Apple included a single sign on tool and a new email security feature in iOS 13 that software developers can implement in their apps and websites, the company announced this week at its Worldwide Developers Conference.
To facilitate a customer’s ability to sign into an app or website Apple introduced Sign In with Apple. This feature will use a person’s Apple ID in lieu of using a username, password or social account. The process also works natively on iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS and in any browser, the company said.
“Customers can simply use their Apple ID to authenticate and Apple will protect users’ privacy by providing developers with a unique random ID,” Apple said, adding that even in cases where an email address is required Apple users will have the option to use a unique random email address in replace of their actual email address.
Sign In with Apple also works with Face ID, Touch ID and has built in two-factor authentication.
There is another feature that could encourage customers use. In a distinct departure from how Google and Facebook operation, Apple said it will not pass along any information derived from those who sign up for the service to third parties. This includes email addresses.
A name and authentic email address are required, but Apple will only not release that info to the vendor, but essentially launder the real email address through an email redirect controlled by Apple so there is no direct contact thus hiding the users address.
In addition to making it easier for an apps users to sign in, there are other benefits for the app or website owner. “It uses on-device machine learning and other information to provide a new privacy-friendly signal that helps you determine if a new user is a real person or an account you might want to take another look at,” Apple said.
