Is your iPhone exposing you? Apple explains this ‘scary’ feature
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Privacy concerns are at the forefront of everyone's mind, especially when it comes to the devices we carry with us every day.
For those who have embraced the smartphone revolution, understanding the ins and outs of your iPhone's settings is crucial to maintaining your privacy.
A recent update from Apple has raised eyebrows and concerns, but let's dive into what it really means for you and your personal information.
Apple's iOS 17.2 update, which rolled out in December, introduced the Journal app to iPhone users.
‘With Journal, users can capture and write about everyday moments and special events in their lives and include photos, videos, audio recordings, locations and more to create rich memories,’ Apple said.
It's a digital diary that uses on-device machine learning to offer private, personalised journal entry suggestions, helping you reflect on your day-to-day experiences.
However, a particular setting within the Journal app called 'Discoverable by Others' has caused quite a stir on social media.
Some users have expressed concern that this feature could compromise their privacy as ‘anyone near you to know your full name and exactly where you’re geolocated’.
‘This is messed up big time...very scary stuff,’ one post said.
But before you start worrying about your privacy being invaded, let's set the record straight.
According to Apple, the 'Discoverable by Others' feature is not a privacy threat. The Journal app's suggestions function uses information already on your device, such as your music preferences, photos, and locations you've visited, to inspire potential journal entries.
This is all done privately, without sharing your information with others.
‘Journaling Suggestions may also use contextual information to determine which suggestions may be more meaningful or relevant to you,’ Apple said.
‘Journaling Suggestions uses Bluetooth to detect the number of devices and contacts around you without storing which of these specific contacts were around.’
If you're uncomfortable with the 'Discoverable by Others' setting, you can easily turn it off.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Journaling Suggestions on your iPhone, and toggle off the 'Discoverable by Others' option.
To ensure the safety of your personal information and passwords for your iPhone, make sure to double-check the apps you’re installing.
In a previous story, a counterfeit app was removed from the App Store as it mimicked a legitimate app to steal passwords. You can read more about the story here.
Have you encountered any settings that concerned you? How do you manage your privacy on your devices? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below!
For those who have embraced the smartphone revolution, understanding the ins and outs of your iPhone's settings is crucial to maintaining your privacy.
A recent update from Apple has raised eyebrows and concerns, but let's dive into what it really means for you and your personal information.
Apple's iOS 17.2 update, which rolled out in December, introduced the Journal app to iPhone users.
‘With Journal, users can capture and write about everyday moments and special events in their lives and include photos, videos, audio recordings, locations and more to create rich memories,’ Apple said.
Apple’s Journal app was rolled out in December. Credit: Apple
It's a digital diary that uses on-device machine learning to offer private, personalised journal entry suggestions, helping you reflect on your day-to-day experiences.
However, a particular setting within the Journal app called 'Discoverable by Others' has caused quite a stir on social media.
Some users have expressed concern that this feature could compromise their privacy as ‘anyone near you to know your full name and exactly where you’re geolocated’.
‘This is messed up big time...very scary stuff,’ one post said.
But before you start worrying about your privacy being invaded, let's set the record straight.
According to Apple, the 'Discoverable by Others' feature is not a privacy threat. The Journal app's suggestions function uses information already on your device, such as your music preferences, photos, and locations you've visited, to inspire potential journal entries.
This is all done privately, without sharing your information with others.
‘Journaling Suggestions may also use contextual information to determine which suggestions may be more meaningful or relevant to you,’ Apple said.
‘Journaling Suggestions uses Bluetooth to detect the number of devices and contacts around you without storing which of these specific contacts were around.’
If you're uncomfortable with the 'Discoverable by Others' setting, you can easily turn it off.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Journaling Suggestions on your iPhone, and toggle off the 'Discoverable by Others' option.
To ensure the safety of your personal information and passwords for your iPhone, make sure to double-check the apps you’re installing.
In a previous story, a counterfeit app was removed from the App Store as it mimicked a legitimate app to steal passwords. You can read more about the story here.
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