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The convenience of buying something and paying with your phone, without having to bring a wallet has already become very popular. Apple is now expanding this convenience by adding a digital ID and/or driver’s license to the wallet, making the physical wallet more and more redundant.  

Apple has announced a new feature that will make life more digital-based and even easier. This innovation allows people to add their driver’s license or ID card to Wallet, that can be used with both an iPhone and Apple Watch. It will be rolled out in 8 states in the United States first. I will explain why this innovation is convenient, secure and private. 

Replacing the physical wallet by a mobile wallet is of great convenience. For example, it makes airport security screening easier since there is no need to take out a physical card or hand over the Apple device. This creates more opportunities for touchless screening and enhances the travel experience. In order to present the personal card(s), the device does not need to be unlocked, shown or handed over. 

The first concern that may come to mind with such innovations is whether this is safe to use and adheres to privacy regulations. The answer is yes, Wallet fully profits of the built-in privacy and security of Apple devices. The personal card can only be shown on a device after authorisation is given through Face ID or Touch ID. This means that the personal information can only be presented by the person who added it. 

The privacy of the users is also well guaranteed. Apple cannot access this personal information and they do not know when or where this function is used. Moreover, the personal data is protected and encrypted to prevent from theft and tampering. If someone loses their Apple device, the Find My app can be used to lock a device or even remotely erase it. Lastly, Apple adheres to the ISO 18013-5 standard, following clear guidelines to protect the privacy of its customers when a mobile device is used to present their ID. 

Overall, next to being innovative and exciting, this feature is seamless, convenient and secure. With this innovation, Apple is one step closer to replacing the physical wallet with a mobile wallet. In the future there is no need to bring a debit card, driver’s license and keys anymore, you just need your phone. To me this sounds very promising and hopefully it will be rolled out globally soon. 

References:

Apple Newsroom, 2021. Apple announces first states to adopt driver’s licenses and state IDs in Wallet. [online] Apple Newsroom. Available at: <https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/09/apple-announces-first-states-to-adopt-drivers-licenses-and-state-ids-in-wallet/> [Accessed 7 October 2021].

Dayaram, S., 2021. You can add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet in iOS 15. Here’s how. [online] CNET. Available at: <https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/you-can-add-your-drivers-license-or-state-id-to-apple-wallet-in-ios-15-heres-how/> [Accessed 7 October 2021].

Franklin, J., 2021. NPR Cookie Consent and Choices. [online] Npr.org. Available at: <https://www.npr.org/2021/09/02/1033675691/drivers-license-apple-iphone-apple-watch-tsa> [Accessed 7 October 2021].

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Stalking has recently been brought to a whole new level. Instead of ‘just’ following someone or analysing their social media accounts, people can now track EVERYTHING of you. The only thing they need to do is install one app. The number of these apps that are downloaded has strongly increased over the past two years. What is this type of app and why can people still use it?

These apps are called stalkerware apps. They need to be downloaded on someone’s phone and then someone else can gather all kinds of personal information from a distance. There are different types of stalkerware apps that collect different types of information. Possible options are that the app records your conversations, tracks your location and phone conversations, extracts photos and everything you type like messages, mails, web searches and some can even turn on your microphone to eavesdrop on your daily life. This can all be done with a camouflaged app (where the icon can be changed to for example a calendar or calculator) or sometimes without even displaying it on your home screen. 

These apps are especially dangerous when they are used for digital domestic abuse. An abuser who has access to the victim’s phone, can secretly install the app and thereby track all kinds of personal information. This is increasingly used by people who suspect their partner of cheating. Stalkerware apps give someone full access over your private life. 

So, you would say this is illegal, right? Surprisingly, it is not. The software itself is fully legal. Accessing personal information, just like sharing your real-time location with friends, is of no harm as long as consent is given. However, the software is more and more used for the wrong purposes, like harassing people or accessing personal data without consent. And the problem is that there is a lack of coordination in how these apps are used. Therefore, a more specific and targeted international legislation would be in place. Besides violating one’s privacy, these apps also pose security risks. This is because in most cases, security protections need to be deactivated in order to install the app. This makes the targeted person more vulnerable for other cyberthreats.

Thus, since there is a rise in these stalkerware apps and they can do more harm than good to people, action should be undertaken to guarantee only well-meant use of these apps, preferably on international level. 

References:

Baraniuk, C. (2019). The rise of stalkerware. [online] Available at: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026240791932207> [Accessed 6 October 2021]

BeveiligingsGuru, 2021. Stalkerware: ook bekend als stalker software! – Herken en voorkom!. [online] Beveiligingsguru.nl. Available at: <https://www.beveiligingsguru.nl/stalkerware/> [Accessed 6 October 2021].

Chen, B. X. 2021. ‘Stalkerware’ Apps Are Proliferating. Protect Yourself. [online] Available at: <https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/technology/personaltech/stalkerware-apps-protection.html> [Accessed 6 October 2021].

Marien, S., 2021. Opgelet: stalkerware-apps populair, wat het is en de risico’s. [online] Androidworld.nl. Available at: <https://androidworld.nl/nieuws/opgelet-stalkerware-apps-populair-wat-het-is-en-de-risicos> [Accessed 6 October 2021].