iOS 14 Notifies You When an App or Widget Reads Your Clipboard Data

Apple iOS 14 Clipboard Read Notification

Apple introduced not only new features and functioning improvements with iOS 14, but also improved the privacy and security aspects of the operating system. A few weeks ago, a security result was discovered in iOS 13 every bit information technology immune apps and widgets to read clipboard data without notifying the user. Now, Apple seems to have fixed it with iOS 14.

iPhones running iOS fourteen now notify you lot if any app or widget reads data from your clipboard memory. A minor notification appears on tiptop of the screen, showing which app accessed clipboard data and which app it was originally from. For example, if y'all copy text from Notes and open up the Google Chrome app, a notification appears that says "Chrome pasted from Notes." The notification disappears after a few seconds.

Earlier this year, developers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk had showcased that iOS apps and widgets being able to re-create clipboard information on iPhones without alarm a user is a potential security result. Since people copy sensitive data such as passwords and OTPs (quondam passwords) to their clipboard, apps and widgets could read them, throwing data at take a chance. At that time, Apple said that it wasn't an issue. Withal, the company seems to take fixed information technology with iOS 14.

Mysk showcased through a short video how the first developer beta build of iOS 14 notifies a user when whatsoever app or widget reads data from the iPhone's clipboard. This is not the only aspect that Apple tree improved with iOS 14. The company also adult a feature that notifies y'all when an app accesses your device's camera or microphone. iOS fourteen besides comes with a new feature that lets you share your approximate location rather than your precise location.

Looks like @apple tree fixed the clipboard privacy effect we highlighted earlier this twelvemonth. Apple said it wasn't an issue, just surprisingly they fixed it in #iOS14 the exact way we recommended in our article.
A notification is shown every time an app or widget reads the clipboard
👇 pic.twitter.com/o6vZzQqO8a

— Mysk (@mysk_co) June 22, 2022

Our Take

Apple tree takes user information and privacy issues seriously, and information technology has made several improvements to its platforms over the years. It is leaps and bounds ahead of platforms from Google and Microsoft. Nonetheless, no platform is ever perfect, specially in terms of security.

When new privacy and security related issues on Apple tree's platforms and services pop up, the company downplays them and and so ends up fixing them at a afterward stage. It would exist better if Apple tree accepts them and notifies users so that they can exist aware of those issues. This would ameliorate Apple's image and transparency among consumers.