Discuss how to secure user data, respect user data preferences, support iCloud Private Relay and Mail Privacy Protection, replace CAPTCHAs with Private Access Tokens, and more. Ask about Privacy nutrition labels, Privacy manifests, and more.

Posts under Privacy tag

150 Posts

Post

Replies

Boosts

Views

Activity

Can I use allowFileAccessFromFileURLs to access local html file in my Project and not get appStorereview
We are currently implementing the payment flow, and for handling payment details — including card entry and validation — we are utilizing a WKWebView. The webview securely loads the payment provider’s page, ensuring sensitive information such as card numbers are entered and validated directly within the web context. I’d like to clarify that this change has not yet been released to Production. As part of a feature enhancement to our existing payment flow, we are transitioning to a new payment vendor, SnapPay. While trying to load the SnapPay URL embedded within an iFrame in our iOS app, I observed the following error in the Xcode console. While this error may be generic, I wanted to highlight it: 825a18 - [pageProxyID=7, webPageID=8, PID=67346] WebPageProxy::didFailLoadForFrame: frameID=24, isMainFrame=0, domain=NSURLErrorDomain, code=-999 Upon investigating, we compared the headers from our existing payment URL and SnapPay's URL, and found that SnapPay includes the following Content-Security-Policy (CSP) header: Content-Security-Policy: frame-ancestors ... "Content-Security-Policy" value="default-src 'self'; script-src 'self' https://hcaptcha.com https://.hcaptcha.com https://code.jquery.com https://www.gstatic.com https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.3.1.min.js https://test.lightbox.cardx.com/v1/lightbox.min.js https://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/andi/ https://c.evidon.com 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval'; style-src 'self' https://hcaptcha.com https://.hcaptcha.com https://fonts.googleapis.com/css https://stage.snappayglobal.com/Resource/ https://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/andi/andi.css 'unsafe-inline'; img-src 'self' data: https:; font-src 'self' *.googleapis.com *.gstatic.com ; connect-src 'self' https://demo1.cditechnology.com https:; form-action https://hcaptcha.com https: 'self' *.ipg-online.com secure.bluepay.com https://test.api.lightbox.cardx.com https://3ds-acs.test.modirum.com/ https://demo1.cditechnology.com/; frame-ancestors https://snappaydirect-perf.fiserv.com 'self' file: https: http; frame-src .snappayglobal.com 'self' https://hcaptcha.com https://.hcaptcha.com https: https://www.google.com .ipg-online.com secure.bluepay.com https://.cardconnect.com https://test.api.lightbox.cardx.com/ https://test.lightbox.cardx.com https://paywithcardx.com/payment/auth.cgi securepayments.cardpointe.com *.cardpointe.com https://3ds-acs.test.modirum.com/ https://www.yokohamatire.com http://uat1-txt.ad.portal.texas.gov https://uat1-txt.ad.portal.texas.gov " After multiple working sessions with the SnapPay team, we were able to confirm that when they disable CSP or remove the frame-ancestors directive, the iFrame loads successfully within our app. However, SnapPay cannot change on their CSP. To enable the iFrame to load in the iOS app, we added the following line of code: webView.configuration.preferences.setValue(true, forKey: "allowFileAccessFromFileURLs"). This resolved the issue with loading the iFrame. Note: the file being loaded is a local .html file,. Before submitting this update to the App Store, I’d like to confirm whether this usage of allowFileAccessFromFileURLs is acceptable for App Store review. I wanted to confirm that with this change is there a security concern for WKWebview?
0
0
160
Apr ’25
How to undisplay `Private Access` in `Contacts Access` when i use `CNContactPickerViewController`?
In iOS 18, i use CNContactPickerViewController to access to Contacts (i know it is one-time access). After first pick up one contact, the Setting > Apps > my app > Contacts shows Private Access without any option to close it. Is there any way to close it and undisplay it ? I tried to uninstall and reinstall my app, but it didn't work.
