Apple Intelligence Under Fire: Siri Secretly Sharing More Data Than You Think
CUPERTINO, CA – Just months after its grand unveiling, Apple Intelligence is facing serious scrutiny. A cybersecurity researcher has revealed that Siri and related Apple services may be transmitting a surprisingly broad range of user data to Apple servers, potentially undermining the company’s long-held reputation for privacy. This is breaking news that demands attention, especially for the millions who trust Apple with their personal information. This story is optimized for Google News and SEO to ensure rapid indexing and visibility.
Beyond the Weather: What Siri is *Really* Sending
Apple has consistently positioned Apple Intelligence, and its core component Siri, as a privacy-focused alternative to competitors. The promise was clear: on-device processing for sensitive tasks, with minimal data sent to the cloud. However, Yoav Magida of Lumia Security presented compelling evidence at Black Hat USA 2025 in Las Vegas that paints a different picture. Magida’s research, publicly available from the conference, demonstrates that even seemingly innocuous requests – like asking Siri for the weather – trigger the transmission of far more than just the query itself.
According to Magida’s analysis of network flows, Siri sends contextual data including installed weather applications, the status of virtual machines running on your device, and even the music you’re currently listening to. While Apple claims this data is used to improve services, the extent of the collection is raising eyebrows.
Encrypted Messages, Unencrypted Data Flow?
The most concerning revelation centers around encrypted messaging apps. Magida discovered that when Siri is used to send messages via WhatsApp or iMessage, Apple servers receive not only the message content but also the contact details of the recipients. This is particularly alarming given that both WhatsApp and iMessage utilize end-to-end encryption, designed to prevent anyone – including Apple – from accessing the message content. This raises questions about whether Apple is creating a backdoor, or simply collecting metadata in a way that compromises user privacy.
Evergreen Insight: End-to-end encryption is a cornerstone of modern digital privacy. It relies on the principle that only the sender and receiver can decrypt a message. Any interception of metadata – information *about* the message, like who sent it to whom – can still reveal significant details about a user’s communications and relationships. This incident highlights the importance of understanding what data is collected even when using encrypted services.
Apple’s Response and the Privacy Paradox
Magida alerted Apple to these findings back in February 2025. Initially, the company collaborated with the researcher, but ultimately characterized most of the data collection as consistent with its privacy policy. This response is fueling criticism, as Apple’s privacy policies are notoriously lengthy and complex, rarely read in their entirety by the average user. The situation presents a clear paradox: Apple champions privacy while simultaneously implementing features that expand data collection channels.
Furthermore, Magida noted instances where requests appeared to be duplicated between Siri and ChatGPT, potentially doubling the exposure of personal information. This suggests a complex interplay between Apple’s own AI and third-party services, further complicating the privacy landscape.
Protecting Your Privacy: Immediate Steps You Can Take
While Apple has yet to issue a comprehensive response addressing these concerns, users can take proactive steps to mitigate potential privacy risks. Magida recommends blocking traffic to specific domains associated with Siri, particularly guzzoni.apple.com, and disabling settings that automatically share data with Apple. These measures, while not foolproof, can significantly reduce the amount of information transmitted to Apple servers.
Evergreen Tip: Regularly review the privacy settings on all your devices and apps. Understand what data is being collected and how it’s being used. Consider using privacy-focused browsers, search engines, and messaging apps. Staying informed and proactive is the best defense against unwanted data collection.
The revelations surrounding Apple Intelligence’s data collection practices serve as a crucial reminder that privacy is not a given, even with companies that prioritize it. As AI continues to evolve, vigilance and a critical eye towards data handling will be essential for protecting our personal information. Stay tuned to archyde.com for ongoing coverage of this developing story and in-depth analysis of the latest cybersecurity threats and privacy concerns.
