Another threat to privacy (screen, work, settings, removal)

[Worren]

I use an ipad for just about everything. I had all my settings tuned so I didn't get bothered by ads, scammers and spam. Yesterday I let it update to Ios 11.3 to stop the nag screen. Last evening I started getting a bunch of ads that seemed to be following me around. Going through my settings I discovered that the "Prevent cross site tracking" button was greyed out. Couldn't turn it back on. After contacting Apple, who at first said that couldn't be happening, we discovered that AT&T had made a "business decision" to disable that setting to help their "partners" deliver targeted ads to me. As of now it seems to only affect AT&T customers.
Rather angry about my loss of privacy I contacted AT&T who said it was a business decision and it couldn't be turned back on. I asked just whose phone/ipad it was and why did AT&T think they had the right to change my settings to suit themselves. My question was answered with total silence. They hung up. Trying to call back revealed that they had blocked my phone number.
This is disturbing and I just hope others who are having this situation will also make their displeasure known.

[bigbear99]

How can ATT change your OS settings? Sounds like an apple issue too

[KittenSparkles]

Cliqz has an app for IOS - might be an option (not sure how it will work with the ATT thing you mentioned though)

https://cliqz.com/en/mobile

[Bambo]

Originally Posted by Worren

I use an ipad for just about everything. I had all my settings tuned so I didn't get bothered by ads, scammers and spam. Yesterday I let it update to Ios 11.3 to stop the nag screen. Last evening I started getting a bunch of ads that seemed to be following me around. Going through my settings I discovered that the "Prevent cross site tracking" button was greyed out. Couldn't turn it back on. After contacting Apple, who at first said that couldn't be happening, we discovered that AT&T had made a "business decision" to disable that setting to help their "partners" deliver targeted ads to me. As of now it seems to only affect AT&T customers.

Anyway of taking that update off your ipad?? (maybe going back to the other one will let you disable that again)


Good luck!!

[Worren]

Originally Posted by bigbear99

How can ATT change your OS settings? Sounds like an apple issue too

Still investigating this but it indeed looks like you're right. The disabling of the item mentioned seems to be indeed done by AT&T but it seems likely Apple may have a hand in it also.
I am continuing exploring removal of this update.
I have seen very few people besides myself having an issue with this. If we let stuff like this go unchallenged it is possible that in this lifetime we will have no privacy at all. I don't want to be tracked by my Isp's "partners" so they can pawn my information. I don't want targeted ads. I don't want phone calls trying to get my money. And above all I don't want political candidates using robo calls to influence my voting choices. Anybody agreeing with this should speak up and add your two cents to this post.

[Peregrine]

While I agree that's BS, ATT did not block your number. That's ludicrous.

You probably have a data plan on your iPad from ATT I assume?