Kevin BeaumontSep 14, 2025

For privacy researchers, this thread is interesting. iOS allow apps to make network requests after push notifications.

Instagram (and others) appear to be using this to profile devices, eg retrieve device uptime without their customer opening Instagram.

This one probably needs more eyes on it. https://mastodon.social/@mysk/115204746326765802

Show threadJeffreySep 15, 2025
@GossiTheDog this is (another reason) why I have disabled almost all notifications on my device.
Show threadDavid Chisnall (*Now with 50% more sarcasm!*)Sep 15, 2025

@jtig @GossiTheDog

Does that help? The app still receives the push notification, it just can't present it to the user. Disabling notifications wouldn't prevent this, it would just make it more stealthy.

Show threadJeffrey
@david_chisnall @GossiTheDog afaik, no notifications client side means no APNS sending you the push notification in the first place. On the other hand, apps like Instagram do have the ability to refresh or retrieve information in the background. I'll check with the original posters.
Sep 15, 2025 at 9:46amWeb
Show threadJeffreySep 15, 2025
@david_chisnall @GossiTheDog Here you go: https://mastodon.social/@mysk/115207755713649334
Show threadGSep 15, 2025
@jtig @david_chisnall @GossiTheDog the notification wake you linked is only a workaround for users who toggle the limit background battery for those apps. otherwise they don't even need that.