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Tim Cook Speaks on Privacy in New Interview: 'We Try Not to Collect Data'
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That method of cracking your account goes away the second you turn on two-factor authentication. It's been available for iCloud for a long time. Do I wish that Apple made it mandatory and required a token to login to iCloud? Yes.
But Google doesn't require two-factor authentication, either. And as you can see from the below link you have a much higher probability of someone possessing your gmail information right now if you don't use their two-factor authentication:
http://time.com/3318853/google-user-logins-bitcoin/
Why all the fuss about iCloud, when this Google story is a much bigger issue?
"Everyone else does it, so Apple must do it too" isn't an argument. This isn't some low-level person saying Apple doesn't do it, it's the CEO.
If you have specific cases that you know of, you might as well mail tcook@apple.com about them as well as posting them here.
If you have specific cases that you know of, you might as well mail tcook@apple.com about them as well as posting them here.
I have an Android phone, an iPad, and I use Google services for email, maps, Internet searches, etc. I also have a Facebook account for keeping in touch with family.
I have no qualms about these companies selling my data. I know it's being done, and that it's been done for years. It just doesn't bother me.
However, one thing I refuse to do is allow Google, Facebook, or Apple to backup my data. All my data is backed up locally to my home workstation. iCloud never gets turned on, and Google+ and Facebook don't get access to my photos.
Additionally, I have two-factor authentication turned enabled on all services I have accounts with, so if someone tries to break in I'll know about it.
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It's even worse when some companies (not Apple) use personal information to verify your real identity, only to compare your answers to publicly available data...
That security logic is up there with "emails my username and password to me when I make an account".
They're both huge issues. I'm not saying Google is innocent in the security game.
I'm simply saying Apple isn't infallible. There are some people here who base their decision to go with Apple solely because of how secure they are and how much they trust Apple with their data.
No matter what Tim Cook says on television, Apple's systems are no more secure than any other system on the Internet.
Otherwise known as phishing. There is nothing wrong with iCloud's authentication system. Password reset, security questions, etc is used by every competent website. The problem is weak user passwords, the lack of two-factor education and people putting obvious things as their security question answers. None of that is Apple's problem. That's entirely on the users.
Apple has a lockout on all but one login method, which was a Find my iPhone login for development. Once that was revealed it was quickly patched. Regardless, Apple denied that brute force was used in the celebrity hack which makes sense because even a reasonably secure password can take decades to brute force.
Hah... anyone who actually believes Apple isn't collecting data in one form or another is as blind as a one eyed bat.
Seriously, Apple isn't your friend, they're a huge corporation. Their number one goal is to make money. PERIOD.
If you think Apple is any different than Google, or Microsoft, or Facebook, or... on and on... then you're flat out dilusional.
But, hey, keep drinking that Kool Aid and living your life in blisfull ignorance.
They are different. They have a different business model. It is clear to a 5th grader what the difference is.
The cost of getting caught lying about such things would be much greater than any benefit in the first place.
While this is mostly true, Apple's primary problem is they don't allow users to come up with their OWN security questions. They have a stock selection of questions available for people to answer.
All you really have to do to break into an iCloud account is to write down these questions, find a target, and then find out the answers to all of the security questions.
Find the one that the target answered and you're golden.
The fact that you believe Apple is a "different" multi-billion dollar corporation, and has a different business model than every other multi-billion dollar corporation is cute.
Sure, which is why security questions should be done away with entirely. But again, that has nothing to do with iCloud being insecure and everything to do with security questions being a terrible system. You can phish almost every major website through security questions.
Of course you can. That's not my point.
My point is Apple touts endlessly about how secure iCloud is, while at the same time users' iCloud accounts are being broken into on a hourly basis. Tim Cook gets on television and tells people what they want to hear so they'll feel comfortable buying his product.
It's all just lip service to sell more iPhone's. Apple's service is no more secure than any other service.
Hah... anyone who actually believes Apple isn't collecting data in one form or another is as blind as a one eyed bat.
Seriously, Apple isn't your friend, they're a huge corporation. Their number one goal is to make money. PERIOD.
If you think Apple is any different than Google, or Microsoft, or Facebook, or... on and on... then you're flat out dilusional.
But, hey, keep drinking that Kool Aid and living your life in blisfull ignorance.
Yes, but it is the way they make money that is different. Apple makes money by selling a fairly expensive product. It is a onetime transaction and it is pretty clear to the consumer the money being made by Apple. Google and others are making money in a far less clear way. It becomes harder for the consumer to figure out if they are getting a good deal or not.
It is a fundamental difference. And it is one that I like.
But yes Apple is a company. And I doubt they will refrain from mining data to a greater degree in the future. The other fact is that much of this data mining is fairly innocuous to the consumer. So you don't know how Facebook and Google make money off of you, but you mainly don't care because you don't loose too much in the transaction and you don't really notice it that much either.
Since I'm not likely to remember them anyways, I usually put in gibberish and keep that info in 1Password. I'm not exactly sure why I save it, since it would be gone if I lost my password anyways, but there it is.
Putting gibberish or incorrect answers for security questions is one of the best things you do can to further secure yourself. Just remember what answers you gave in case you forget your password.
Next time someone asks me why I prefer Apple over Google, I'll tell them that I prefer buying Apple products, not being their product.
That is a perfectly legitimate and fair answer. But know that Apple does mine your data as well. Apple claims to not sell this data to other companies. It's up to you if you want to believe them.
Anonymous VPN accounts and Tor browser are great for avoiding being logged when you are brute forcing an account password.
The way he seems to be going after Google by mentioning how we aren't a product being sold, and then mentions how there is super secret stuff that they're working on makes me think that Apple is going to unveil their own search engine. There was a hint of a rumor about thatit was very sketchy and light on details. A search engine to spite Google. A search engine that is installed by default with every Apple device, but Apple doesn't make a cent off of it. No ads, no tracking, revolutionary search algorithm. I'm skeptical of Apple being able to deliver outstanding services (IMO they're slowly getting better), but if they have somehow made a breakthrough, it could change the course of everything. I think 2015 is going to be really interesting.
I dont believe for one second that there isnt a way in. This may be a deliberate back door or a bug that has been purposely ignored. I do believe however that Apple have gone much further than anybody else in this regard.
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Well yeah but people also need to remember that, (there are alternative search engines now), way back Google made your life easier with search. All of that costs money, time and privacy.
A lot of these moaners are the ones that grew up on Google searching to pass time, catch scandal, current affairs, further education etc etc..
They didnt mind when it was someones elses privacy at stake.
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Well yeah but people also need to remember that, (there are alternative search engines now), way back Google made your life easier with search. All of that costs money, time and privacy.
A lot of these moaners are the ones that grew up on Google searching to pass time, catch scandal, current affairs, further education etc etc..
They didnt mind when it was someones elses privacy at stake.
