Type | Single sign-on provider |
---|---|
Launch date | September 19, 2019 |
Platform(s) | iOS, Android, Web (JavaScript) |
Status | Active |
Website | developer |
Sign in with Apple is a single sign-on provider operated by Apple Inc., introduced on June 3, 2019, at Apple's 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in iOS 13. [1]
It is designed to allow users to create accounts for third-party services with a minimal amount of personal information (as opposed to login services offered by social networking service platforms such as Facebook, where such features may also grant the third-party service access to personal information tied to their account), only requiring the user to provide a name and email address.
Users can opt for the email address associated with their Apple ID or choose the "Hide My Email" option to generate a disposable email address specific to the service; these addresses end in the privaterelay.appleid.com
domain. [2] Messages sent via a disposable (or relay) email address are automatically forwarded to a verified email address of the user's choice, and this function can also be disabled if needed. [3] [4] The service is compatible [5] with the OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect standards, and integrates with Face ID and Touch ID on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. [6]
On September 12, 2019, Apple updated the App Store Review Guidelines to stipulate that developers whose apps use at least one third-party login service must implement Sign in with Apple, with exceptions for apps that function exclusively as a client for a specific service (such as the Twitter app), that use a login service backed by a citizen identification system, or that are developed to work exclusively with a company's first-party login service. [7] Apple's human interface guidelines require sign in with Apple buttons to be no less prominent than other sign-in services, and to appear "above the fold" without the user having to scroll. [8]
For use outside of iOS apps, Apple also offers a JavaScript library to implement Sign in with Apple on Android and the web. [4]
In October 2019, Apple made the service compliant with the OpenID Connect authentication standard. It had previously not been fully compliant, having for example excluded "Proof Key for Code Exchange" (PKCE)—whose absence exposed users to possible replay attacks and code injection vulnerabilities. [9] [5]
macOS, originally Mac OS X, previously shortened as OS X, is an operating system developed and marketed by Apple since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac computers. Within the market of desktop and laptop computers, it is the second most widely used desktop OS, after Microsoft Windows and ahead of all Linux distributions, including ChromeOS.
Mail is an email client included by Apple Inc. with its operating systems macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and visionOS. Mail grew out of NeXTMail, which was originally developed by NeXT as part of its NeXTSTEP operating system, after Apple's acquisition of NeXT in 1997.
Keychain is the password management system in macOS, developed by Apple. It was introduced with Mac OS 8.6, and has been included in all subsequent versions of the operating system, now known as macOS. A Keychain can contain various types of data: passwords, private keys, certificates, and secure notes.
The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of notable webmail providers who offer a web interface in English.
iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple exclusively for its smartphones. It was unveiled in January 2007 for the first-generation iPhone, launched in June 2007.
The App Store is an app marketplace developed and maintained by Apple, for mobile apps on its iOS and iPadOS operating systems. The store allows users to browse and download approved apps developed within Apple's iOS SDK. Apps can be downloaded on the iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, and some can be transferred to the Apple Watch smartwatch or 4th-generation or newer Apple TVs as extensions of iPhone apps.
Apple Account (formerly known as Apple ID) is a user account by Apple for their devices and software. Apple Accounts contain the user's personal data and settings. When an Apple Account is used to log in to an Apple device, the device will automatically use the data and settings associated with the Apple Account.
The Mac App Store is a digital distribution platform for macOS apps, often referred to as Mac apps, created and maintained by Apple Inc. The platform was announced on October 20, 2010, at Apple's "Back to the Mac" event. Apple began accepting app submissions from registered developers on November 3, 2010, in preparation for its launch.
iCloud is a cloud service operated by Apple Inc. Launched on October 12, 2011, iCloud enables users to store and sync data across devices, including Apple Mail, Apple Calendar, Apple Photos, Apple Notes, contacts, settings, backups, and files, to collaborate with other users, and track assets through Find My. It is built into iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, macOS, and visionOS. iCloud may additionally be accessed through a limited web interface and Windows application.
Mozilla Persona was a decentralized authentication system for the web, based on the open BrowserID protocol prototyped by Mozilla and standardized by IETF. It was launched in July 2011, but after failing to achieve traction, Mozilla announced in January 2016 plans to decommission the service by the end of the year.
Health is a health informatics mobile app, announced by Apple Inc. on June 2, 2014, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The app is available on iPhone and iPod Touch devices running iOS 8 or later, and on iPads running iPadOS 17. The application holds health data such as blood pressure measurement and glucose levels, but also holds physical tracking data such as step counts. It can pull data from fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart scales, and other devices.
Proton Mail is a Swiss end-to-end encrypted email service founded in 2013 headquartered in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland. It uses client-side encryption to protect email content and user data before they are sent to Proton Mail servers, unlike other common email providers such as Gmail and Outlook.com. The service can be accessed through a webmail client, the Tor network, Windows, macOS and Linux (beta) desktop apps and iOS and Android apps.
tvOS is an operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the Apple TV, a digital media player. In the first-generation Apple TV, Apple TV Software was based on Mac OS X. Starting with the second generation, the software is based on the iOS operating system and has many similar frameworks, technologies, and concepts.
Bitwarden is a freemium open-source password management service that stores sensitive information, such as website credentials, in an encrypted vault. The platform offers a variety of client applications, including a web interface, desktop applications, browser extensions, mobile apps, and a command-line interface. Bitwarden offers a free US or European cloud-hosted service as well as the ability to self-host.
iOS 13 is the thirteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple for the iPhone, iPod Touch and HomePod. The successor to iOS 12, it was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 3, 2019, and released on September 19, 2019. It was succeeded by iOS 14, released on September 16, 2020.
iOS 14 is the fourteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple for the iPhone and iPod touch lines. Announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 22, 2020 as the successor to iOS 13, it was released to the public on September 16, 2020. It was succeeded by iOS 15 on September 20, 2021.
macOS Ventura is the nineteenth major release of macOS, Apple's operating system for Macintosh computers. The successor to macOS Monterey, it was announced at WWDC 2022 on June 6, 2022, and launched on October 24, 2022. macOS Ventura was succeeded by macOS Sonoma, which was released on September 26, 2023.