Apple’s Mac computers can automatically collect your location information

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Apple has begun automatically collecting the locations of users and the queries they type when searching for files with the newest Mac operating system, a function that has provoked backlash for a company that portrays itself as a leader on privacy.

The function is part of Spotlight search, which was updated with last week’s launch of new Mac computers and Apple’s latest operating system, Yosemite OS X, which also is available for download to owners of older machines. Once Yosemite is installed, users searching for files -- even on their own hard drives -- have their locations, user IDs and search terms automatically sent to the company, keystroke by keystroke. A pop-up window discloses the change, saying collecting the data helps provide results “more relevant to you” as Spotlight also looks beyond individual computers to gather information across the Internet, much like popular search engines such as Google already do. But privacy advocates worry that users won’t understand what information is collected and how to stop the transmission of data to Apple, which happens by default.


Apple’s Mac computers can automatically collect your location information