Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple is raping my privacy with iCloud Tabs. How to solve it?

iRock1

iRock1

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 23, 2011
1,083
145
First off, am I the only one complaining about the privacy issues on this iCloud Tabs feature? I hate the idea of having a big company over me watching my browsing history. I stopped using Google a long time ago for the same reason (I use the search engine eventually, but with no associated account), and now I have Apple watching my iCloud account and which websites do I visit. Seriously?

The thing is how can I disable this iCloud Tabs feature? Nobody asked me for permission and I want it off.
 
Seriously? You're using iCloud. Your tabs show up on your devices.

BTW, the government is watching you. Better cover your Wifi antennas with aluminum foil.

jW
 
iCloud is voluntary and free. If you don't like it don't use it. You also don't have to setup tab syncing and all that sort of stuff just use the features you want. I only have stuff sync online that privacy is not a big concern. Namely e-mail, contacts, calendar and bookmarks. Open tabs wouldn't bother me either I just am not interested in having my tabs sync. I use Google for my syncing though it allows more flexibility in programs and platforms I can use.

My music, photo, videos, documents are only synced locally over my network.

Edit: If you are really concerned about privacy use an encrypted proxy service in a foreign country. Pay for it with a VISA gift card bought anonymously with cash and registered with a fake address or credit card name of your choice. Of course do the registration and proxy setup through a random unsecured network. Then don't ever use any real identifying info online and burner e-mail addresses. That aught to give you some privacy.:p
 
First off Apple doesn't care about your little self. As Apple doesn't care about me - everything is anonymous - I would not worry.

Secondly - switch on Private Browsing Mode - that will disable your history and iCloud tabs - Private mode is great for the super paranoid :)
 
iRock1 said:
First off, am I the only one complaining about the privacy issues on this iCloud Tabs feature? I hate the idea of having a big company over me watching my browsing history.
Click to expand...

Your ISP knows _exactly_ what web sites you are visiting. Every single one of them. They have to, because the ISP sends a request to the server of the website, and then sends the data to you. There is no way that you can read this page, without your ISP knowing that you were requesting a page from macrumors.com.

On the other hand, do you believe that Apple has any means of reading your information stored on iCloud? Seriously?
 
iRock1 said:
First off, am I the only one complaining about the privacy issues on this iCloud Tabs feature? I hate the idea of having a big company over me watching my browsing history. I stopped using Google a long time ago for the same reason (I use the search engine eventually, but with no associated account), and now I have Apple watching my iCloud account and which websites do I visit. Seriously?

The thing is how can I disable this iCloud Tabs feature? Nobody asked me for permission and I want it off.
Click to expand...

Don't use iCloud, simple.

tin-foil-hat.jpg
 
You can change settings in system preferences under iCloud to not sync Safari.

You can also select the private browsing option under the file menu in Safari.
 
gnasher729 said:
Your ISP knows _exactly_ what web sites you are visiting. Every single one of them. They have to, because the ISP sends a request to the server of the website, and then sends the data to you.
Click to expand...

You are describing a proxy server, which is NOT what ISPs normally do - ISPs usually simply route traffic. Of course, they can monitor and protocol the traffic flow that goes through their routers and depending on the local law they might be forced to do so.
 
iRock1 said:
First off, am I the only one complaining about the privacy issues on this iCloud Tabs feature? I hate the idea of having a big company over me watching my browsing history. I stopped using Google a long time ago for the same reason (I use the search engine eventually, but with no associated account), and now I have Apple watching my iCloud account and which websites do I visit. Seriously?

The thing is how can I disable this iCloud Tabs feature? Nobody asked me for permission and I want it off.
Click to expand...

Go to System Preferences | iCloud and uncheck Safari. Problem solved!
 
My browsing history (and I would suspect most people's) is so boring that no one would care. But OP, the suggestions you have gotten are good ones (uncheck Safari in the iCloud preferences or use private browsing). I'll give you another option -- use a different browser altogether.
 
gnasher729 said:
Your ISP knows _exactly_ what web sites you are visiting. Every single one of them. They have to, because the ISP sends a request to the server of the website, and then sends the data to you. There is no way that you can read this page, without your ISP knowing that you were requesting a page from macrumors.com.
Click to expand...

Not if you use a VPN.

/Jim
 
Winni said:
You are describing a proxy server, which is NOT what ISPs normally do - ISPs usually simply route traffic. Of course, they can monitor and protocol the traffic flow that goes through their routers and depending on the local law they might be forced to do so.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I mean. What websites I visit is none of the ISPs business, but they _can_ record everything I do. So for the paranoid, the ISP is much more worth being paranoid about than iCloud.


flynz4 said:
Not if you use a VPN.

/Jim
Click to expand...

That just moves the problem. VPN puts you into a different network - which will know every single website you visit.
 
gnasher729 said:
That just moves the problem. VPN puts you into a different network - which will know every single website you visit.
Click to expand...

True... but unless I am mistaken (possible), now your data is anonymous... because on the 2nd network... it has the identity of your VPN provider... not your ISP account. You can now place your location, IP address, and identity, anywhere (within limits) around the world.

It comes down to the integrity of your VPN provider at that point.

/Jim
 
flynz4 said:
True... but unless I am mistaken (possible), now your data is anonymous... because on the 2nd network... it has the identity of your VPN provider... not your ISP account. You can now place your location, IP address, and identity, anywhere (within limits) around the world.

It comes down to the integrity of your VPN provider at that point.

/Jim
Click to expand...

So you exchanged the integrity of the ISP for the integrity of the VPN provider. And the whole thread was started by someone who doesn't trust the integrity of Apple and iCloud with the iCloud Tabs feature - he is afraid that Apple could know what browser tabs he is using and calls it "raping his privacy", when _someone_ has the means to collect an awful lot more information about him.
 
gnasher729 said:
So you exchanged the integrity of the ISP for the integrity of the VPN provider. And the whole thread was started by someone who doesn't trust the integrity of Apple and iCloud with the iCloud Tabs feature - he is afraid that Apple could know what browser tabs he is using and calls it "raping his privacy", when _someone_ has the means to collect an awful lot more information about him.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. I do think the OP is being overly paranoid about the "small part" of the problem. I was simply stating that if you use a VPN... then your ISP cannot track your browsing history. They never see unencrypted data.

BTW: I do use a VPN service (Witopia) on my laptops (but not my home iMacs). I do not do so because I fear these types of privacy concerns. I use a VPN so that I do not become a victim of identity theft as a result "sidejacking" in a public hot spot, hotel, etc. A VPN is probably the best defense against sidejacking... and the introduction of the FireSheep FireFox plug-in has put sidejacking easily in the hands of any 10 year old.

/Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back