APPLE SIGN-IN
Google and Facebook have long made it easy
to sign into third-party services without having
to create new accounts — and new passwords
to remember. Trouble is, by leaning on those
companies, you’re also opening the door for
them to collect more data about you. You may
find that disheartening given numerous privacy
lapses , especially involving Facebook.
Apple is offering an alternative. The company
doesn’t have the same need to collect data,
as it doesn’t count on profits from data-driven
targeted ads the way Google and Facebook do.
Apple promises it won’t track you when you use
“Sign in with Apple.”
One attractive feature is the ability to mask your
real email address. Apple can give you a new,
unique email for every service you use, and will
automatically forward messages to your own
email account. You can reduce junk mail by
disabling forwarding from specific companies,
while still using that Apple email to sign in.
Apple says it won’t snoop on messages.
Apps that offer an outside sign-in system, such
as Facebook’s, must also include Apple’s to be
on iPhones. But Apple’s system is limited to
sharing your name and email address. If the
app needs more information, you’ll have to
provide that on your own — or fall back on
Facebook or Google anyway.
But don’t stray from Apple’s garden. You’ll
need to sign in through a web browser if you
use the service on Android, Windows or
other non-Apple devices. That eliminates
much of the convenience.