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My question is simple, can I use an Apple computer without Apple knowing who I am? If I can't, then I don't want to use their hardware, software, or services.

My question is simple, can I use an Apple computer without Apple knowing who I am? If I can't, then I don't want to use their hardware, software, or services. I already know that I don't want to use Google's hardware, software, or services. But can I buy a MacBook, give Apple no personal information, and use that MacBook for years, getting updates and upgrades, installing whatever software I want, without giving them any clue as to who I am? Don't know but I suspect the answer is no.

theonemind 4y ago
Good question. I think the real hitch comes in using the App Store for updates. You can download Mac updates: https://support.apple.com/downloads/macos https://support.apple.com/downloads/macos They have quite a privacy policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ Which makes me think of Paul Graham's essay when he says "Lucy, you've got a lot explaining to do!" http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html . I don't think you can pay on the App store without a credit card. Most top tier Mac developers have their software available for purchase outside of the app store, but it'll certainly get tied to your hardware IDs. Providing false information probably technically violates the terms of service, but I haven't checked. You can probably use gift cards and fake information. I'd say maybe possible, depending on how you construe the problem. It beats Windows, but if you care that much about privacy, you'd have to use an ethics (freedom) motivated OS. Microsoft certainly wants you to create an account to install Windows and seems pretty motivated to get something going with tracking you. I've started considering running Linux on M1. I don't think you have to compromise your privacy more than anywhere else to buy Mac hardware, per se. I think you have to separate the hardware issue from the software issue, although the Mac platform seems a bit less compelling if you just want to install Linux/FreeBSD/whatever.
- rufus_foreman 4y ago
  Appreciate the response, "if you care that much about privacy, you'd have to use an ethics (freedom) motivated OS" We all know what the OS is going to be with my requirements. Just, do I get to use first rate hardware to run it, or second rate, or trash. Apple is first rate hardware.
  - ibraheemdev 4y ago
    https://asahilinux.org/ https://asahilinux.org/ is looking very promising

theonemind 4y ago

Good question. I think the real hitch comes in using the App Store for updates. You can download Mac updates: https://support.apple.com/downloads/macos https://support.apple.com/downloads/macos They have quite a privacy policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ Which makes me think of Paul Graham's essay when he says "Lucy, you've got a lot explaining to do!" http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html . I don't think you can pay on the App store without a credit card. Most top tier Mac developers have their software available for purchase outside of the app store, but it'll certainly get tied to your hardware IDs. Providing false information probably technically violates the terms of service, but I haven't checked. You can probably use gift cards and fake information. I'd say maybe possible, depending on how you construe the problem. It beats Windows, but if you care that much about privacy, you'd have to use an ethics (freedom) motivated OS. Microsoft certainly wants you to create an account to install Windows and seems pretty motivated to get something going with tracking you. I've started considering running Linux on M1. I don't think you have to compromise your privacy more than anywhere else to buy Mac hardware, per se. I think you have to separate the hardware issue from the software issue, although the Mac platform seems a bit less compelling if you just want to install Linux/FreeBSD/whatever.

rufus_foreman 4y ago
Appreciate the response, "if you care that much about privacy, you'd have to use an ethics (freedom) motivated OS" We all know what the OS is going to be with my requirements. Just, do I get to use first rate hardware to run it, or second rate, or trash. Apple is first rate hardware.
- ibraheemdev 4y ago
  https://asahilinux.org/ https://asahilinux.org/ is looking very promising