Apple Explores iPhone 'Privacy Screens', Macs With Adjustable Viewing Angles

[Mr. Dee]

My solution is just to be more circumspect when out in public spaces. Just like when I am at the ATM. Also, think, do you really need to see that Tweet or pointless Facebook post in public? No. If you are that bored with your friends at karaoke, call it a night and go home to dead scroll. Unless its a big family emergency or you are on call (when you are on call you usually can't be out anyway). Just be mindful, there are people out there who just want to reap and don't work. Don't make it easy for them.

 

[tooloud10]

why would they do this?

these privacy screen protectors show that this is a bad idea, purposely reducing screen viewing angles is stupid.

You seriously think privacy is stupid?

whenever you want to show people something you literally have to hand them your phone.

My biggest pet peeve are people that insist that I look at what's on their phone. I literally don't care about your cat pics, or even worse when someone wants me to watch a video of unknown length while they hold their phone out.

"Nah, I'm good. I really don't need to see whatever it is."

 

[oneMadRssn]

It seems like after that report came out it would have been rather trivial to offer an option to randomize the numberpad each time you use it. And/or allow an option to disable resetting the Apple ID password from the Settings app. They can reinvent the wheel down the line, but there are practical, easy to deploy solutions available now.

Yes! I've been writing about this for years. Simply scrambling the numpad on the pincode screen would solve this problem most of the time. It's not perfect, but it would be better than nothing. And the cost is $0.

 

[theluggage]

You seriously think privacy is stupid?

Well, permanently knobbling the viewing angle after years of trying to increase viewing angles on displays (the old TN displays were bad enough even if you don't remember the days before TFT displays...) seems a bit silly for anybody who doesn't work in a bank, trade in valuable secrets or who watches pr0n on a train. (Get a room!)

If they can come up with some clever trick to make it switchable, so the phone can automatically restrict the viewing angle on password entry screens etc. then that could be useful.

Also, maybe they could incorporate a reverse privacy filter in the forthcoming Apple Goggles that would filter out things you didn't want to see: pictures of other people's rug-rats, people beween X and Y years old etc.

 

[alfonsog]

If you really need privacy, the only option is to only use the Apple Vision Pro. 😉

 

[NightFox]

I'd hope to see a software solution here. Already, some 10 years ago I owned a car with a display in the centre console that could show TV to the passenger whilst showing the satnav to the driver; the image you got just depended on the viewing angle. Whilst the image quality was solid, I'd imagine that the experience might not have scaled up to 4K/Retina standard, but as I say that was around 10 years ago...

 

[jasonsmith_88]

Privacy isn’t the only problem though. There are reports of people being forced to provide their passcode at knife / gunpoint. Hacker can then remotely wipe and lock all the victims other devices, in addition to completely taking over their iCloud account. Victim is helpless to stop this.

It doesn’t matter if you set up recovery keys, it doesn’t even matter if you add hardware security keys - all of these can be removed using the iPhone’s passcode. If someone has the knowledge to set up hardware security keys then they know what they’re doing and their goal is to protect against this very type of attack. I’m sick of this “the user is stupid and must be protected from
themselves at the cost of their security”. Just give a button that says “I know what I’m doing”. If I lose my hardware keys and recovery keys and can’t recover my iCloud account, that’s a risk I accept.

 

[Rychiar]

How about they just do away with the stupid passcode. I get so annoyed when i have to enter it instead of Face ID just working always like it should… and is ish my watch would unlock my computer 100% of the time as well…

 

[iBug2]

3M already sell privacy films that do this and they've been available since the iPhone 4. They can be applied to flat and curved displays, so it's not clear what Apple is trying to patent here.

Something that can be changed by software probably. Those screens are annoying for the user. I don't want a 5 degree viewing angle all the time.

 

[Rogue AI]

I remember reading that Apple would take care of this issue in iOS 17. Looks like they didn’t do a damn thing.

Also, you can get an amazing tempered glass privacy screen protector on Amazon for $20.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I see so many people at the supermarkets push their PIN on terminals without covering the keyboard. Not specifically elderly or blonds. It's baffling how careless people are.

I see so many people touching and looking at things too.. it's baffling when surely they must realise they are leaving their finger prints and putting their retinas, indeed their whole face on display. :/

Im even more concerned when they talk... do they not know you can clone someone's voice these days.

best to put a bag on their head, put the gloves on and stay mute while out and about. its the only way to stay safe. I also carry a barge pole.. to keep people at a distance.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I see so many people at the supermarkets push their PIN on terminals without covering the keyboard. Not specifically elderly or blonds. It's baffling how careless people are.

The real question there is why is someone running their card as debit. If someone steals your debit card (or debit card info) you're likely SOL - you can freeze the card/account, but you probably won't be able to reverse transactions or get the money back. If a merchant ends up being fraudulent and never delivers what they promised, same deal - you can't do a charge back.

I think that's much more likely to cause problems than whether they covered up the PIN pad or not.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I'm curious - what percentage of compromised passwords would this protect against without randomizing the position of the numbers?

And of the compromised passwords, which ones actually matter? I'd guess the majority of compromised passwords are friends/relatives who are harmless (or even helpful) if they know. I'd guess that the malicious actors won't actually be particularly deterred without randomizing the positions, but if that's done, that'll probably do a lot to irritate users...

