Apple Is Tracking Your Activity Again In iOS 6, Here’s How To Stop It From Happening

Just when you thought the iOS 6 firmware couldn’t get any worse, it has been discovered that Apple has implemented a new tracking system in iOS 6 that essentially keeps track of your activity while you use your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. This includes your internet browsing habits and also the apps you use.

As Apple put a stop to the previous UDID tracking method, the fruit company introduced a new technology called “identifier for advertisers ” (IFA). Gizmodo describes it as “a random, anonymous number assigned to a user and their device, IFAs are temporary and can be blocked like cookies.” Essentially IFAs are used by companies to help in making advertisements more relevant, identifying when users are looking at their ads and when they are “converted” to make a purchase.

It is important to keep in mind that while this may sound bad, IFAs do not contain any information to identify you personally. Regardless however, you can easily opt-out of IFA tracking by simply disabling it through the settings app.

Strangely enough Apple did not included the option to disable IFA tracking in the Privacy section. Instead go Settings  > General > About > Advertising and turn Limit Ad Tracking ON. This will prevent the tracking of your browsing and purchasing habits once-and-for-all… well, hopefully.