3
0
376
Apr ’25
identifierForVendor Changing Unexpectedly in Some Cases (App Store Builds)
We’ve noticed an unexpected behavior in our production iOS app where the UIDevice.current.identifierForVendor value occasionally changes, even though: The app is distributed via the App Store (not TestFlight or Xcode builds) We do not switch provisioning profiles or developer accounts No App Clips, App Thinning, or other advanced features are in use There’s no manual reinstall or device reset in the scenarios observed (as per user feedback) Any insights or confirmations would be much appreciated. Thanks!
1
0
189
Apr ’25
__CRASHING_DUE_TO_PRIVACY_VIOLATION__ reason
Is there any way to find the reason for a CRASHING_DUE_TO_PRIVACY_VIOLATION from a crash report? It does not happen on my old iPad Air 2 and it does not happen on the simulators with the latest iOS. But it crashes always on newer real devices to which I have no access. The last app review for the AppStore also did not find it. I added some privacy strings by guessing and sent it via TestFlight but it doesn't change anything.
1
0
90
Apr ’25
Appstore submission rejected - Privacy
Please correct the following issues and upload a new binary to App Store Connect. ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest - Your app includes “Frameworks/FirebaseCoreDiagnostics.framework/FirebaseCoreDiagnostics”, which includes FirebaseCoreDiagnostics, an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a commonly used third-party SDK. If a new app includes a commonly used third-party SDK, or an app update adds a new commonly used third-party SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest - Your app includes “Frameworks/FBLPromises.framework/FBLPromises”, which includes FBLPromises, an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a commonly used third-party SDK. If a new app includes a commonly used third-party SDK, or an app update adds a new commonly used third-party SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest - Your app includes “Frameworks/GoogleDataTransport.framework/GoogleDataTransport”, which includes GoogleDataTransport, an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a commonly used third-party SDK. If a new app includes a commonly used third-party SDK, or an app update adds a new commonly used third-party SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. our app is .NET MAUI app so we already addressed this by adding privacyinfo.xcprivacy privacy manifest under platform/ios/resources but still get flagged for this <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyTracking</key> <false/> <key>NSPrivacyTrackingDomains</key> <array/> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypes</key> <array> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryFileTimestamp</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>C617.1</string> </array> </dict> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategorySystemBootTime</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>35F9.1</string> </array> </dict> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryDiskSpace</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>E174.1</string> </array> </dict> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryUserDefaults</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>CA92.1</string> </array> </dict> </array> <key>NSPrivacyCollectedDataTypes</key> <array/> </dict> </plist>
1
0
154
Apr ’25
Received my first Digital Services Act spam
Like many/most developers, I gave Connect the info required to comply with the DSA. Perhaps unlike most, I always give unique email addresses so that I can easily track the source of abuse. Yesterday I finally had a phish come in to my DSA address claiming "Message blocked" and doing the standard click-to-login-for-details FOMO bait. So, yep, DSA just becomes yet another public database that malicious actors can use to target you. It would be really nice if Apple provided a way to supply our contact info only for legitimate business purposes. Mail Privacy Protection (or similar) for this would be a start.
