text: SternisheFan (2529412) writes | about 2 years ago 4
  SternisheFan writes "Apple's launch of the iPhone 5 in September came with a bunch of new commercials to promote the device. But Apple didn't shout quite so loud about an enhancement to its new mobile operating system, iOS 6, which also occurred in September: The company has started tracking users so that advertisers can target them again, through a new tracking technology called IFA or IDFA.
  When you look at an app, or browse the web, your presence generates a call for an ad. The publisher's site that you're looking at then passes the IFA to the ad server. The advertiser is then able to know that a specific iPhone user is looking at a specific publication and can serve an ad targeting that user. IFA becomes particularly useful, for instance, if an ad server notices that a particular IFA is looking at a lot of different car sites. Perhaps that user is interested in buying a new car. They'll likely start seeing a lot of car ads on their iPhone. More importantly, IFA will allow advertisers to track the user all the way to "conversion" —which for most advertisers consists of an app download. Previously, advertisers had no idea whether their ads actually drove people to download apps or buy things. Now IFA will tell them. The IFA does not identify you personally —it merely provides a bunch of aggregate audience data that advertisers can target with ads. Tracking is on by default"Link to Original Source
  And it's easy to opt out (1)
  Anonymous Coward | about 2 years ago | (#41628507)
  Trivially easy to get out of. Go to this link on your iOS device using iOS 4 or later. You need to be logged into your iTunes account in order for your opt out to be effective.http://oo.apple.com/ [apple.com] Even the Business Insider article you link to show's you how to do it manually.Troll harder
  Re:And it's easy to opt out (1)
  SternisheFan (2529412) | about 2 years ago | (#41629373)
  Yeah but, honestly, how many iPhone users would even know that this tracking has been instituted by apple? They 'trust' that Apple has their best interests at heart and is protectecting them inside their 'walled garden'. In this case, the enemy is coming from within that supposed 'safe' garden. I'm not a troll, I just don't like bullies, it's how life has shaped me. Apple has shown how they abuse their position of superiority and power many times in many ways already. Fortunately, for the average consumer, there are other options in phone makers. But who'll protect the innocent Apple sheep from Apple itself?
  Re:And it's easy to opt out (0)
  Anonymous Coward | about 2 years ago | (#41629465)
  Not a troll? Drop the sheep part and someone might believe you. It's a fairly crap article. All this does is drop you out of apples ads, not ads from other networks.Do yourself a favor, ditch Business Insider, it's a site that trolls it's readers. Don't let you be one of them