# iPhone iOS 4 has an "Opt-Out" for iAd hidden in the EULA **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082 "2010-06-22T01:58:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/1 "2010-06-22T01:58:34Z")
For those of us that _HATE_ ads, and were hesitating upgrading to iOS4 because of the iAd app/portion of the OS/whatever, I found out that there is indeed an Opt-Out clause to tell Apple to _NOT_ send iAds to your iPhone You need to install iOS4, and then go to the following URL from within the iPhone browser; [http://oo.apple.com](http://oo.apple.com) You have to do it from each iPhone that’s running iOS4, but it should opt you out of the program See why it’s _GOOD_ to read the ELUA? this was hidden 3/4 of the way down in the EULA [More info on the Opt-Out process](http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4228) ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/2 "2010-06-22T02:04:17Z")
That’s a very cool thing to know. THank you. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/3 "2010-06-22T02:14:21Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > For those of us that _HATE_ ads, and were hesitating upgrading to iOS4 because of the iAd app/portion of the OS/whatever, I found out that there is indeed an Opt-Out clause to tell Apple to _NOT_ send iAds to your iPhone > > You need to install iOS4, and then go to the following URL from within the iPhone browser; > > [http://oo.apple.com](http://oo.apple.com) > > You have to do it from each iPhone that’s running iOS4, but it should opt you out of the program > > See why it’s _GOOD_ to read the ELUA? this was hidden 3/4 of the way down in the EULA > > [More info on the Opt-Out process](http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4228) Just to be clear, you can only opt out of the personalization of ads based on your private usage data: [QUOTE=Apple] (d) Interest-Based Advertising. Apple may provide mobile, interest-based advertising to you. If you do not want to receive **relevant** ads on your iPhone, you can opt out by going to this link on your iPhone: [http://oo.apple.com](http://oo.apple.com). If you opt out, **you will continue to receive the same number of mobile ads,** but they may be less relevant because they will not be based on your interests. You may still see ads related to the content on a web page or in an application or based on other non-personal information. This opt-out applies only to Apple advertising services and does not affect interest-based advertising from other advertising networks. At all times your information will be treated in accordance with Apple’s Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference into this License and can be viewed at: [Legal - Privacy Policy - Apple](http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/). [/QUOTE] Although if you’re just worried about your privacy, pretty legitimately, it’s a really nice link. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/4 "2010-06-22T03:03:56Z")
I should have clarified in my OP that the opt out is for personalization/tracking cookies, not to opt out of ads completely, someone needs to make an app for that… **Fuzzy** is right on this one, it just stops the “targeting” not the ads themselves I’ve been researching that as well, since iOS is based off a trimmed down OS X, there _has_ to be a hosts file in it somewhere (probably in /etc) but the secret is getting to it and modifying it without jailbreaking the iPhone… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/5 "2010-06-22T03:10:50Z")
Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/6 "2010-06-22T17:25:35Z")
Nice find. Worked fine on my iTouch. ---
**Author:** ![Like\_Fry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@Like\_Fry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Like_Fry)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/7 "2010-06-22T17:33:12Z")
Thank you for that, however, there is another little piece we should all know. There is a permission to use your location data to improve services, but no explanations of where that data is stored ( it is supposed to be anonymous). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/8 "2010-06-22T23:36:48Z")
I’ve got an iPhone 3GS and installed the version 4 update yesterday, but when I tried to enter this page in Safari on the phone, it tells me that it’s unsuccessful because I’m not running IOS4. Any idea why it’s not working? And how do I turn off the background image? It’s really kind of annoying to have the globe under my icons. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/9 "2010-06-22T23:47:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’ve got an iPhone 3GS and installed the version 4 update yesterday, but when I tried to enter this page in Safari on the phone, it tells me that it’s unsuccessful because I’m not running IOS4. Any idea why it’s not working? The same thing happened to me last night on my 3G but it worked earlier today. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/10 "2010-06-23T03:04:50Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’ve got an iPhone 3GS and installed the version 4 update yesterday, but when I tried to enter this page in Safari on the phone, it tells me that it’s unsuccessful because I’m not running IOS4. Any idea why it’s not working? > > And how do I turn off the background image? It’s really kind of annoying to have the globe under my icons. The link worked for me, and I’m also running a 3GS to change the wallpaper (there’s no plain black background for the home screen anymore); Settings/wallpaper tap on the wallpaper icon tap on either the wallpaper or camera roll button choose your wallpaper/photo adjust image size by pinching/zooming/scrolling tap “set” choose where you want it displayed, lock screen or home screen Done ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/11 "2010-06-23T03:27:52Z")
Thanks. I was trying to figure out how to return to a blank background. So I took a picture while covering the camera lens, and used the resulting solid black photo as the background. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-ios-4-has-an-opt-out-for-iad-hidden-in-the-eula/544082/12 "2010-06-23T05:14:32Z")
iDidntknowthat