1
0
80
Apr ’25
Persistent Privacy Notification Issue with Screen & Audio Access on macOS 15+
Hello Apple Developer Community, We have been experiencing a persistent notification issue in our application, Flowace, after updating to macOS 15 and above. The issue is affecting our customers but does not occur on our internal test machines. Issue Description When users share their screen using Flowace, they receive a repetitive system notification stating: "Flowace has accessed your screen and system audio XX times in the past 30 days. You can manage this in settings." This pop-up appears approximately every minute, even though screen sharing and audio access work correctly. This behavior was not present in macOS 15.1.1 or earlier versions and appears to be related to recent privacy enhancements in macOS. Impact on Users The frequent pop-ups disrupt workflows, making it difficult for users to focus while using screen-sharing features. No issues are detected in Privacy &amp; Security Settings, where Flowace has the necessary permissions. The issue is not reproducible on our internal test machines, making troubleshooting difficult. Our application is enterprise level and works all the time, so technically this pop only comes after a period of not using the app. Request for Assistance We would like to understand: Has anyone else encountered a similar issue in macOS 15+? Is there official Apple documentation explaining this new privacy behavior? Are there any interim fixes to suppress or manage these notifications? What are Apple's prospects regarding this feature in upcoming macOS updates? A demonstration of the issue can be seen in the following video: https://youtu.be/njA6mam_Bgw Any insights, workarounds, or recommendations would be highly appreciated! Thank you in advance for your help. Best, Anuj Patil Flowace Team
3
0
103
Apr ’25
Alternative to MAC Address for Uniqueness in iOS Bluetooth Connection
I am developing a React Native app for a health monitoring device that connects via Bluetooth and streams live data on iOS. To ensure the uniqueness of the device, I initially planned to use the MAC address. However, I discovered that iOS does not provide access to the original MAC address due to privacy restrictions. Is there an alternative approach to uniquely identifying a Bluetooth device in iOS? I need a reliable way to distinguish devices while maintaining secure and stable connections. Any insights or best practices on handling this in iOS would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to hearing your suggestions! If anyone has experience with handling Bluetooth device uniqueness on iOS, please share your insights. Thank you!
1
0
126
Apr ’25
Battery information broken since iOS 17
Hello. We have several apps, that use battery information, such as charge level and battery charge events. Since iOS 17, instead of report every 1% of charge, all API return an approximate within 5% value of the real value. As a result, that created a lot of issues with our users. Most of them, and at this point its around of million plus users, are not happy, because they will have to wait for the app to return information for literally hours... Please fix this, and even if you wont allow us access to real time data, like in Android devices, please at least return it back to be precise and at 1% of precision.
2
0
173
Apr ’25
Can I use allowFileAccessFromFileURLs to access local html file in my Project and not get appStorereview
We are currently implementing the payment flow, and for handling payment details — including card entry and validation — we are utilizing a WKWebView. The webview securely loads the payment provider’s page, ensuring sensitive information such as card numbers are entered and validated directly within the web context. I’d like to clarify that this change has not yet been released to Production. As part of a feature enhancement to our existing payment flow, we are transitioning to a new payment vendor, SnapPay. While trying to load the SnapPay URL embedded within an iFrame in our iOS app, I observed the following error in the Xcode console. While this error may be generic, I wanted to highlight it: 825a18 - [pageProxyID=7, webPageID=8, PID=67346] WebPageProxy::didFailLoadForFrame: frameID=24, isMainFrame=0, domain=NSURLErrorDomain, code=-999 Upon investigating, we compared the headers from our existing payment URL and SnapPay's URL, and found that SnapPay includes the following Content-Security-Policy (CSP) header: Content-Security-Policy: frame-ancestors ... "Content-Security-Policy" value="default-src 'self'; script-src 'self' https://hcaptcha.com https://.hcaptcha.com https://code.jquery.com https://www.gstatic.com https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.3.1.min.js https://test.lightbox.cardx.com/v1/lightbox.min.js https://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/andi/ https://c.evidon.com 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval'; style-src 'self' https://hcaptcha.com https://.hcaptcha.com https://fonts.googleapis.com/css https://stage.snappayglobal.com/Resource/ https://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/andi/andi.css 'unsafe-inline'; img-src 'self' data: https:; font-src 'self' *.googleapis.com *.gstatic.com ; connect-src 'self' https://demo1.cditechnology.com https:; form-action https://hcaptcha.com https: 'self' *.ipg-online.com secure.bluepay.com https://test.api.lightbox.cardx.com https://3ds-acs.test.modirum.com/ https://demo1.cditechnology.com/; frame-ancestors https://snappaydirect-perf.fiserv.com 'self' file: https: http; frame-src .snappayglobal.com 'self' https://hcaptcha.com https://.hcaptcha.com https: https://www.google.com .ipg-online.com secure.bluepay.com https://.cardconnect.com https://test.api.lightbox.cardx.com/ https://test.lightbox.cardx.com https://paywithcardx.com/payment/auth.cgi securepayments.cardpointe.com *.cardpointe.com https://3ds-acs.test.modirum.com/ https://www.yokohamatire.com http://uat1-txt.ad.portal.texas.gov https://uat1-txt.ad.portal.texas.gov " After multiple working sessions with the SnapPay team, we were able to confirm that when they disable CSP or remove the frame-ancestors directive, the iFrame loads successfully within our app. However, SnapPay cannot change on their CSP. To enable the iFrame to load in the iOS app, we added the following line of code: webView.configuration.preferences.setValue(true, forKey: "allowFileAccessFromFileURLs"). This resolved the issue with loading the iFrame. Note: the file being loaded is a local .html file,. Before submitting this update to the App Store, I’d like to confirm whether this usage of allowFileAccessFromFileURLs is acceptable for App Store review. I wanted to confirm that with this change is there a security concern for WKWebview?
