Is my Contacts info being sent to the cloud?

[iPodTouchOwner]

I moved from Android to iPhone after years of anxting over which of the juggernauts would be less disrepectful of one's privacy, and more diligent about the safety of the apps in their store. I chose Apple, and recently made the move. Last month, that is, and I am being inducted into the world of iOS with version 10.

I noticed with consternation that my contacts display a small map image of the address. I don't keep my contacts in the cloud, and never use the cloud for transferring contact informaton. I use AkrutoSync to sync up with my Outlook client on my laptop (Windows 7) over home WiFi. As far as I know, mapping out the addresses in my Contacts is not possible without those addresses being sent to a mapping service somewhere. I don't recall being asked for this to happen, and no switch or parameter that I can find under Privacy or Contacts seems to be responsible.

Can anyone suggest what might be enabling this?

 

[profets]

I’m 99% sure that with iOS devices all of that is being done locally on the device.

 

[Menel]

Yes.
There is no avoiding cloud computing.

 

[iPodTouchOwner]

@profets: Hypothetically, if we were ever able to find out, I would be floored to find that the local software has the capability to locate an address on map. Since my visibility into the OS and apps is quite limited, however, it is still possible in my mind.

@Menel: I'm not against cloud computing. I often make use of cloud enabled service. However, taking one's information without notice or permisssion and sending it into the cloud is what malware and spyware does.

 

[eyoungren]

When you add new contacts is your default for that in the Settings app for AkrutoSync?

Apple tends to make itself the default for things like that. You can add your contacts provider but unless you explicity tell Settings to make sure it's using that provider it defaults to iCloud.

Some people have been tripped up by this when they find that the contacts they've added are not actually store with their provider but on iCloud instead.

That would be on way I could see your issue occuring.

 

[Michael Goff]

@profets: Hypothetically, if we were ever able to find out, I would be floored to find that the local software has the capability to locate an address on map. Since my visibility into the OS and apps is quite limited, however, it is still possible in my mind.

@Menel: I'm not against cloud computing. I often make use of cloud enabled service. However, taking one's information without notice or permisssion and sending it into the cloud is what malware and spyware does.

Except you're giving them permission when you set up sync.

 

[iPodTouchOwner]

@eyoungren:
I don't think I've ever set up a new contact from the iPhone. It's from the Outlook client on the PC. The map pictures that I see are in the contacts created on the PC. I browsed to Settings->Contacts. The Accounts field says Exchange, which is the AkrutoSync account. There is no other choice to select.

The Default Account field also says Exchange. The only other choice is On My iPhone, which is unchecked.

For neither of those two parameters am I given the choice to select Apple.

Also, I don't have an iCloud account, so it would be quite a feat to accidentally send my info there.

Micheal Goff said:
"...you're giving them permission when you set up sync."

My response:
I don't see how. I never set up any kind of cloud account with them, was never asked nor notified. As I said, the sync is with an Exchange Server interface, as presented by AkrutoSync on the PC, over local WiFi.

If I am missing some explanatory detail in your answer, please clarify. Thanks.

 

[jeyf]

this is a start:
verify on your iPhone goto Settings->Contacts->Accounts->iCloud->Contacts = OFF

the iCloud is really embedded into the operation of apple deivces
the methods are all legacy odd logic so dont puddle around on this
call apple support 1 (800) MYAPPLE
when asked by the automated thingy say; "iCloud" they will get you over to someone who can help

 

[iPodTouchOwner]

this is a start:
verify on your iPhone goto Settings->Contacts->Accounts->iCloud->Contacts = OFF

the iCloud is really embedded into the operation of apple deivces
the methods are all legacy odd logic so dont puddle around on this
call apple support 1 (800) MYAPPLE
when asked by the automated thingy say; "iCloud" they will get you over to someone who can help

I don't have an iCloud account. When I go to Settings->Contacts->Accounts, there is no iCloud account showing. There is only the Exchange account to AkrutoSync on my PC, accessed over local WiFi. As I type this, however, I am on the phone with the Apple support service for which you provided the number above.

AFTERNOTE: They just clarified that all of the Contacts info does indeed get sent off the phone. Without notification or permission.

 

[Michael Goff]

I decided to read over your first post again, to make sure I don't say anything too stupid, and realized the thing you're talking about could easily be done on device. Maps app looks and sees an address and gives a map. Probably baked into the contacts app for easy use.

 

[iPodTouchOwner]

I decided to read over your first post again, to make sure I don't say anything too stupid, and realized the thing you're talking about could easily be done on device. Maps app looks and sees an address and gives a map. Probably baked into the contacts app for easy use.

Unfortunately, Apple has verified that the mapping of the addresses is being done on their servers. The address info of all Contacts are indeed being sent off-device without notification or permission.

It looks like Apple has adopted the position that it's easier to seek forgiveness than permission. Not that they're seeking forgiveness, mind you. It all boils down to the privacy enforcement measures available, I suppose. To think that I chose this juggernaut based on its respect for individual rights and privacy.