Kinda, but i guess for me it puts silent update in the realm of possibility (updates can be installed without you noticing or consenting, only by blocking). ios administration is even more barebones.

Plus 2 years ago there was some shenanigans about macos sidestepping system-wide vpn settings to talk to apple servers, which they also fixed to be fair.

So for me its a questionmark whether its impossible

[–] the_post_oftom_joad@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/18/vpns-for-ios-are-broken-says-researcher/ is this the thing youre talking bout?

[–] plinky@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

I meant this https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/14/macos-big-sur-11-2-beta-2-exclusion-list-gone/ , they've added an internal list of exceptions to vpn/firewalls, added their own apps to it, but then removed that list, fixing the issue.

So it is fixed, but very sus why would they add this exception list in the first place

ios vpn leaking without kill switch is just how it is 🤷

[–] RedClouds@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

In the quickness of it all, I just grabbed the first post I found that demonstrates that Apple installed a U2 album on everybody's iPhone. Sorry, it's from some bougie online Shit site.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1071481/remember-when-apple-forced-a-u2-album-on-us-all

Other than that, it is extremely well known that Apple has full control over every iPhone. They can force updates, they can remove apps, they can add any software they want and do anything and target anybody they want.

Unfortunately I can't find a quick source to site that, but I'm in the tech field and it's something that people talk about fairly regularly.

[–] MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 1 year ago

For what it's worth, I had an iPhone during this time and can confirm I had the U2 album pushed to my phone without any prior notice.

[–] Shinhoshi@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s fine, feel free to take your time.

I remember when they gave out the U2 album but I watched the keynote that year. That still doesn’t seem like an update even if it was controversial.

I block iOS updates with a tvOS profile personally.

If you can find a source later for your latter claims, please provide it.

[–] RedClouds@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So apple for sure doesn't have open updates, they've been caught purposefully slowing down old phones without telling users:

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936268845/apple-agrees-to-pay-113-million-to-settle-batterygate-case-over-iphone-slowdowns

Then they can remotely uninstall apps, Hmmm, maybe you can disable that:

https://www.askdavetaylor.com/how-to-ensure-apple-doesnt-remote-delete-apps-from-iphone-ipad/

But I've never seen this site before, how true what they are saying is.

Also I don't have an iPhone, so I can't conform this guys steps.

But... 100% confident that they can disable phones remotely. They advertise it as a feature for disabling stolen phones. But they advertise they only disable phones that people have reported stolen. But they can disable any phone they want for any reason theoretically.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/06/02/apples-software-tracks-iphones-stole

If find my iPhone can do it, then Apple can, it all runs through their servers of course.

[–] Shinhoshi@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Familiar with the first one. Of course they can put anything they want in an update (see iOS 15 CSAM concerns, and restricting setting AirDrop to everyone for only 10 minutes).

I’m not really sure what you and that source is implying by “remote deleting apps”. What you really should do is turn off the “offloading apps to save space” feature if you’re concerned about Apple pulling an app from the App Store, as that has happened, and back up your IPA files so you can reinstall them if you needed to.

The last one is fair, you’re right that they could just trigger Activation Lock on all iPhones just for funsies and not accept your password to reactivate

[–] RedClouds@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 1 year ago

Also this is in the context of communist trying to organize using iPhones. It wouldn't surprise me if Apple had a partnership set up where they secretly were able to target in manipulate phones. As of right now in the United States and a good portion of the world, there are open source operating systems that you can run on open bootlaters and keep most, if not all, remote interference off your phone. Just my thoughts.