Replies
0
Boosts
0
Views
160
Activity
Apr ’25
How to undisplay `Private Access` in `Contacts Access` when i use `CNContactPickerViewController`?
In iOS 18, i use CNContactPickerViewController to access to Contacts (i know it is one-time access). After first pick up one contact, the Setting > Apps > my app > Contacts shows Private Access without any option to close it. Is there any way to close it and undisplay it ? I tried to uninstall and reinstall my app, but it didn't work.
Replies
3
Boosts
0
Views
376
Activity
Apr ’25
identifierForVendor Changing Unexpectedly in Some Cases (App Store Builds)
We’ve noticed an unexpected behavior in our production iOS app where the UIDevice.current.identifierForVendor value occasionally changes, even though: The app is distributed via the App Store (not TestFlight or Xcode builds) We do not switch provisioning profiles or developer accounts No App Clips, App Thinning, or other advanced features are in use There’s no manual reinstall or device reset in the scenarios observed (as per user feedback) Any insights or confirmations would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
189
Activity
Apr ’25
__CRASHING_DUE_TO_PRIVACY_VIOLATION__ reason
Is there any way to find the reason for a CRASHING_DUE_TO_PRIVACY_VIOLATION from a crash report? It does not happen on my old iPad Air 2 and it does not happen on the simulators with the latest iOS. But it crashes always on newer real devices to which I have no access. The last app review for the AppStore also did not find it. I added some privacy strings by guessing and sent it via TestFlight but it doesn't change anything.
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
90
Activity
Apr ’25
Appstore submission rejected - Privacy
Please correct the following issues and upload a new binary to App Store Connect. ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest - Your app includes “Frameworks/FirebaseCoreDiagnostics.framework/FirebaseCoreDiagnostics”, which includes FirebaseCoreDiagnostics, an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a commonly used third-party SDK. If a new app includes a commonly used third-party SDK, or an app update adds a new commonly used third-party SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest - Your app includes “Frameworks/FBLPromises.framework/FBLPromises”, which includes FBLPromises, an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a commonly used third-party SDK. If a new app includes a commonly used third-party SDK, or an app update adds a new commonly used third-party SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest - Your app includes “Frameworks/GoogleDataTransport.framework/GoogleDataTransport”, which includes GoogleDataTransport, an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a commonly used third-party SDK. If a new app includes a commonly used third-party SDK, or an app update adds a new commonly used third-party SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. our app is .NET MAUI app so we already addressed this by adding privacyinfo.xcprivacy privacy manifest under platform/ios/resources but still get flagged for this <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyTracking</key> <false/> <key>NSPrivacyTrackingDomains</key> <array/> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypes</key> <array> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryFileTimestamp</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>C617.1</string> </array> </dict> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategorySystemBootTime</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>35F9.1</string> </array> </dict> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryDiskSpace</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>E174.1</string> </array> </dict> <dict> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key> <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryUserDefaults</string> <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key> <array> <string>CA92.1</string> </array> </dict> </array> <key>NSPrivacyCollectedDataTypes</key> <array/> </dict> </plist>
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
154
Activity
Apr ’25
Questions about NSUserTrackingUsageDescription
Binary code is associated with the NSUserTrackingUsageDescription deleted at present, but in the revised App privacy will contain NSUserTrackingUsageDescription, I feel very confused, don't know should shouldn't solve.
