Set up privacy on iPad/iPhone

In this article we discuss the possibilities for iPads and iPhones from iOS 14. But the differences from earlier versions are small when it comes to the settings discussed below.

Many apps keep track of where you are, where you come more often or just where you are going. This is a necessity for a navigation app, for example. But sometimes it is less clear whether location access for an app is really necessary. Determine whether you want this per app.

• Open the app Institutions.
• Tap on Privacy.
• Tap on Location Services.
• Tap an app whose settings you want to adjust.
• The following choices are offered per app:
  • Never.
  • Ask next time or when I share.
  • When using app.
• The options ‘never’ and ‘when using app’ are self-explanatory. The option ‘ask next time or when I share’ means that when you open the relevant app, you will be asked for permission. At that point, you will be presented with three choices: ‘don’t allow’, which will deny location access even the next time you use the app. “When using app” means location access is always allowed when using the app. And ‘allow one session’ means that the request for permission will be asked again the next time.
• Tap the option you want. When in doubt, we recommend choosing ‘ask next time or when I share’. Then when you use the app in question, it becomes clear what the location access is for and you decide at that time.

You can also check some privacy settings in the Internet app Safari on the iPhone or iPad.

• Open the app Institutions.
• Scroll down and tap Safari.
• Scroll down to the ‘Privacy and Security’ section.
• Tap the tab next to “Prevent Tracking” (“Prevent Tracking” in iOS14). If the slider is green, the setting is correct.
• Tap the tab next to ‘Report fraudulent websites’.
• Tap the slider next to ‘Check for Apple Pay’.
• The slider next to ‘Block all cookies’ should remain gray. Otherwise it will be impossible to log in to websites

If necessary, also delete the cookies and other information about website visits (first read the note under the next two steps):

• Tap on Clear history and website data.
• Tap on Erase.

A major drawback here is that data is erased from all visited sites. You must therefore log in again on your next visit. If not, skip the previous step and do the following:

• Scroll all the way down and tap Advanced.
• Tap on Website data.
• It may take some time for all the information to load, but eventually you will see which websites you have visited. Remove data from a particular website by placing a finger on the site in question and swiping left.

Apps on the iPad/iPhone can use a so-called advertising ID. It is linked to the device. This is where data about the user is stored. Show apps using the ID targeted advertising. This can be turned off.

• Open the app Institutions.
• Tap on Privacy.
• Tap on tracking.
• Tap the slider next to “Allow app tracking requests” so it slides to the left (it’s no longer green).

Be aware that advertising can still be shown, unfortunately that cannot be turned off. But once you’ve searched for a new dishwashing brush, you’ll no longer be bombarded with ads about it.