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iOS 8 Keyboards, 'Full Access', and User Privacy
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so obvious it's comical..
it's painfully obvious what SwiftKey's business model is : give the app for free to have it installed on as many devices as possible, suck in as much private data as possible ( "yeah we need access to all your email accounts and to everything you type to..uh..") , and after a year or so, sell to a big company specialised in data mining such as Facebook or Google for a few billions of dollars. Retire.
It's almost comical that people are oblivious to it.
it's painfully obvious what SwiftKey's business model is : give the app for free to have it installed on as many devices as possible, suck in as much private data as possible ( "yeah we need access to all your email accounts and to everything you type to..uh..") , and after a year or so, sell to a big company specialised in data mining such as Facebook or Google for a few billions of dollars. Retire.
It's almost comical that people are oblivious to it.
No problem, glad I could help
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You do realize swiftkey has been out on android for years? And they will have premium themes available to make money soon enough, just like the android version.
It's funny how paranoid people are over this!
Found out by who? The mafia running the US & UK? Or Hollywood which somehow gets Swedish police to invade Pirate Bay servers? Or you mean Google who sells every key you stroke?
That's like saying the CIA, MI6, FSB, and Mossad don't exist. (And whatever the Australian intelligence service is.)
I really liked it too! However... after using it for about four days... it seems to be gone on my iPhone 5s. The keyboard is now operating exactly the same as it was before i downloaded iOS 8. Anyone else have this happen?
Edited to update: Well... the new predictive boxes are back! I went to Settings and then to Keyboards and turned the Predictive button off and then back on. And now it's working again. Just a weird quirk I guess.
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Sure. And that makes their worth even bigger. What Google or Facebook can get from buying Swiftkey and its huge database of private information they gathered from millions of Android and iOs users, is worth BILLIONS at least....
Watch out for a 10+ Billions$ buyout of Swiftkey by FaceGoogle in 2015 or 2016.
Oh ok I misunderstood your first post. I got what your saying now and definitely agree.
This is a joke, right..?
Oh and it's the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
I wish I were like you -- easily amused.
I don't think any of this really matters for Swype/Nuance users because with Full Access turned off, there's no network access to the keyboard so they never get your data in the first place.
Adaptxt - full access
According to this review, Adaptxt doesn't save your info to the cloud...
"To the app's credit, it boasts one of the better privacy policies. The information you type using Adaptxt stays on your phone."
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/adaptxt-keyboard-1,review-2391.html
According to this review, Adaptxt doesn't save your info to the cloud...
"To the app's credit, it boasts one of the better privacy policies. The information you type using Adaptxt stays on your phone."
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/adaptxt-keyboard-1,review-2391.html
New Details from Apple
So although the occasional individual has suggested or pointed out that 3rd party keyboards cannot gather your information when you are not actively/explicitly/"at that exact second" using them NO WHERE have I been able to find clarity or confirmation of this on apple's website. For example, when the 3rd party keyboard is running in the background; or say you are using the apple installed keyboard instead of the 3rd party one you gave "Full Access" to, can it still see the contents of what you are typing in the other keyboards or apps?
So I chatted with them: It took staff between 30-60mins to confirm in clear writing some answers (so here they are as brief as it can be said):
"[APPLE SUPPORT]: The full access is only granted to the third party keyboard set and only when it is in use. The full access permission is required to enable all of the features associated with using a third party keyboard set. The data that is collected is for the sole purpose of tailoring the keyboard sets predictive text and correction features to the users particular typing and conversation style.".... "Our App Store guidelines prohibit the usage of this data for any other purposes."
"[Perceptive]: OK. Cool. So it can only read what is typed into the 3rd party keyboard when it is open. It cannot gain access to information type[d] in the other keyboard set (whether that be Apple's keyboard or other 3rd party keyboard set). It can only access what is available in the app during the time the keyboard is in use.
....
"[APPLE SUPPORT]: Exactly"
So although the occasional individual has suggested or pointed out that 3rd party keyboards cannot gather your information when you are not actively/explicitly/"at that exact second" using them NO WHERE have I been able to find clarity or confirmation of this on apple's website. For example, when the 3rd party keyboard is running in the background; or say you are using the apple installed keyboard instead of the 3rd party one you gave "Full Access" to, can it still see the contents of what you are typing in the other keyboards or apps?
