How does Sign in with Apple work?

Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, GitHub and other third-party login systems have cleverly solved the problem of having to set up and remember a lot of different login information for different services. However, the new Sign in with Apple system aims to overcome one of the biggest problems with many systems: Privacy. By keeping the information the company collects to a minimum and including some interesting security features designed to keep users from being tracked, Apple's ultimate goal is to provide users with customized choose a less compromised login.

Although the system is not yet complete, it is expected to appear on iOS applications in April 2020, which is the deadline that Apple has set for many application developers to deploy the new system with. with other login options. Sign in with Apple can also work on the web and on Android devices, but for now, usage is limited to Apple devices.

What makes Sign in with Apple different?

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Sign in with Apple uses the same system as any other third-party login. Instead of creating a username and password for an app, simply tell the app you want to sign in with your Apple account, confirm your identity with Apple, and Apple will tell the app that it's really you. . Facebook and Google are basically doing the same thing.

However, Apple has included a lot of privacy protection measures in its system, making it different from competitors. Alternatively, Apple device users can use biometrics instead of login credentials to complete the signup or sign in process. Here are a few of the privacy highlights:

Apple doesn't let apps know too much

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The first and foremost thing is that Sign in with Apple focuses on minimal communication. When you register with Apple, the application only knows its name, email and unique identifier from Apple. The identifier is not an Apple ID (this information will be hidden), but rather a code that changes for each application, so it can be used to connect user accounts to each other.

Apple may hide email addresses

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Email address is not a unique identifier. If you don't want to reveal your real email, Apple will give you a randomly generated address that you can use to sign up. All emails sent to that address will then be forwarded to your primary Apple ID email (Apple doesn't store or read, but simply forward them). You can create multiple addresses and delete them if you want, which can also be a good security measure, as that means your real email address is not revealed in case of a hack or leak. data.

Of course, you can do this manually by setting up your own email address array and forwarding them to your main account, but this is a much more reasonable solution.

Apple does not track your interactions with the application

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On the other hand, Apple does not collect any information about your interaction with the application. One of Apple's main points is that it doesn't know much about its users and doesn't try to learn more. This sets Apple apart from companies like Google and Facebook, where using social networking services can be a two-way street for personal data.

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Theoretically, you should understand and approve the traffic between Facebook and the application. However, in reality, there is too much user data involved, especially when both the login and application service providers want to use it, meaning that the relationship between the two parties often does not stop. In a token that proves the user is also the owner of this Facebook account. This is where Apple shows the difference: Both Apple and the app don't know much about you and do nothing more after you log into the app.

Where can I use Sign in with Apple?

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If you're interested in using Apple as a social networking login provider, you'll have to wait for the apps you use to provide this option. IOS applications that provide other social networking login options (such as Google or Twitter) will be required by Apple to deploy the system in April 2020, applications that use only the username / password system. Any changes must be made, if not desired.

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Outside of the Apple ecosystem, the deployment may take a bit longer, but you can log in with Apple on web applications and even Android using 'Sign in with Apple JS' , which is session Web-based JavaScript version of the iOS feature. Anyone can sign up for an Apple ID, but to use the service, you need to turn on two-factor authentication on Apple devices.

A number of applications and websites have used this service. With Apple's positive strategy, you can see this system starting to appear on the Internet.

Sign in with Apple is not a complete replacement for the password manager, but if you live up to the promise of privacy, it's likely that the number of people using things like Apple's iCloud Keychain will decrease. down.

You don't have to struggle with any extensions or software to log into your account on another device and you can 'hide' behind randomly generated emails, if desired. If also available to non-Apple device users, Sign in with Apple could become a standard option on par with Facebook and Google.