Tell HN: Installing Cursor on iOS irreversibly changes your privacy settings
237 points by zkldi 18 hours ago | 34 comments
tl;dr: Installing and logging into the Cursor iOS app silently migrated the user's account from "Privacy Mode (Legacy)" (no code storage) to the newer, weaker "Privacy Mode" that permits code storage for background agents. Cursor support confirmed the change is irreversible—the legacy option has been removed from all menus and cannot be restored. The user warns others to avoid the iOS app if they want to preserve stricter privacy settings.
HN Discussion:
  • Confirms experiencing the same dark pattern and validates the warning
  • Cursor employee acknowledges poor communication and commits to fixing it
  • Broader criticism of tech industry disregard for user privacy and consent
  • Legal recourse against such practices is practically unavailable to consumers
  • The mobile app has limited utility anyway, reducing the tradeoff's value