iOS Safety Check

A lot of information is recorded and sometimes shared when you use your device. Your pictures are tagged with GPS location data, date, and time. Weather apps use your location to provide weather data in your immediate area. The Maps app tracks your movements, and so on. You do have some control over what apps can and cannot access—you’ll give them permissions when you install them. You can review and modify permissions anytime, but you may lose functions if you restrict information.

Let’s talk about some of the types of data then we’ll discuss how to control what you share.

Location privacy

Location Services shares your location with apps. A few of the many apps that use your location are:

• Maps
• Weather apps
• Google searches
• Facebook
• Uber and Lyft

If an app is using Location Services, the Location Services icon  will appear in the Status Bar.

There are two levels of location sharing on Apple devices: Never or While Using the App (or Widgets). Apps can no longer force you to allow Location Services all the time.

Should I worry about my location being shared?

Your location data is collected anonymously and in aggregate form with other users. This data can be extremely helpful to you as a user. For instance, Apple can tell that iPhone users are going too slow on a highway. That information is used by the Maps app to indicate traffic problems. Apps may also use location information to suggest stores and restaurants close to you. Each third-party app will have a published policy regarding location uses. All fall under Apple’s general use policies as well. These policies change from time to time.

Photo sharing privacy

Smartphones, tablets, and most digital cameras save additional data when you take a picture. The data may include the location, date, and time a photo was taken, as well as what type of device took the photo. That data is embedded with the photo and can easily be read by anyone to whom you email a photo. This data may be readable when you share it online. Facebook and Twitter both strip location data from photographs before publishing, but other social media platforms might not. As with anything on the internet, consider things you post and share to be public—no matter how you intend to restrict their use—and use common sense when posting.

Other privacy issues

Some apps request access to your Contacts, Calendars, Photos, and other apps. For instance, if you use your iPhone to share your pictures on Facebook, Facebook must have access to your Photos app. Music streaming services need access to your phone to know when to mute and release the speaker so you can make or receive a call. FaceTime needs access to your contacts, camera, microphone, and speakers to function.

Although some of these may sound invasive, apps cannot actively make calls, send messages, take pictures, or take control of any other functions without your express permission.

Safety Check

Your iPhone simplifies controlling this data and more with Safety Check. Safety Check allows you to see all privacy concerns in a manageable, step-by-step review process, or in case of emergency, cut off sharing to everyone and all apps.

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check. There are two options:

• Emergency Reset. If your personal safety is at risk, this option will immediately revoke all sharing with apps and people. You will have a chance to change your Apple ID password and review emergency contacts.
• Manage Sharing & Access. This option reviews privacy settings, app permissions, and items shared with others. You will have a chance to change your Apple ID password and review emergency contacts. You should run this check periodically.

Since there is no downside to running Manage Sharing & Access, let’s go through it together. Tap Manage Sharing & Access, then Continue.

Step 1: Review People. Any Apple app information shared with another Apple ID user will be listed here. You can sort the list by people or by each shared item.

Step 2: Review apps. Non-Apple apps installed will be listed here. You can sort the list by app or by the information they have access to. For example, if you’d like to revoke permission for an app to access your location, tap Information, then next to Location, and select the app you want to revoke permission for.

Step 3: Review your account security.

• Devices. Shows every device that is signed into Apple services. Sign out of devices you no longer have possession of and devices you don’t recognize.
• Update Apple ID Password. Allows you to change your password.
• Emergency SOS. Add or remove emergency contacts.