 

[name99]

This patent is part of a larger set of patents that has Apple exploring all sorts of strange screen types.
Others the set look at lenticular lenses for various purposes. The obvious use case of lenticulars is 3D screens, but you can also use them to "route" the image to one particular angle, like a privacy screen.

My *guess* is that Apple is looking at whether future displays can be made "3D enough" to mesh well with the content of Vision Pro, and what the consequences then will be of trying to do that in public spaces.

 

[aParkerMusic]

Ok, so a malicious person can reset your Apple ID password if they spy your passcode.

So, why are you able to reset your Apple ID password using just your passcode? Probably because people don’t take responsibility with their passwords, often forget them, don’t use iCloud Keychain or some other password keeper, and complain that they can’t access their iCloud account. So, we have an easy-in way to reset your passcode to reset. But that means if someone watched you enter your passcode…they can compromise your account.

And people continue to complain.

Interestingly, many people are fearful of Face ID and Touch ID, so they solely use a passcode instead, making the passcode visible repeatedly during the day. It’s much more likely that someone can spy your passcode than it is that they can fool Face ID or Touch ID.

Is it too much to ask that Apple device users remember the ONE password that allows them easy access to all the other saved in iCloud…their Apple ID password? And to be able to answer security questions if they need to reset it?

 

[Apple_Robert]

How about they just do away with the stupid passcode. I get so annoyed when i have to enter it instead of Face ID just working always like it should… and is ish my watch would unlock my computer 100% of the time as well…

I wish we could set Face ID to always, instead of Apple forcing me to enter the passcode at whatever interval Apple dictates, in order to use my phone.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Ok, so a malicious person can reset your Apple ID password if they spy your passcode.

So, why are you able to reset your Apple ID password using just your passcode? Probably because people don’t take responsibility with their passwords, often forget them, don’t use iCloud Keychain or some other password keeper, and complain that they can’t access their iCloud account. So, we have an easy-in way to reset your passcode to reset. But that means if someone watched you enter your passcode…they can compromise your account.

And people continue to complain.

Interestingly, many people are fearful of Face ID and Touch ID, so they solely use a passcode instead, making the passcode visible repeatedly during the day. It’s much more likely that someone can spy your passcode than it is that they can fool Face ID or Touch ID.

Is it too much to ask that Apple device users remember the ONE password that allows them easy access to all the other saved in iCloud…their Apple ID password? And to be able to answer security questions if they need to reset it?

On the flip side some people get locked out of their own accounts, permanently ... I have never looked to see if there is an onerous procedure they can go through to get access back.. like going to Apple and having to provide huge amounts of documentation and ID etc etc

 

[hirshnoc]

“...seeking a hardware solution to scupper the scourge of so-called "shoulder surfers.""

This is exceptionally good writing.

 

[Mad Venture]

Legit question: How common is it for people to enter their passcodes, instead of using Touch- or Face- ID?

 

[aParkerMusic]

On the flip side some people get locked out of their own accounts, permanently ... I have never looked to see if there is an onerous procedure they can go through to get access back.. like going to Apple and having to provide huge amounts of documentation and ID etc etc

I believe it’s called account recovery. Not sure what they do to verify your identity, but there is a process. But again, all the more reason to remember just one strong password (Apple ID password). Even keep a copy written on a note hidden in your house. Sheesh.

I think the problem is that people have become sinuses to technology working easily and conveniently that they don’t think they need to put an effort in. Then they’re shocked when they need to remember a password.

It’s like with iCloud backups. People feel their data is so important, but they just won’t pay $1 a month to backup to iCloud. Guess their data isn’t so important after all. Take responsibility.

 

[Rychiar]

Legit question: How common is it for people to enter their passcodes, instead of using Touch- or Face- ID?

Too common, cus apples makes ya….

 

[Flavones]

I live in Brazil, unfortunately here every year we have less security, a danger country to live.
My kid once had a motoboy stealing him, he pointed the gun on his head and asked to give him the iPhone, but first, erase the password. Having the password erased, he could change the face ID and go to bank application, apple pay, passwords etc.... Now we don't use anymore fade ID as is not secure.

 

[Wanted797]

It would make for an interesting feature if adjusted by software. Have the lock screen/ passcode entry with a very narrow viewing angle, then once the phone is unlocked then the full viewing angle is enabled. Could also do this on an app/ function basis. Bank app? Narrow. Watching a video? Full.

A simple solution they could do today is randomise the number pad that displays for the passcode.

It doesn’t have to be the standard 1-9. Sure it would be a bit of a hassle to mentally not follow muscle memory but unless the thief is right over your should seeing the pattern they can’t guess the code.

 

[InvertedGoldfish]

What’s old is new again

 

[InvertedGoldfish]

I live in Brazil, unfortunately here every year we have less security, a danger country to live.
My kid once had a motoboy stealing him, he pointed the gun on his head and asked to give him the iPhone, but first, erase the password. Having the password erased, he could change the face ID and go to bank application, apple pay, passwords etc.... Now we don't use anymore fade ID as is not secure.

What are self defense/gun laws like there?