Apple is watching you type App Store searches, and knows how long you take to type them. You can't turn it off.
During WWDC in early June, Apple announced a raft of changes to the way the App Store functions to help developers. Evidently, one of those ways is to collect tons of data about how people actually interact with the App Store.
In an X post on June 9, security researchers known as Mysk discovered how much Apple actually collects in terms of data points. Apple already collects a lot of analytics data, but now it is being used to handle recommendations under Personalized Recommendations in the App Store.
When it comes to what is collected, the researchers posted an image of identifiable analytics that the App Store app sends to Apple.
The image shows the process of a user putting a search for "Tim Cook," across ten timestamped records. Each record shows the user typing a different letter in Cook's name, including the time down to fractions of a second.
With this level of detail, Apple could work out how long it takes for a user to type out an entire word, including the time between each individual letter.
The records also say which tab the user is in, as well as the version of the operating system in use.
In clarifying responses, Mysk say that the data is app analytics sent to Apple. It's not an endpoint that returns search results as a user types.
That is, it's a copy of what you type, not the results you get.
It's also data that can be requested by users via Apple's Privacy site.
Somewhat necessary data
While some may feel that Apple's records are sinister due to the level of detail in typing speed, Apple does have a justifiable reason for knowing some of this information.
As you type a search term into the App Store's search, the app comes up with a list of suggestions based on the partial text you have entered. This is generated from the very first letter you enter, and updates after each change in the string.
Apple obviously needs to know what text string to use for its search suggestions, so this is quite unsurprising.
However, what is surprising is that these searches are still being stored and is accessible by a request from the user. This doesn't necessarily need to be identifiable to a particular user, and yet it is being sent to Apple the way it is.
That it's still being stored in such a granular fashion is also a bit odd. There's no real need to know that you typed in "T" and "Ti" before concluding and searching on the term "Tim," yet the data is there.
Mysk also points to this being something a user cannot get away from at all. There is simply no way of getting around this app behavior nor Apple's storage of the user data.
The researchers also lean on the fact that, outside the EU and other markets that have third-party app storefronts, there are no other options for users to get apps from that do not store searches like this.
Alternative app stores have their own rules and ways of working, and also what user data gets collected. But, in countries where Apple isn't compelled to allow them to exist, users are stuck using the App Store.
In the grand scheme of data collection and analysis, this is ultimately a fairly small concern for Apple and for users. Apple isn't directly monetizing user data either, making it even less concerning than knowing a company like Google would do such a thing.
It's odd to know that Apple can work out your typing speed, and keep a record of it on file, certainly. But in the battle to maintain privacy, there are far bigger fish to fry.
