Apple Wants to Lock Out Sniffer Apps

A small change in the next update for iPhones, iPods and iPads app developer brings in turmoil. You want to block access to the equipment identification number to prevent misuse of data. Developers are already discussing alternatives to the user identification. For some it is a long overdue step, harassment of other blind activism or simply: With two sets on a Web site, Apple has announced, not developers iOS apps to use the so-called UDID (Unique Device Identifier), a device-specific identification number in the future, to allow more. The Californian company is reacting to strong criticism, because many apps use the UDID to bring far more data about each user in experience, as they need to function.

Already in early 2010 sought an Apple customer in a class action lawsuit against the company. He accused the company, app developers can read the UDID in order to create user profiles for their advertising partners, in the surf past, app-usage statistics and other personal information of users are included. In May saw a blog entry of the New Zealand developer Aldo Cortesi furore. Cortesi said, how easy it is for programmers to link the iPhone UDID one example, the Facebook account of his owner and then the unique device number assigned to a name and other personal details from your Facebook profile.

Obviously, Apple wants such for now put a stop to data mining. Because according to Apple‘s developers, the rules described by Cortesi app-wide data analysis are only allowed if every app before the user of such data transfer requests for permission and explain what data will be transmitted to whom. Violations of this policy are to be found in the review, which run through every app, before it comes to the App Store. Obviously, this control mechanism did not work.

This is probably why Apple now pulls the ripcord. With the latest beta version of IOS-5, which is distributed to registered developers, the group published a note. Which states, according to TechCrunch , Apple would “adjust the support for the introduction of IOS UDID 5″. For example, this should display marketers is no longer possible to analyze user behavior in certain apps, like Apple insider says.

Apple refers app developers that they should use instead of the UDID now own ID numbers to identify users of their app. That is possible, but it has not the same effect as a UDID, since such a number would be deleted as soon as you install the appropriate app and reinstalled. Apple‘s notice in any event generated excitement among developers, who say they would UDID used to completely innocuous purposes. For example, to distribute trial versions of their apps.

Identification by icloud

In Techcrunch forum but some developers have pointed out that Apple‘s wording does not mean that the UDID is abolished altogether. Finally, there stands written, iOS 5 would reject the use of UDID. The so-app programmer David Jameson would not mean that the UDID would be abolished. He would use his apps in various functions that have been abandoned by Apple in a similar way, but they are supported yet. From his point of view, Apple‘s only indication that we should cease to use the UDID, because there’s now a better way.

What better way could this have long since discovered other developers: Instead of using the UDID to identify a user, it could be about his user account at icloud make Apple‘s future on-line data service clearly identifiable. That explains a forum participant, would have advantages over even the UDID. Because by icloud could identify a user even then, if he has acquired a new device and tied to his icloud account. This mechanism will only work after a user has approved the respective app to access his account icloud explicitly.

The prerequisite for this course is that users have previously bought a icloud account.

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This entry was posted on Friday, August 26th, 2011 at 12:26 pm and is filed under Technology. Tags: apple, Apps, privacy You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.