Apple Addresses Privacy Concerns Over Spotlight in OS X Yosemite

POST

MAIL

Posted October 21, 2014 at 4:18pm by iClarified

Apple has issued a statement addressing privacy concerns over the new Spotlight in OS X Yosemite.

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that "Once Yosemite is installed, users searching for files – even on their own hard drives -- have their locations, unique identifying codes and search terms automatically sent to the company, keystroke by keystroke. The same is true for devices using Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 8."

Select information is sent to Apple to enable the new Spotlight Suggestions feature. iMore obtained Apple's statement on the matter.

---
"We are absolutely committed to protecting our users' privacy and have built privacy right into our products," Apple told iMore. "For Spotlight Suggestions we minimize the amount of information sent to Apple. Apple doesn't retain IP addresses from users' devices. Spotlight blurs the location on the device so it never sends an exact location to Apple. Spotlight doesn't use a persistent identifier, so a user's search history can't be created by Apple or anyone else. Apple devices only use a temporary anonymous session ID for a 15-minute period before the ID is discarded.

"We also worked closely with Microsoft to protect our users' privacy. Apple forwards only commonly searched terms and only city-level location information to Bing. Microsoft does not store search queries or receive users' IP addresses.

"You can also easily opt out of Spotlight Suggestions, Bing or Location Services for Spotlight."
---

Apple also offers information on Spotlight security on its online privacy page.

With iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, searching with Spotlight now goes beyond your device to give you suggestions from sources like Wikipedia, the iTunes Store, and Maps. Before it answers, Spotlight considers things like context and location while protecting your privacy by using an anonymous identifier that refreshes every 15 minutes. You can always opt out of Suggestions and continue to use Spotlight solely for local search on your device. You are also free to opt out of having Spotlight use Location Services any time you want. If you opt out, Spotlight will still use your IP address to determine a general location to make your searches more relevant. Unlike our competitors, we don’t use a persistent personal identifier to tie your searches to you in order to build a profile based on your search history. We also place restrictions on our partners so they don’t create a long-term trail of identifiable searches by you or from your device.

If you would still like to, you can deselect the checkboxes for both Spotlight Suggestions and Bing Web Searches in the Search Results tab in the Spotlight preference pane found within System Preferences on your Mac.

Apple Addresses Privacy Concerns Over Spotlight in OS X Yosemite

Follow iClarified

Government - October 21, 2014 at 7:12pm

Hey Frank can we install a camera as well in all your rooms, and also can we have access to everything you own. Your not doing anything illegal right. Were just protecting you and your family. Thank You Big Brother

Reply · Like

gamerscul9870 - October 21, 2014 at 5:59pm

The privacy here is what words are typed and if someone uses the computer and notices what you typed, they may be onto something.

sillydrew - October 21, 2014 at 5:27pm

People are paranoid as usual. That's a hot topic at the moment. Anyways I can say that despite the concerns over privacy people speak of I haven't had my me.com/iCloud mailbox spammed from apple selling my info like I have from other providers. That to me shows who sees my info.

Francisco Visconti - October 21, 2014 at 4:26pm

I really don't get the problem with apple or government knowing your location... I mean what are u hiding? whats the problem? like they are gonna come get u

Brljo - October 21, 2014 at 5:05pm

Exactly. What is the point of all the privacy concerns people have now days? If government or any other legal entity is after your personal data, they are going to get it regardless. As for the illegal or however you want to call the others that are out to get you, protect your self.

tommyy - October 21, 2014 at 5:18pm

To avoid a chance to be robbed, kidnapped by unknown.

Sidhik - October 22, 2014 at 5:04am

For safety, for the unexpected. We lock our house, even though we know that the locks can't keep us safe from burglars. We do not want everyone to know where we are and what we are doing. Privacy is the right of every individual.