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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1436922
Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s Private Relay By Sergio Velasquez Apple’s been trying to improve its privacy settings with each software update we get, and iOS 15 wasn’t the exception. Ever since the 2021 WWDC, Apple revealed that it was going to change iCloud and bring a bunch of new features into the newly called iCloud+. Among every new iCloud feature is a new privacy feature called Private Relay. Don’t get confused, Private Relay isn’t a VPN, but it does have some similarities. Here’s everything you need to know. What’s iCloud Private Relay? Apple’s Private Relay is a new security feature that Apple announced earlier this year exclusive to iCloud+. Keep in mind that if you have an iCloud subscription, your regular iCloud account is now iCloud+. Private Relay lets you protect some information, like your IP address and your DNS records, from websites and companies, including Apple, to some extent. For those of us who don’t know, a Coma Name System, or DNS for short, is basically a directory that your computer uses to connect with other DNS servers so that you can visit any website. Apple is trying to protect that type of data with Private Relay, although it’s not doing it alone. How Does Private Relay Work As we mentioned, your data like DNS records and IP address can be seen and stored by your network provider and by the websites you visit. Companies can use this information to build you a digital profile. Private Relay helps reduce the amount of information any company, including Apple, can learn about you. When iCloud Private Relay is on, your requests and information go through two different relays. Your network provider will be able to see your IP address and the first relay. Apple always operates this first relay. Your DNS records, on the other hand, will go to the second relay. This data will be encrypted, and only a third party will be able to see this information. This third party will create a temporary IP address so that companies and websites will only be able to see your location in general terms. For example, instead of saying you’re in California, your IP address might say you’re in the US. The third-party will then decrypt the website you want to