Replies
3
Boosts
1
Views
133
Activity
Apr ’25
Received my first Digital Services Act spam
Like many/most developers, I gave Connect the info required to comply with the DSA. Perhaps unlike most, I always give unique email addresses so that I can easily track the source of abuse. Yesterday I finally had a phish come in to my DSA address claiming "Message blocked" and doing the standard click-to-login-for-details FOMO bait. So, yep, DSA just becomes yet another public database that malicious actors can use to target you. It would be really nice if Apple provided a way to supply our contact info only for legitimate business purposes. Mail Privacy Protection (or similar) for this would be a start.
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
80
Activity
Apr ’25
Persistent Privacy Notification Issue with Screen & Audio Access on macOS 15+
Hello Apple Developer Community, We have been experiencing a persistent notification issue in our application, Flowace, after updating to macOS 15 and above. The issue is affecting our customers but does not occur on our internal test machines. Issue Description When users share their screen using Flowace, they receive a repetitive system notification stating: "Flowace has accessed your screen and system audio XX times in the past 30 days. You can manage this in settings." This pop-up appears approximately every minute, even though screen sharing and audio access work correctly. This behavior was not present in macOS 15.1.1 or earlier versions and appears to be related to recent privacy enhancements in macOS. Impact on Users The frequent pop-ups disrupt workflows, making it difficult for users to focus while using screen-sharing features. No issues are detected in Privacy &amp; Security Settings, where Flowace has the necessary permissions. The issue is not reproducible on our internal test machines, making troubleshooting difficult. Our application is enterprise level and works all the time, so technically this pop only comes after a period of not using the app. Request for Assistance We would like to understand: Has anyone else encountered a similar issue in macOS 15+? Is there official Apple documentation explaining this new privacy behavior? Are there any interim fixes to suppress or manage these notifications? What are Apple's prospects regarding this feature in upcoming macOS updates? A demonstration of the issue can be seen in the following video: https://youtu.be/njA6mam_Bgw Any insights, workarounds, or recommendations would be highly appreciated! Thank you in advance for your help. Best, Anuj Patil Flowace Team
Replies
3
Boosts
0
Views
103
Activity
Apr ’25
Alternative to MAC Address for Uniqueness in iOS Bluetooth Connection
I am developing a React Native app for a health monitoring device that connects via Bluetooth and streams live data on iOS. To ensure the uniqueness of the device, I initially planned to use the MAC address. However, I discovered that iOS does not provide access to the original MAC address due to privacy restrictions. Is there an alternative approach to uniquely identifying a Bluetooth device in iOS? I need a reliable way to distinguish devices while maintaining secure and stable connections. Any insights or best practices on handling this in iOS would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to hearing your suggestions! If anyone has experience with handling Bluetooth device uniqueness on iOS, please share your insights. Thank you!
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
126
Activity
Apr ’25
Battery information broken since iOS 17
Hello. We have several apps, that use battery information, such as charge level and battery charge events. Since iOS 17, instead of report every 1% of charge, all API return an approximate within 5% value of the real value. As a result, that created a lot of issues with our users. Most of them, and at this point its around of million plus users, are not happy, because they will have to wait for the app to return information for literally hours... Please fix this, and even if you wont allow us access to real time data, like in Android devices, please at least return it back to be precise and at 1% of precision.
Replies
2
Boosts
0
Views
173
Activity
Apr ’25