‘The online instructions for restricting data access are very complex and confusing, and the steps required are scattered in different places. There’s no clear direction on whether to go to the app settings, the central settings – or even both,’ says Amel Bourdoucen, a doctoral researcher at Aalto.
Sounds like there’s some dark pattern BS going on with those settings.
Disclaimer: Linux user through-and-through ; I have a modern “m” mac for some work specific applications.
Setting up a macbook today doesn’t require an apple id or even an email address. My warranty is with the non-apple authorized retailer I bought the computer from, I don’t use the software store (but I think it would work) nor do I use any apple services like itunes, or, without the apple id, I don’t have icloud backups. And I don’t/can’t buy anything from the store, of course.
I am able to update the os, I have just one notification in the settings about setting up the account but no showstopper at all.
So what does apple get from me? I’d guess crude location (from my vpn), hardware/OS version and maybe installed software? That’s not much, and since it’s a work machine it’s offline all the time, I can’t see that device doing much behind my back.
If apple is indeed looking deep into that laptop, then I guess they’ll see I also have Asahi on it. And maybe they are really really intrusive and notice I’m using that Asahi partition 80% of the time (;
Joking aside, if you need macos, it is possible to use macos. With some limitations: handle your own backups, get your software from the vendors and… And that’s it.
Sadly we know you are very much the exception in Apple Land.
Generally, folks who buy Apple do so because they don’t have to think about this stuff.
Most people just login/create accounts as prompted (on Android too, with companies like Samsung - there was a post yesterday confused about such logins).
I posted the above for the sake of precision - OTOH, I had my workplace buy an ipad and that was impossible to setup without email + creating an apple id. I don’t care much (used work email), but still. Same with:
- Windows 11
- my latest kobo ereader
- Stay away from Sonos loudspeakers too
Since I’m borderline psychotic about this, I always create a temporary access point on my phone that I delete right after setup is done, over a disposable email address from simplelogin.com.
Yea, I really try to avoid those logins. A Windows machine really has no need of it, and if your Corp IT allowed it to work that way, they’re really dropping the ball. Regardless of the size of the company, you buy windows pro licenses, and don’t even allow the creation of, or connection to, MS accounts with business devices.
My work phone is an iPhone, because work manages it, so Android holds no value there.
deleted by creator
Removed by mod
deleted by creator
