alt Hacker NewsOne correction to some comments here: an iOS app cannot list all apps that are installed. You can only check for specific apps/schemes (LSApplicationQueriesSchemes) by specifying apps you are looking to query for installation status or open. You cannot provide a large list of unrelated applications since Apple rejects that during app review.
Apple added these restrictions because installed app lists can be used for fingerprinting and privacy invasive profiling.
Replies
You cannot provide a large list of unrelated applications since Apple rejects that during app review.
Thank you for the clarification!
You cannot provide a large list of unrelated applications since Apple rejects that during app review.
It does not need to be a large list though I think? You just need a small list that is very discriminative and adds enough additional entropy to uniquely identify you in combination with the other data leaked.
It is terrifying to learn that apps are allowed knowledge about any other app being installed on my phone. Where can I see that list?
> Apple added these restrictions because installed app lists can be used for fingerprinting and privacy invasive profiling.
And this was heavily exploited by Facebook before Apple patched it
But a single app can request to know the presence of up to 50 apps, right?
And a data broker/aggregator can purchase such data from many (e.g. thousands) of apps and aggregate it, then sell it.