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Apple Implements Tougher Security Guidelines at Factories to Prevent Leaks
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Good point. US workers and US labor laws though have an impact on costs. Having worked with Flex there is a world of difference in US and overseas operations.
Apple wants to stop leaks and in the process, the internal document was leaked! Oh, the irony!
Apple recently updated its security guidelines for its manufacturing partners, implementing tougher measures at factories to prevent leaks, according to an internal document obtained by The Information's Wayne Ma.
Among the changes mentioned in the report:
The Information's paywalled report goes into more detail about the changes, which appear to have been implemented earlier this year.
- Apple's manufacturing partners can no longer collect biometric data such as fingerprints or facial scans of Apple employees who visit their facilities. However, the new rule does not apply to factory workers, leading to accusations of a double standard.
- Apple's manufacturing partners must conduct criminal background checks on all assembly line workers who work on unreleased Apple products, rather than only certain employees, and those with criminal records are to be denied entry to areas where unreleased Apple products are being developed or assembled.
- Apple is upgrading its computer system installed at some factories to determine how long parts should remain at one production station before moving to another. If a sensitive component in transit takes an unusually long time to arrive at its destination, security alarms are to be triggered.
- Factory guards at checkpoints must keep detailed logs of the movement of workers carrying sensitive parts from one area to another.
- Factory visitors are now required to present a government-issued ID.
- Factory security cameras are now required to capture all four sides of transport vehicles when they are parked at the facilities.
- Video recordings that show the destruction of prototypes and defective parts are now required to be retained for at least 180 days.
Article Link: Apple Implements Tougher Security Guidelines at Factories to Prevent Leaks
Steve Jons was a brilliant person, and did bring Apple back from the brink when he returned to the company, but Apple began to become super successful only after shedding the Steve Jobs era. Tim Cook was personally chosen by Jobs to succeed him, but he made it clear that he is his own man and does not work the way Jobs did. Bigger iPhones is one example of this, on Steve Jobs' watch, Apple never released bigger iPhones.
Apple needs to shed the secrecy, they don't need it, people will buy Apple products even if they know what to expect. I can speak for myself, if I know what to expect, I will be much more likely to buy Apple products. If I know what is in the pipeline, I will be an even better and more profitable customer for them. They also need to increase their market share by reducing prices across the board.
But to go back to the point of this article, Apple's secrecy is not helping them, it is costing them more money in implementing unnecessary measures like this, and they would be better positioned to spend that money on simply making better and more affordable products. I am not anti-Apple, I have some Apple products of my own, and I would definitely recommend them to people who are in the market for new technology. I just think that Apple would improve themselves by laying off on some of the secrecy.
This is Apple proprietary business information. Having critical information leak to competitors could weaken Apples' position. Call these leaks what they are: corporate espionage. Every company has proprietary business information. For one example entertainment companies have very tight security on the details of upcoming projects.
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Why don't they make use of the coronavirus spying framework to detect if a contractor's employee has been in close proximity to some media outlet's shill? (no, there are no "reporters" or "journalists" anymore, they died with impartiality a long time ago) Since spying is socially acceptable now and you're only being oppressed for your own good
I don’t think Apple has ever been fond of leaks. They much prefer to announce new products that amaze, with no prior idea that something new is coming out. It’s gotten exponentially harder as a 2 Trillion dollar company operating world wide with so many companies developing parts for Apple’s devices. Also the explosion of internet connectivity hasn’t helped. I don’t believe that Apple feels the need to leak upcoming product info to “gin up” excitement & sales.
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SFJohn
we had no idea what apple was going to release until we read that in macworld while retrieving out our snailmail.
I was surprised to see the iMac g4 in person at a computer store (now a thai food hut) and was just flabbergasted- an purchased one!
when the imac G5 came out, we knew all about that and that really did not have the effect as the g4.
everyone else
i was gong to get an M1 MacBook this spring, but all the few negative aspects (which under weigh the positive) stopped me and now use my Dell XPS a lot more and will use budgeted money on improving that than buying a homepod mini and new itouch while stopping updating the macbook air anymore.
we had no idea what apple was going to release until we read that in macworld while retrieving out our snailmail.
