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It's a developer ID. Most developers have only one app, so it's very close to an app ID.
by neolog 6y ago
It's a developer ID. Most developers have only one app, so it's very close to an app ID.
- derefr 6y agoBut a content-hash would have given them a release ID (i.e. which specific version of the app bundle you're running.) A series of {release hash, launch timestamp} events could be used to build a much more precise profile of your computing habits than just {app ID, launch timestamp} events would. Also, you're ignoring the power-law: while yes, the majority of software exists in a long-tail of ISVs, most of the apps that people use are made by big corps that make a lot of apps each. 80% of the apps on any computer (Windows or macOS) are Microsoft or Apple or Adobe apps. When you're using any of those, all Apple gets is {Apple, timestamp} or {Google, timestamp} or {Adobe, timestamp}. That's... not very useful for profiling. Especially the first two. Safari and iTunes are both just "Apple" through this system. Are you working? Relaxing? Who knows?
- neolog 6y agoThose are fair points. The original report was much more serious before Apple changed policies to make the reports encrypted in transit and stopped logging IPs.