The recently added Journal app for iPhones running iOS 17 has been the subject of frightening claims about potential privacy risks.
If you recently updated your iPhone to iOS 17, you probably saw a new app: Journal.
Journal is your digital diary. Apple offers you with this software to write down all your emotions and your best moments in order to externalize your feelings, and subsequently immerse yourself in your most important memories.
While browsing social networks with your precious Apple mobile, you must have been alerted by a message claiming that a Journal option allows anyone nearby to see your name and location. Having your personal data visible to everyone might scare you, but the official explanation of this feature shows that these claims are greatly exaggerated. Clubic explains what this option is, what it consists of and how to avoid breaking out in a cold sweat using Journal.
The “Logging Suggestions” setting singled out
It’s one setting among many other features that set things on fire.
Called “Journaling Suggestions,” it was added to iPhones last year as part of the iOS 17 update that included the new “Journal” app. This setting includes various options, and these are particularly “ Prefer suggestions with others » And ” Discoverable by others » which sows more trouble among certain users.
Some posts on Facebook, TikTok and other platforms claim that new Apple features expose your iPhone to prying eyes and broadcast your name and precise location to strangers. These claims are false and alarmist.
“ ALERT! If you have an iPhone, this is important! After my last update, a new feature was uploaded called “logging”. It’s located under “settings”, “privacy and security”. Scroll down and there’s a new “feature” called “journaling suggestions”. Look for the “discoverable by others” button. I bet it’s turned on and everyone near you knows your full name and your exact geolocation. Go turn that off!! Share with your friends if they have an iPhone. Very scary !! Check your iPhones. », We can read in one of his publications. As much as they are alarmist, these claims are false.
If you look closely, on the “Logging Suggestions” page, there is a link “About Logging Suggestions and Privacy,” which leads to Apple Customer Support, which states that: “ Logging suggestions use on-device processing to intelligently group moments and events to provide you with personalized suggestions. Using information stored on your device, journaling suggestions can recommend special moments for you to remember and write about. You control which suggestions are shared with journaling applications that use journaling suggestions “. As for the technique used: “ Logging suggestions use Bluetooth to detect the number of devices and contacts around you without storing which of those specific contacts were nearby. This information is used to improve and prioritize your suggestions. It is stored on the device and is not shared with Apple “.
How to disable these options
If in doubt, you always have the choice to deactivate these functions to use Journal with complete confidentiality.
You can follow the steps below to disable “Discoverable by others” and “Prefer suggestions with others”:
- Open Settings app on your device
- Tap Privacy & Security
- Tap Journaling Suggestions
- Disable “
Discoverable by others” and/or “Prefer suggestions with others”
And to disable log access to other data points:
- Open the Journal app Settings on your device
- Tap Privacy & Security
- Tap Journaling Suggestions;
- See the “Include suggestions from” list
- Disable desired data
- Or “Disable all” to block all access to data.
If you mainly use your Mac to surf the web, work or manage large multimedia projects, iPhone and iPad are the preferred supports for web browsing and roaming streaming. Diversified uses anticipated by Apple, which pushed the manufacturer to deploy some advanced protection features on its mobile devices. However, these native tools are not always enough, and it may be wise to install a free or premium VPN in addition, in order to preserve your anonymity and confidential data, especially when you regularly connect to Wi-Fi networks. Public Fi. While you may be one of the vacationers who book their ski trip at the last minute, it would be a shame if your credit card information was stolen due to a poorly secured transaction process. To avoid any disappointment, here are the best VPNs for iPhone and iPad recommended by the editorial staff in March 2024.
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Source : Digital Trends, Apple
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