Connecting with Apple: How the new privacy connection tool works

Connect with Apple is a new privacy tool that Apple announced Monday to his WWDC annual event. The security feature uses your Apple ID to verify your credentials, not your email address. Apple says that this will prevent you from being tracked online in a way that you may not realize. With dark and new mode camera features, Connection is part of iOS 13, which will come to iPhones ($ 1,000 at Amazon) this autumn. It will also work with your Apple Watch ($ 349 on Amazon) and Mac.

The connection comes at a time when security and privacy are topical issues. Facebook is just one of the companies at the heart of an ongoing security debate that is of concern to lawmakers and Internet users alike. More recently, clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics had a breach which exposed the data of nearly 12 million patients. In January, the Internet was one of the largest public data breaches after more than 87 gigabytes of personal information disclosed online.

By providing iPhone owners with secure ways to connect to online applications and services, Apple is demonstrating its commitment to privacy that has long been a company's motto. (Apple Card, his digital credit card, is another example.)

Here is everything we know about how the connection works. We will continue to update this story as we learn more.

How to connect with Apple works?

Connect with Apple is a tool that uses your Apple ID as a login to connect to websites and apps, instead of typing your email address. With compatible apps, you'll see an option to touch Connect with Apple or enter your email address – after verifying your identity with Face ID for iPhone X ($ 625 at Walmart) phone or by pressing 3D Touch with your fingerprint on the iPhone 8 ($ 660 at Walmart) or sooner.

The tool uses your iOS device to check your credentials, instead of logging into a social account, which can make you vulnerable to online tracking.

Why did Apple create this?

Apple's new tool challenges the idea that you have to sacrifice your privacy to be able to be used on multiple platforms. In addition, the company began designing this tool when its own employees began to wonder if its services could do better. The company said Apple Says Sign In Service Provides Convenience Without Privacy Fees.

The tool is also part of Apple's plan to make privacy a key selling point for its competitors. The company's competitors use their authentication services to create a user profile to create targeted ads. Apple said do not use the tool to profile the users or the activity of their applications. The company derives its revenue from the sale of devices and services, not advertising, so it is not as interested in your information.

Will the Apple connection option appear in all my apps?

Yes. The terms used by Apple for developers clearly show that:

The connection with Apple will be available for beta testing this summer. It will be mandatory as an option for users of applications supporting third-party login when it will be commercially available later this year.

What if I want to use an email address instead?

If you prefer, you can choose to hide your e-mail address and let Apple create a random address for you. You can choose to share your real or fake email. The application or website will receive e-mail from the placeholder and all messages will be transferred to your actual e-mail address so that your identity is protected.

You will also have a unique random email for each application or website. Therefore, when you do not want to hear from any of them, simply disable the email.

Do I need an iCloud account or just an Apple ID?

We know at the very least that you need an Apple ID and we asked Apple for clarification on any other requirement.

Is the connection with Apple reserved for the iPhone?

During the WWDC, Apple only introduced this tool on an iPhone, but you can also use it on Mac, Apple Watch and iPad. ($ 249 at Walmart).

How does this differ from connecting to Facebook or Google?

The connection is visually similar to icons that allow you to sign in to an app or website with Google or Facebook, but Apple launches in Facebook and Google. Connecting with Facebook or Google may seem easier, but a lot of your personal information is attached to it, such as your nicknames, your hometown, your birthday, and so on. This information may seem trivial, but some of this information is, for example, an essential element of security issues for your bank account.

Google and Facebook have not responded to a request for comment.

The connection also allows you to better control the permissions that applications and websites have access to. You can choose the applications that must request your permission each time it requests your location data via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This is useful if you are trying a new application or if you do not plan to use it often, for example.

When can I start using Sign In?

The new tool will be available, at least on iPhone, after the launch of iOS 13 in the fall (probably in September with the rumored iPhone 11). For the moment, the new operating system is only available in beta for developers. The public beta comes in July.

Originally released on June 3rd.
Update of June 4th: Adds more details about connecting with Apple.
Update June 5 at 12h PT: Add more details.