iphone security bug ?

[peter5841]

Hello,

There seems to be a huge bug on iPhone 4. Even though I disabled notifications ( sounds, alerts and badges all off), I still get notifications from a specific app (a Simpson's free game called 'tapped out'). How is this possible ? I would tend to think that when the user sets the notifications off, this choice is imposed to the application by the OS, rather than being the developer's choice to follow this choice or not. However, for this application, the choice seems to be disgarded. This is not a user error on my part, I can assure you that for this app, the notifications are indeed off, I double-checked. Many other users are also complaining about a similar issue (however they seem to think it's a app bug, but I would tend to say it's the OS's job to do that, not the app), for example here: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/662347-the-simpsons-tapped-out/63837887

How is it possible, and how to solve this issue ?

Thanks

 

[Intell]

Those are local app notifications. They are not sent via Apple's servers but are handled right on the device. Some apps respect the no notifications settings, some don't.

 

[peter5841]

ok, thanks for your prompt answer. What I don't understand though is, how does it work, technically ? Why is it that the choice of respecting the settings is given to the app, rather than being imposed by the OS ? This is crazy, it seems like a huge security flaw. It's like if I had a firewall on my computer but it was up to the software whether to abide the rules set by the firewall. Or it's as if I chose to forbid an app to access my contacts, but it was up to the app whether to follow that choice. It just doesn't make sense.

Moreover, you're saying this is local. So it's done by the app, right ? Then why does this notification system even works if the application is CLOSED (double click on home, then long click on the app to force it to shut down) ??

 

[noteple]

Sound like an issue for Apple support.

You might be on to something and may want to remove the App

 

[peter5841]

I am not familiar with the way the apple support works. And it thinks it requires to give your apple ID, which I would rather not give, I don't like being tracked like that. If someone else is interested in this question, can (s)he do it then, and paste here the results of the support answer ?

 

[scaredpoet]

And it thinks it requires to give your apple ID, which I would rather not give, I don't like being tracked like that.

Really? Then, you probably haven't been paying attention to how much tracking Apple, Google and other entities do to iPhone and other smartphone users, all of the time. If you're buying apps, using anything that requires location data, talking to Siri, or using anything iCloud, then Apple probably already has gigabytes of info on you. If an app maker has used UDID information in the past, then they've been tracking you and can probably cross-link lots of your info, too. And if you use Google apps, Gmail, or search on Google, then they have a treasure trove of data on you, too.

If you really don't want to be "tracked like that," you probably shouldn't have any kind of cell phone. Each one made since about the early 2000s is a sophisticated computer with a GPS tracker, and is connected to the internet every moment you have it turned on (which, for many people, is 24/7).

If you have an Apple ID, then Apple already has information about you. Entering it for a simple, mundane support question isn't going to make the situation any worse.

Your other options would be to call Apple tech support by phone, or visit an Apple Store.

 

[peter5841]

Hehe, I guess you're right (though, as I side note, I don't use most of the things you mentionned. I don't use gmail, nor google (I use startpage), I don't use iCloud, I have GPS turned off, etc). I'm just not used to talking on forums and asking for support and things like that, that's all. I'm just a regular user, and was surprised to see this behaviour on my phone.

Well thanks for the help anyhow.