So I chatted with them: It took staff between 30-60mins to confirm in clear writing some answers (so here they are as brief as it can be said):
"[APPLE SUPPORT]: The full access is only granted to the third party keyboard set and only when it is in use. The full access permission is required to enable all of the features associated with using a third party keyboard set. The data that is collected is for the sole purpose of tailoring the keyboard sets predictive text and correction features to the users particular typing and conversation style.".... "Our App Store guidelines prohibit the usage of this data for any other purposes."
"[Perceptive]: OK. Cool. So it can only read what is typed into the 3rd party keyboard when it is open. It cannot gain access to information type[d] in the other keyboard set (whether that be Apple's keyboard or other 3rd party keyboard set). It can only access what is available in the app during the time the keyboard is in use.
....
"[APPLE SUPPORT]: Exactly"
full access
Lifehacker has a roundup of keyboards, and a good explanation of "full access" in the comments: http://lifehacker.com/the-best-third-party-keyboards-for-ios-8-1636566071/all
Lifehacker has a roundup of keyboards, and a good explanation of "full access" in the comments: http://lifehacker.com/the-best-third-party-keyboards-for-ios-8-1636566071/all
There is also a topic here at MacRumors which has almost all 3rd party keyboards and it's indicated which ones need full access.
Just to give an update on the argument, on Swype to install one of the new colored themes you need to enable full access, select the theme and then you can disable full access again.
Not a big deal, but I'm impressed by the level of paranoia by Americans user on privacy issues.......
Not a big deal, but I'm impressed by the level of paranoia by Americans user on privacy issues.......
To be fair, there are often more privacy restrictions and protections and overall privacy concerns in many other parts of the world (especially various European nations) compared to America.
I'm not speaking about restrictions. I'm speaking about paranoid approach to the matter.
More restrictions and more regulations come from more worry (and paranoia) about privacy.
Absolutely not. More regulations come from a different culture and law system.
Aren't we European so scared about our government spying on us...... There is hysteria in USA about that
A different culture and law system that has less trust in things if that nature to need more privacy regulations? Otherwise why have more regulations and restrictions? For fun or because of more trust?
The underlying point it's not just Americans or all Americans it's something that's present throughout the world but doesn't necessarily apply to everyone (or even most).
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Doesn't Android already has that for the most part anyway?True.
Imagine the hate attacks on Google's Android if they required such access.
Apple worshipers would hammer them to the extreme. Once again in Apple's Walled Garden, hypocrisy reigns supreme...
For everyone freaking out over a custom keyboard, I have a few suggestions:
1. Throw away that smartphone. Actually throw away your cell phone period. Your location can be tracked via that phone, and the phone companies know your contacts, your phone calls, your data, etc.
2. Disconnect from the internet entirely. Entirely. Get rid of your email, no matter what company. Your internet searches are also easily traceable. Hate to break this to you but this is as true if you use DuckDuckGo as Google.
3. In fact, throw out that computer entirely. Your computer can be seized by law enforcement if they think you're up to something shady.
4. Cut up your credit cards, close your bank account, and stash all your cash under your mattress. Wouldn't want your monetary transactions to be traceable, wouldn't you.
5. Move to a log cabin in the middle of nowhere like the Unabomber, and then you can live a life of total privacy, free from snoopers, and never get caught. Oh wait ...
1. Throw away that smartphone. Actually throw away your cell phone period. Your location can be tracked via that phone, and the phone companies know your contacts, your phone calls, your data, etc.
2. Disconnect from the internet entirely. Entirely. Get rid of your email, no matter what company. Your internet searches are also easily traceable. Hate to break this to you but this is as true if you use DuckDuckGo as Google.
3. In fact, throw out that computer entirely. Your computer can be seized by law enforcement if they think you're up to something shady.
4. Cut up your credit cards, close your bank account, and stash all your cash under your mattress. Wouldn't want your monetary transactions to be traceable, wouldn't you.
5. Move to a log cabin in the middle of nowhere like the Unabomber, and then you can live a life of total privacy, free from snoopers, and never get caught. Oh wait ...
True.
Imagine the hate attacks on Google's Android if they required such access.
Apple worshipers would hammer them to the extreme. Once again in Apple's Walled Garden, hypocrisy reigns supreme...
android third party keyboard already has that access privilege.... And they don't even warn you.
Once again in Google's walled garden, hypocrisy reigns supreme...
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Yes they have, but most of the Android users don't know.....
You seem to prefer guesswork to facts. Google offers line by line specifics for every app regarding access. Apple demands full access or the app doesn't operate as designed. Once again Apple dictates without choices. Conversely Android is full of choices. There's a huge amount of freedom.