Evernote - Notes Organizer Security & Privacy Scorecard
by Evernote Corporation · iOS
Usage patterns are shared with advertising partners including AppLovin, which uses that data to target ads. Analytics services track how users interact with the app, and Apple Ads Attribution connects in-app activity to ad campaigns. Notes content stays private, but behavioral data reaches several third parties.
Best for
Personal note-taking and organization
Findings
- 0 critical
- 11 high
- 7 medium
- 5 low
- 10 info
7 issues identified across security and privacy analysis.
Top security issues
- ENML note renderer URL sanitizer bypassed by Unicode control characters, enabling XSS via shared notes in WKWebView
- App Transport Security completely disabled in both main app and Share extension, exposing sensitive note data to MITM attacks
- SQLite and CoreData databases not encrypted — note content accessible after first device unlock without user credentials
Top privacy issues
- Main app privacy manifest missing NSPrivacyTracking declaration despite active advertising tracking infrastructure with AppLovin SDK
- AppLovin SDK v13.3.1 privacy manifest declares empty data collection, systematically misrepresenting what the ad SDK collects
- Sentry Session Replay with touch tracking compiled and active in production, potentially recording visible note content
Full analysis
Version: 11.10.1 (Build 1246977)
Scan Date: 2026-04-05
Security Score: 82/100
Privacy Score: 76/100
What This Means for You
Usage patterns are shared with advertising partners including AppLovin, which uses that data to target ads. Analytics services track how users interact with the app, and Apple Ads Attribution connects in-app activity to ad campaigns. Notes content stays private, but behavioral data reaches several third parties.
Recommendation: Trustworthy
Best For: Personal note-taking and organization
Key Findings
Data Security - 5 findings (2 medium, 2 low, 1 info)
Network Security - 5 findings (2 high, 1 low, 2 info)
Code Safety - 0 findings
Privacy - 7 findings (1 high, 2 medium, 1 low, 3 info)
Privacy Concerns
What Data is Collected
Device identifiers, usage patterns, and behavioral data are collected during app use. Crash reports and performance diagnostics are gathered automatically. Account information and in-app activity are recorded to support core functionality and advertising.
Third-Party Data Sharing
Data is shared with the following third parties:
- AppLovin (advertising and quality analytics) - receives usage data to serve and optimize ads
- Apple Ads Attribution (Bending Spoons integration) - links in-app activity to advertising campaigns
- Firebase / Google - handles push notifications and crash reporting
- Sentry - receives crash diagnostics and error reports
- IAB Open Measurement SDK - supports ad viewability measurement
Understanding the Scores
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Security | 82/100 |
| Privacy | 76/100 |
| Data Security | 86/100 |
| Network Security | 76/100 |
| Code Safety | 86/100 |
| Data Collection | 82/100 |
| Data Sharing | 89/100 |
| User Control | 84/100 |
Positive Security Features
- Data shared with advertising partners is limited to behavioral and usage signals, keeping notes content off third-party networks
- Code structure follows established patterns that reduce exposure to common security issues
- In-app controls allow users to manage their account and connected services
Areas for Improvement
- Some network communications could be better hardened against interception, particularly on untrusted networks such as public Wi-Fi
- Advertising data collection is active by default, and clearer in-app controls for opting out of behavioral tracking would benefit users
- Privacy disclosures about which advertising partners receive user data, and for what purposes, could be more prominent and accessible
About This Analysis
This scorecard is generated from automated static analysis of the app binary. Scores reflect security and privacy practices found in the code. Real-world behavior may vary based on server-side configuration and user settings.
App Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| App ID | com.evernote.iPhone.Evernote |
| Version | 11.10.1 (Build 1246977) |
| Scan Date | 2026-04-05 |
Versions & scan history
| Scan | Date | Overall score |
|---|---|---|
| #1 (current) | 80/100 |