Apple is set to launch in-store privacy workshops for customers as part of an educational drive to equip iOS users with the skills to take control of their data.

The 30-min tutorials begin in 522 stores worldwide from Saturday, to coincide with international Data Privacy Day.

The “Taking Charge of Your Privacy on iPhone” sessions will explore features including Mail Privacy Protection, Safety Check, Location Services, and passkeys.

Attendees – who should register first – will learn how they can customise each based on their individual privacy preferences in the free sessions, which are part of Today at Apple.

Futurescot was invited to a WebEx call with a senior European Apple executive this morning, who outlined the media blitz behind the new service to its customers.

For the launch, the company has partnered with Apple TV+ Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed in “A Day in the Life of an Average Person’s Data,” a short film which demonstrates how ‘bad actors misuse data’, and how the company works to keep his personal information safe.

“We’re really focused on empowering our users to make informed choices,” an Apple representative said in the call.

One of the representatives demonstrated on the call how the location services facility can be used within the Weather app to give a user’s precise or approximate location according to their preferences.

“We created Today at Apple to spark creativity and enable our customers to get the most out of their Apple products and features,” said Tracey Hannelly, Apple’s senior director of retail engagement and marketing. “We’re thrilled to offer this new Today at Apple session to help our customers learn more about our industry-leading privacy features as we celebrate Data Privacy Day.”

Apple products and features include privacy technologies designed to minimise how much user data anyone can access. For example, Safari throws trackers off the trail, the Health app keeps user records under wraps and Siri learns what the user needs rather than who they are.

“At Apple, we’re focused on designing devices, features, and services that keep users in control of their personal data,” said Erik Neuenschwander, Apple’s director of user privacy. “Over the years we’ve integrated powerful privacy controls into our operating systems. This film and our new Today at Apple sessions will show users how they can take advantage of some of the features we offer, and understand how privacy is at the center of everything we do.”

Privacy Tips

Location

You can control when and how apps can access your location. Check your iPhone to make sure you are not sharing location data with anyone you don’t want to. 

Go to: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services:

You have choices to limit the access whether it is Never, Ask Next Time Or When I Share, While Using the App. 

Mail protection 

Emails you received from third parties can learn about your Mail activity and use this information to infer information about you and track you for advertising purposes. Mail protection hides your IP address so sender can’t see your other online activity. It also hides exact location and prevents senders from seeing if you’ve opened an email.

Go to Settings → Mail → Privacy Protection

Tracking 

Some apps track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites. You can now chose if you want to allow that or not, or require them to ask permission.

Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking: You have a choice to turn on or off tracking for specific apps, or turning off altogether. 

Safety check 

If you ever need to quickly stop sharing your information or to review and update sharing with individual people and apps, Apple’s new Safety Check can help. Safety Check Changes are made discretely. People or apps you stop sharing with are not notified.

Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check.

Passkeys 

Passkeys is a new feature that gives you a way to log in to a website or service without needing to write in your username and password to prove who you are. It’s an easier and safer sign-in method, with a unique digital key created that only works from the site or app it was created for. Passkeys work with Touch ID or Face ID to authenticate your log in.

To save a passkey to your iPhone and iCloud Keychain, do one of the following:

— For a new account: On the account sign-up screen, enter an account name.

— For an existing account: Sign in with your password, then go to the account management screen.

When you see the option to save a passkey for the account, tap Continue.
Your passkey is saved.