The summary of ‘Most PRIVATE Keyboard Apps!’

The video discusses the crucial importance of keyboard privacy on smartphones, focusing on potential security risks associated with different types of keyboards, such as system keyboards and third-party keyboards. Key points include understanding how keyboards handle sensitive data, being cautious of permissions requested by keyboards, and the significance of privacy protection mechanisms like Differential Privacy. The transcript warns about security breaches in popular keyboard apps and suggests alternatives like open-source keyboards for better privacy control. The speaker emphasizes the need for users to stay informed about privacy practices, review permissions, and make careful choices when selecting keyboards to safeguard their overall device privacy.

00:00:00

In this part of the video, the importance of keyboard privacy on smartphones is discussed. It’s highlighted that although users may have strict privacy measures in place, their keyboard could still be leaking sensitive information. Different types of virtual keyboards are explained, including System Keyboards that come with the operating system and Third-Party Keyboards that offer additional features. The significance of understanding how each keyboard app handles privacy is emphasized to ensure trust and security while typing sensitive information.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses important factors to consider when deciding whether to use a third-party keyboard. Key points include the importance of knowing and trusting the developer, understanding how the keyboard handles user data (such as keystrokes and sensitive information), ensuring data transmission is encrypted, considering the developer’s technical abilities in maintaining security, evaluating the permissions requested by the keyboard (especially regarding “Full Access”), and being cautious of unnecessary permissions that could pose privacy risks. The speaker emphasizes the potential privacy and security implications of using third-party keyboards and advises users to be careful and vigilant in their choices.

00:06:00

In this segment of the video, the focus is on potential privacy and security issues related to keyboard apps. The video mentions the importance of reviewing permissions and trackers when installing keyboard apps. It highlights security breaches in popular keyboards such as AI.type and SwiftKey, emphasizing the risks of exposing personal data due to insufficient protection. The transcript also warns about third-party keyboards posing security risks even if not actively used and mentions specific vulnerabilities in different keyboard apps. Additionally, it discusses the data collection practices of built-in system keyboards like Apple’s iOS keyboard and the implementation of Differential Privacy to protect user privacy.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, the concept of differential privacy is explained. The epsilon value, or privacy loss parameter, determines the level of privacy protection provided by adding noise to data sent to Apple. An epsilon value of 1 or less is considered good for privacy, but Apple’s software was found to have an epsilon value of 14, indicating poor privacy protection. It is suggested to opt out of iPhone analytics to reduce data tracking. Additionally, details about Apple’s data collection practices, including potentially detailed usage data from apps, are highlighted. The discussion also touches on Google’s approach of Federated Learning as an alternative to differential privacy, where data remains on the device but may still pose privacy risks based on recent studies.

00:12:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses privacy concerns related to Gboard and iOS keyboards due to data collection practices. Users can opt for better privacy by using operating systems like GrapheneOS, which prioritizes security and privacy by not relying on Google services. GrapheneOS uses the Android Open Source Project keyboard, ensuring data privacy. Alternatively, users can consider third-party keyboards like Anysoftkeyboard and OpenBoard that are open source and offer customization options while maintaining user data locally without sending it elsewhere.

00:15:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses various open-source keyboard options such as OpenBoard, AnySoftKeyboard, Florisboard, and Simplekeyboard, highlighting their features and lack of autocorrect capabilities in some cases. They caution that although open source, users should still be cautious and verify the safety of the software. For iOS users, the built-in keyboard with analytics disabled is recommended, with Fleksy being a potential alternative despite its closed-source nature and privacy concerns. The importance of keyboard privacy in maintaining overall device privacy is emphasized, and viewers are advised to stay informed about app updates and permissions.