The “Sign in with Apple” function is similar to the “Sign in with Facebook” or “Sign in with Google” functions, but without tracking and without communicating personal information to the app, service or developer.
In 2019, at the Apple World Developers Conference (WWDC), the Cupertino company presented a single-sign-on (SSO) authentication solution called “Sign in with Apple”. Similar to SSO solutions “Sign in with Facebook” and “Sign in with Google”, Apple’s solution allows everyone to identify and connect with a single identifier to their apps without having to create new ones identifiers for each application and service. But in several respects, Apple’s solution is distinguished from other solutions.
A privacy-focused approach
The main difference between the SSO solution from Apple and the SSO systems from Facebook, Google or Twitter is that, as often with Apple, the solution is more attentive to the protection of privacy. “Sign in with Apple” does not require tracking and does everything to minimize the amount of information that the app or service can collect about the user.
Registering for the “Sign in with Apple” option allows you to change the name provided for registration, and even to give the developer a false email address, or at least one email address different from that associated with the Apple ID. ID. The name and email address (true or false) is the only information the developer receives from the user, and Apple does not collect any interaction data with the application.
Free and anonymous email forwarding
If you choose to hide your real email address in the app, Apple will generate a new email address consisting of a chain of random letters and numbers followed by @privaterelay.appleid.com.
This address is the only information the app or service will receive, and Apple will forward any email sent to this address to your real address. If the developer still starts spamming you or selling your email to marketers, you can go to Apple ID settings and prevent that address from forwarding messages to you.
Two-factor authentication essential
To take advantage of the “Sign in with Apple” function, you need an Apple ID and have activated two-factor authentication. Today, when a new iPhone or iPad is started, two-factor authentication is enabled by default.
So this shouldn’t be a problem for most users. You also need to run iOS 13 or later on the iPhone or iPad, macOS Catalina 10.15 or later on the Mac, or tvOS 13 or later on the Apple TV.
Compatible with non-Apple devices
The “Sign in with Apple” feature is not restricted to Apple devices. It is possible to use it on the web, and even on Android devices. When registering for the “Sign in with Apple” option on these platforms, the user is directed to a secure site, hosted by Apple, on which he can enter his Apple ID and password. He then receives a two-factor authentication prompt on his iPhone, iPad or Mac.
The user can postpone the two-factor authentication step for a period of 30 days if he still logs in from the same device. Logging in from an Apple device is necessarily easier: the user can use Touch ID or Face ID to authenticate.
Primarily for new accounts
Most of the time, you have to select “Sign up with Apple” the first time you connect to a new application or service. You can possibly use applications and services to which you are already subscribed by associating your Apple ID (this is the case for Adobe apps, for example), but that goes against the intended purpose.
Admittedly, it’s very convenient to simply authenticate with Touch ID or Face ID on your iPhone or iPad, but the real purpose of connecting with Apple is to prevent applications from collecting more information than necessary on the Internet. user and use the service of a supplier, Apple in this case, which will not collect any information on the use made of the application.
Almost compulsory
La fonction « Sign in with Apple » sera bientôt proposée en option avec à peu près toutes les applications que vous utilisez. Au minimum, elle sera proposée avec toutes les applications offrant d’autres options SSO.
Apple requires that any application published in the App Store offer the “Sign in with Apple” option if it offers other third-party SSO solutions (including Sign in with Facebook, Google or Twitter). This means that the “Sign in with Apple” option will be offered, unless the user has already opted for, say, Sign in with Facebook, for the said application.
Apple had forced developers to add the option to their apps before April 30, 2020, but the deadline was extended to June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, the “Sign in with Apple” option remains optional. Each user is free to choose the SSO option he wishes or none. But if you want to benefit from better protection of privacy, avoid tracking and the collection of personal data.
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