[mtmail]

MacOS keeps asking me about setting up an iCloud account but most software works without it. Tweetbot for example needs an iCloud account for syncing between devices. When you buy software via the Apple App Store of course you'll need an Apple Id. Security updates and can be installed without one. I switched off all telemetry and for a while had a software to track network connections (https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html) installed. Connections to Apple were all explainable, e.g. to sync the time (can be switch off).

[jdjd008]

For the tweetbot, do you at least hace the option of not using iCloud, or is that not possible?

With the Apple store, I don’t really care if they know I own a product. I just don’t want them tracking what I do with it or what files I save with it. I assume Apple doesn’t do this? I know Microsoft can depending on things.

Was there anything you saw with littlesnitch that hinted some telemetry stuff was being sent that could be “personal data” that a person who likes privacy would be concerned about?

I’m leaning heavily towards getting a Mac now. I find it hilarious given that windows literally could have simply not done this telemetry thing to prevent it, but i guess they couldn’t help themselves.