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What the privacy deal on these keyboards?

Italianblend

Italianblend

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 21, 2011
1,794
247
Fatima
Can someone explain to me why there are privacy issues in using 3rd party keyboards? I tried installing one yesterday for the first time and the pop up makes it sound like by installing a 3rd party keyboard, the developer can see everything you text, hack into your accounts, steal your identity, and ransom your kids.

Is it true that a developer can actually read your texts just because you have a keyboard skin installed? Why would anyone want this invasion of privacy just to add some color to a keyboard? What am I missing here?
 
Italianblend said:
Can someone explain to me why there are privacy issues in using 3rd party keyboards? I tried installing one yesterday for the first time and the pop up makes it sound like by installing a 3rd party keyboard, the developer can see everything you text, hack into your accounts, steal your identity, and ransom your kids.

Is it true that a developer can actually read your texts just because you have a keyboard skin installed? Why would anyone want this invasion of privacy just to add some color to a keyboard? What am I missing here?
Click to expand...

This will help. In theory there's nothing to worry about. And by the way - the default keyboard is always used when typing in sensitive info.

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/24/ios-8-keyboards-full-access-and-user-privacy/
 
The article you linked says this:

Ultimately, what it comes down to is trust. Granting a keyboard full access certainly does mean that any typing data can be transmitted back the developer's servers for a variety of uses
Click to expand...

That is hardly comforting.

What keyboards do not require this?
 
Italianblend said:
The article you linked says this:

That is hardly comforting.

What keyboards do not require this?
Click to expand...

Check out the general 3rd party keyboard topic start post and you can find out more details in regards to 'full rights' in general and per keyboard and also the limitations (e.g. not allowed to be used when typing in a password field or use Siri) of a third party keyboards. There are quite a few out there which do not need full access (swiping keyboards: Swype, Path Input, Touchpal and also ai.Type for example)
 
Italianblend said:
Can someone explain to me why there are privacy issues in using 3rd party keyboards? I tried installing one yesterday for the first time and the pop up makes it sound like by installing a 3rd party keyboard, the developer can see everything you text, hack into your accounts, steal your identity, and ransom your kids.

Is it true that a developer can actually read your texts just because you have a keyboard skin installed? Why would anyone want this invasion of privacy just to add some color to a keyboard? What am I missing here?
Click to expand...

It just means that they can, not that they necessarily will.
 
pacorob said:
Check out the general 3rd party keyboard topic start post and you can find out more details in regards to 'full rights' in general and per keyboard and also the limitations
Click to expand...

This was more helpful, thanks. I am still frustrated by this issue. Basically, I'm looking for a way to have a different colored keyboard without giving privacy rights away. I know, I know, most of these companies don't collect your personal info. It's still not worth it to some people.

What is it with Apple and customization? What would be the harm in allowing us to add some color to our menus, text bubbles, or keyboards? And the only way Apple makes it possible is to hand your privacy over to a third party company that may or may not have good intentions with your information.

I just find the whole thing to be really unnecessary. It's 2014, and I can't customize any colors on a modern device.
 
Italianblend said:
This was more helpful, thanks. I am still frustrated by this issue. Basically, I'm looking for a way to have a different colored keyboard without giving privacy rights away. I know, I know, most of these companies don't collect your personal info. It's still not worth it to some people.
Click to expand...

Swype, Touchpal, ai.type, Fleksy have various colored themes. I'm not sure if you need full access for that but i don't think so. I'm using Swype and Path Input mainly for swiping/gesture feature. I will check out the color/theme options if I'm allowed to change the theme without changing it to full access.
 
Most Android apps have full access so this is hardly surprising. Apple themselves have full access...
 
Italianblend said:
This was more helpful, thanks. I am still frustrated by this issue. Basically, I'm looking for a way to have a different colored keyboard without giving privacy rights away. I know, I know, most of these companies don't collect your personal info. It's still not worth it to some people.

What is it with Apple and customization? What would be the harm in allowing us to add some color to our menus, text bubbles, or keyboards? And the only way Apple makes it possible is to hand your privacy over to a third party company that may or may not have good intentions with your information.

I just find the whole thing to be really unnecessary. It's 2014, and I can't customize any colors on a modern device.
Click to expand...

That's Apple's MO. They believe they've picked the best color/design UI for their Devices (hence you can't theme the Dock on OS X).

I'm not saying it's right but it is what it is. However, I do enjoy that they take design seriously (although I disagree with certain elements).
 
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