In addition to several impressive new features, iOS 14 also boasts enhanced privacy. They are designed to further secure your experience when it comes to using apps and the internet. Over the years, Apple has gained a reputation as a company that cares about users’ privacy, and iOS 14 takes this a step further. So let’s check out all the iOS 14 privacy features in detail.
- How to Share Approximate Location
- Recording Indicators for Mic and Camera
- How to Limited Photos Library Access for Selected App
- iPhone Apps to Request to Track
- Privacy Information in the App Store
- How to Use Safari Password Monitoring and Privacy Report
- Upgrade to Sign in with Apple
- How to Enable WiFi Private Address
- How to Enable Local Network Privacy Access
For the first time, iOS 14 lets you share approximate location with apps instead of your precise location. This will allow an app to know your location within about a 10-square mile radius of where you actually are.
This means that the app will not be able to detect your exact street address but rather just get a general sense of where you may be. This bolsters privacy by not giving your location data to apps that don’t really need it. For instance, a news or weather app can still give you accurate information without knowing your precise location.
You can enable or disable Precise Location access for specific apps. For instance, to turn on Precise Location for Uber:
- Go to Settings → Uber.
- Tap on Location.
- Toggle ON Precise Location.
2. Recording Indicators for Mic and Camera
iOS 14 displays an indicator light on your iPhone when either the camera or the mic is in use. This ensures that no app can access your mic or camera without you knowing. A green light indicates the camera is in use while an orange one means that your mic is on. Pretty nifty to keep unwanted surveillance at bay.
3. How to Limited Photos Library Access for Selected App
Another commendable privacy tweak on iOS 14 is the ability to limit apps’ access to your photos. When a third-party app asks for access to your Photos library, you can now opt to give access to only selected items.
For example, if you’re sharing a photo on Twitter, you’ll be asked whether you want to grant total access or only limited access to your photos. This can add that layer of protection to ensure that no app can gain unauthorized access to your images. You can control this at any time from Settings.
- Go to Settings → Twitter.
- Tap on Photos.
- You can turn on access to Selected Photos, All Photos, or None.
You can also tap on Edit Selected Photos to choose which ones to grant access to in your Photos library.
4. iPhone Apps to Request to Track
One of the most significant privacy enhancements in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 is that apps will now ask your permission before tracking your activity. This prevents your data from reaching advertisers who then bombard you with targeted ads.
The new regulation applies to all apps, including those developed by Apple. This will lead to developers being more cautious about the companies with which they share users’ data.
You can control whether apps ask you for permission to track. Here’s our quick guide on how to block iPhone apps from tracking you.
5. Privacy Information in the App Store
Privacy matters are complex, and apps are often deceptive about their policies and practices. To make it easier for users to understand how apps use their data, Apple has now made it mandatory for developers to disclose their privacy policies.
This information will appear on the app description page in the App Library and cover 31 categories. These will include aspects like “Data Linked to You” and “Data Used to Track You” and data such as your contacts, financial information, location, etc.
Therefore, in iOS 14, you can have a general idea about an app’s privacy policies before you choose to download and use it.
6. How to Use Safari Password Monitoring and Privacy Report
When it comes to your browsing experience on iOS 14, Safari now has a tracking and prevention button on the toolbar. This will be able to give you a tracking report about things like blocked trackers, websites that contacted trackers, the most contacted trackers, and more. Here’s how to access it:
- Open Safari on your iPhone and tap on the AA icon on the left of the address bar
- Tap on Tracking Report to view the insights.
Of course, this report may be challenging to understand for the everyday user, but it’s still a welcome change.
Further, Safari will now keep track of websites and services that may have experienced security breaches. It will then notify you if any of your Keychain passwords are at risk of being compromised.
7. Upgrade to Sign in with Apple
iOS 13 introduced Sign in with Apple, and iOS 14 takes this a step further. This sign-in option makes it possible to have one unified and secure way of logging in to a range of apps and services. So you don’t need to remember multiple login credentials.
However, not all services offer this option, but with iOS 14, this may change to be more widely available. Moreover, you will be able to upgrade your existing accounts on apps and websites to Sign in with Apple.
Then, you’ll be able to use Face ID or Touch ID to login to your account. Further, two-factor authentication enhances security. This keeps things convenient, organized, and safe,
8. How to Enable WiFi Private Address
When connected to a WiFi network, iOS 14 features a new option to “Use Private Address.” This prevents network operators from tracking your iPhone.
- Go to Settings → WiFi.
- Tap on a network you are using and then toggle on Use Private Address.
9. How to Enable Local Network Privacy Access
In iOS 14, apps will need your permission to be able to detect and connect with other devices on your local network.
- Go to Settings → Privacy.
- Tap on Local Network.
- You will see the list of apps for which you can toggle ON or OFF the local network access.
Summing Up
So, what do you think of all these new privacy enhancements on iOS 14? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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