Categories: Apple

Advertisers are hijacking apps to beat Apple and developers’ privacy efforts

A new report claims that popular iPhone apps are being used by advertisers to get your location details, despite Apple’s App Tracking Transparency — and even without the app developers’ knowledge.

Popular apps like Candy Crush & Tinder used for location tracking

Apple introduced App Tracking Transparency (ATT) with iOS 14 back in 2020, and was so effective at blocking advertisers from harvesting and then selling user data, that it reportedly made Facebook’s revenue drop by $12.8 billion in a year. However, a new report claims that advertisers have found other ways to track and monetise user data.

Some widely used apps, including Candy Crush, Tinder, and MyFitnessPal, are allegedly being exploited by rogue actors within the advertising industry to collect sensitive location data on an enormous scale. This has been claimed before, but now 404 Media reports that a hack of location data company Gravy Analytics has revealed evidence of thousands of popular apps being unknowingly utilized to provide mass location data to advertisers.

Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source: AppleInsider News

AddThis Website Tools
WBN

Share
Published by
WBN

Recent Posts

NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Uses His Camera for Science in SpaceNASA Astronaut Don Pettit Uses His Camera for Science in Space

NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Uses His Camera for Science in Space

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his incredible astrophotography, sense of humor, and clever camera…

2 weeks ago
WhatsApp now lets users create their own sticker packsWhatsApp now lets users create their own sticker packs

WhatsApp now lets users create their own sticker packs

WhatsApp this week released a major update that adds a new way to create and…

2 weeks ago
Ben Affleck Has a New Batman Complaint: Wearing the Batsuit SuckedBen Affleck Has a New Batman Complaint: Wearing the Batsuit Sucked

Ben Affleck Has a New Batman Complaint: Wearing the Batsuit Sucked

The actor has long since moved on, but he'll forever be asked about his DC…

2 weeks ago

LEGO Easter Sale Drops Deals Too Sweet to Miss, Hurry This Won’t Last Long

Dozens of awesome building kits for all ages are marked down from now through April…

2 weeks ago

This Reminders feature is a lifesaver when my task list grows too long

Apple’s Reminders app has become a powerful task manager in recent years, and there’s one…

2 weeks ago

Trump Weaponizes Bureaucratic Review to Stop Offshore Wind Project

What happened to cutting red tape?

2 weeks ago