The "Sign in with Apple" feature is set to be introduced with iOS 13, iPadOS 13 and macOS 10.15 Catalina in the fall and will be available for all applications with third-party sign-in options on iPhone, iPad and Mac - Android and Windows users can also make use of it - this is how the new Apple service works.
What exactly is Sign in with Apple?
The single sign-on feature was announced on the WWDC 2019 stage as a secure alternative to the ubiquitous solutions from Facebook and Google. The function allows users to create a new account on suitable applications, websites and other services without revealing potentially sensitive private information. In contrast to existing solutions, "Sign in with Apple" users can authenticate themselves via Face ID or Touch ID and decide for themselves which personal information is passed on to the respective provider, which significantly strengthens data protection.
A special email forwarding system allows users of this solution to disguise their personal email address with an anonymized version generated based on apps or services. The strategy not only ensures privacy but also the ability to completely stop communication with a company when an account is closed.
How to use Sign in with Apple
If you want to register with an application, it should of course support the so-called third-party login option - in the future you will be able to choose between Apple, Facebook and Google. If this requirement is met, you can continue with the new "Sign in with Apple" function. In the second step, when you create the new account, you will be asked whether you want to share your Apple ID with the company or hide it - users of this option will most likely use the anonymization option. You then log in with your Apple ID - the remaining steps are done automatically in the background as there is no need for another password or entering an email address.
Each application gets its own email address
The "Sign in with Apple" option allows developers to communicate with users even if they do not have a personal email address. As mentioned above, they receive a verified but anonymized email address that is linked to the customer's Apple ID. Apple does not store any emails - they are deleted from the database as soon as they have been delivered. The disguised but still verified email address is also generated individually for each application. This means that none of these email addresses are used for two services at the same time. If the user deletes their account, the developer is informed. The link to the Apple ID is then removed and the generated email address is irrevocably deleted.
Which services will offer the "Sign in with Apple" feature?
With iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS Catalina, Apple's App Store guidelines are changing. All developers who offer third-party login options are now required to integrate Apple's solution. This means that any app that currently allows you to log in with Facebook, Google, or another service must also include the "Sign in with Apple" option.
Of course, there will still be applications that only require a login with a registered email address and a personal password. You can also use "Sign in with Apple" on the web—an iPhone, iPad, or Mac isn't required. This means Android and Windows users can also benefit from the feature—as long as they have an active Apple ID. Ultimately, Apple wants to offer everyone the opportunity to better protect their privacy—perhaps one day the "Sign in with Apple" option will be available on every platform. (Image: Apple)
