay wilfully ignorant about things that concern you? You're failing yourself. Lost in some vicious circle of self neglect of the mind.