I was surprised to see the iMac g4 in person at a computer store (now a thai food hut) and was just flabbergasted- an purchased one!
when the imac G5 came out, we knew all about that and that really did not have the effect as the g4.
everyone else
i was gong to get an M1 MacBook this spring, but all the few negative aspects (which under weigh the positive) stopped me and now use my Dell XPS a lot more and will use budgeted money on improving that than buying a homepod mini and new itouch while stopping updating the macbook air anymore.
And this is when I will clean up my account and unsubscribe from that mess. It was fun back in the day but now, there are too many of these videos up. There must be a market for it though because we continue so see it in a large scale.
You happy to pay twice as much for your devices? Labor costs less there, compared to the US et al, but the salaries are good for that country, with many associated benefits.
Employees should get more security because they "work" there. Partners don't work there directly.
I had not, no! Just searched and wow, that looks fabulous. Can see inspiration taken (possibly) from some more modern vehicles in that too, as well as the core 280 look. Possibly a bit of Aston and F-type action. Shame the front plate here in the UK will impede the front end (probably pedestrian safety elements too). Much like what happened to the VW Scirocco which was notably tamer than the 2006 concept.
Shows how good the 280 was back in its day. P.s. Love a bit of Off topic!
I suppose it would be easy for you to just discount any attempt to call you out for exaggeration as just being an Apple fanboy.
However, I do feel like it would be interesting if you could detail how Apple's restrictions are dissimilar to US production facilities that produce classified materials. Or are you suggesting that all companies that manufacture materials they want to keep under wraps are treating people like prisoners of war? Or are you suggesting that the conditions are fine and it is just that they don't make enough money and that is why it is like prisoners of war?
As someone who has had a grandfather that WAS a prisoner of war and have heard the stories, it is obviously something I am keen on understanding your comparison.
If you were simply trying to say something exaggerated to get a reaction rather than making an actual point, I have played into your hand and accept my defeat.
If Apple wants to beat the leakers, they can make this information less valuable to leakers by
If Apple wants to beat the leakers, they can make this information less valuable to leakers by disclosing their road map as many other technology companies do, and let us know what to expect. Apple may not be able to run after and catch every leaker that comes down the pike, but if they make this sort of information less valuable to leakers, then this will achieve a similar result. I do not support or condone the stealing and peddling of privileged or otherwise proprietary information. I want to make that very clear.
This is in a similar vein to when Apple was facing the challenge of fake Apple Stores and fake Apple products in certain markets. By opening real Apple Stores and selling real Apple products, the company can help to defeat these fake places and establish themselves in those markets. Again, I do not support or condone the marketing and sale of fake products in any way, I am simply stating that Apple can defeat this problem by selling its own real and legitimate products in those markets. Apple can do the same thing to defeat leaks by making leaks less valuable; they can tell us themselves about the general direction of products in the pipeline.
I'm sure in certain instances companies would want to release a roadmap. For example, Microsoft, would release it's roadmap so it's customers could plan accordingly. But there isn't any real danger of competitors (what competitors) bring features aboard and having customers deciding to buy other operating systems or comparable products.
Maybe in that same vein, Oracle, might release a roadmap.
Even car companies might release general statements, such as in 2025 50% of the fleet will be electric vehicles. But car companies guard the next years release, especially the high-end luxury models. In the same vein, it doesn't really seem like product oriented companies, release a roadmap. Those companies where potential customers can compare product a from one manufacturer vs. product b from another, seem to value and guard their corporate information closely.
The smartphone market is one where a competitor can use a roadmap to their benefit to steal customers away, so I just don't see that being anything that would come to pass. It's a cat and mouse and I don't see Apple giving away much if any hints about future products, and for good reason.
