Image by Apple

Apple recently released a privacy advert, showing the importance of everyday privacy in your life and the need for privacy on the device that your life is on. Apple touts these ads because Apple is a leader in privacy and security and these are major selling points for its iPhone operating system. The thing to note here is, if you work on an iPad, you too benefit from the same operating system as the iPhone, namely iOS. This means you directly benefit from all the security and privacy features baked into Apples biggest revenue generator… The iPhone.

But why is privacy such a hot topic now?

Privacy gives us the peace of mind we need, in order to work safely, securely and without interruptions. Privacy also allows us to know exactly with whom we are communicating with and that our data be it business or personal, is safe.

Our lives today have been shaped with technology, studies show we now check our phones 80 times a day. Be it work or personal, tech companies are gathering huge amounts of data from this constant interaction.

The problem with all this data being collected about us is, that we have no control over where it is stored, how it is being used, who has access to it and how secure it is. This is a major security and privacy concern for businesses and individuals.

Apple‘s iOS operating system excel’s in this regard and one of the ways Apple is leading in this field is; controlling the way third parties have acesss to your data and the management of such access. Unlike its competitors, Apple makes it easy for you choose exactly what it is that you are allowing access to, and iOS does this with unparalleled simplicity and clearness.

When you install an app from the App Store, Apple allows you to clearly see what information or control you are giving the app access to and with iOS you have full control over made clear and simple as to what you are willing to give access to. (See below)

Browsing

Our work lives often require the use of browsers for; checking email, working collaboratively, performing research, or simply logining into various business tools found across the web. Unfortunately the internet has become a haven for cyber crime and criminals are just waiting for a chance to exploit your online activity.

Fortunately Safari on iOS and Mac are both ultra secure and when it comes to privacy you are very well looked after. Apple puts systems in place such as;

Intelligent Tracking Prevention – which uses Artificial Intelligence to identify and stop those trying to track your online activity. Today safari prevents tracking methods such as Like Buttons, share Buttons and Widgets from tracking you without your permission.

Fingerprinting Defense – this prevents advertisers from creating a digital “finger print” of you, in order to follow your steps across the internet.

Sandboxing – a System which provides protection from malware and suspicious code, from fraudulent sites and if opened safari keeps it in a single tab so as not to affect the whole browser.

Lastly Private Browsing – this gives users the ability to custom set your private browser to add an additional layer of protection if you prefer certain features about a particular browser over another.

With this level of protection in the background, browsing on iOS it feels like “Apple has your back”, protecting you and your business from malicious viruses, security threats, unsavory content or companies that may want to track you across the web.

Safari also offers Keychain, a powerful super secure vault to both generate and store unique, strong passwords when required, this is very handy for generating passwords on the spot and storing them securely so you don’t have to think about them again.

Distracting Notifications

Notifications take our attention away from what we are busy with, they break our focus and deep concentration and if they are not work related they are harmful to your productivity.

Consider how intrusive promotional advertising is, whether its via email, message, phone call or notification it doesn’t matter, they all effectly steal time away from you and your business and worst of all you can never get that time back. To make matters even worse you probably didn’t even ask for that intrusion/notification in the first place.

Luckily iOS manages these notifications very well, by giving you the ability to silence specific notifications or simply to never receive them at all. The Notification Center in iOS gives you full control and now with iOS 12 its simpler and quicker to manage.

Further more if you use Apples own communication service “Messages” you can rest assured Apple doesn’t store, track or sell your data to third parties, this automatically reduces the amount of advertising in the form of text messages, automated calls and random telesales calls to begin with.

Privacy and security in business is of vital importance, if you already work on iOS you are well protected, if you dont, then take a moment to look at your workflow and the programs you use in your business, if you think you may be able to work on iPad, then go for it, I am confident you will find the positives far out way the negatives.