@SwiftKey for Apple iPhone and Apple iPad on Apple iTunes – Why Full Access for Predictive Typing compromises Apple iOS 8 Security

“Obviously we're overwhelmed that SwiftKey Keyboard shot to the top of the charts after launching on iOS 8. We've worked really hard on getting something ready for launch and this is the ultimate reward”

SwiftKey Chief Marketing Officer Joe Braidwood said in a statement to blog site BetaNews about the SwiftKey coming to Apple iPhone

SwiftKey, the popular Keyboard App beloved by Google Android users and coveted by Apple iPhone users, has now finally come to the Apple iPhone and Apple iPad as noted in the article “SwiftKey keyboard app shoots to top of iTunes charts”, published September 19, 2014 7:15 AM PDT by Lance Whitney, CNET News. 

This is yet one more perk of the Apple iPhone 6 launch, as it can also be seen as something which was a long time in coming, based on my prediction of SwiftKey coming to iOS 8 in my blog article entitled “SwiftKey now free for Android Users – How Apple users might soon be getting SwiftKey Free”.

Demand is hot, with some 1 million downloads recorded in the first 24 hours as reported in the article “SWIFTKEY KEYBOARD FOR IPHONE PASSES 1 MILLION DOWNLOADS & HITS NO 1”, published September 18, 2014, SwiftKey. as with Android, it's  free and you get a “Premium pack” of 14 Free Themes valued at US$5.

But if you want more SwiftKey Keyboards, you'll have to pay US$0.99 for an upgrade to a new keyboard or just grab a pack of five for US$2.99 to upgrade to more custom and better designed keyboards. Clearly the money is in the keyboards, which is why SwiftKey had switched to a freemium model back in June 2014!

SwiftKey on Apple iOS – Full Access Predictive Typing and Swiping compromise Security

So what's new with the Apple iOS 8 SwiftKey, now that it's finally available on the Apple Play Store?

Nothing really, as truth be told, Apple iOS 8 also comes with improved keyboards, albeit no swiping to type. Also the range of  SwiftKey seems wider and like the iOS 8 keyboards, you can deeply integrate these cool keyboards thought the look and feel of Apple iOS on your Apple iPhone.

To set up SwiftKey under iOS 8 it a fairly simple task:

1.      Open the Settings tab

2.      Tap General

3.      Tap Keyboard

4.      Tap Keyboards

5.      Tap the option to Add New Keyboard

6.      Tap SwiftKey from the list of available keyboards; SwiftKey will be added as an available keyboard

7.      Tap the setting for SwiftKey

8.      Enable the option to Allow Full Access to get Predictive Typing

Aside from Predictive Typing, you can now swipe to type. Additionally, once you’re given SwiftKey Full Access to your Apple iPhone as shown above, it tracks what you type so as to improve fits predictive texting capabilities across all Apps.

Not a very good idea for those of you that are still worried about Apple iCloud hacking as explained in “Apple: Celeb photo attack was targeted, not widespread breach”, published September 2, 2014 12:27 PM PDT by Shara Tibken, CNET News.

Especially as software tools exist that allow hackers to basically “guess” your username and password combinations as stated in “iCloud Data Breach: Hacking And Celebrity Photos”, published  9/02/2014 @ 3:00AM by Dave Lewis, Forbes.

Potentially SwiftKey could also story your passwords and if targeted by hackers, they'd have an easy access to your iCloud accounts, Social Media Accounts and your Credit Card information.

Still, if you like the idea of self-learning Predictive Typing and swiping to type, then SwiftKey should be your app of choice.

Here’s the link:

SwiftKey on Apple ITunes Store

SwiftKey on Google Play Store