Apple's iTunes, App Store, and iCloud Experiencing Issues [Update: Google DNS Problem, Now Fixed] - MacRumors
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Apple's iTunes, App Store, and iCloud Experiencing Issues [Update: Google DNS Problem, Now Fixed]

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iCloud, iTunes, and other Apple websites are currently experiencing issues, with many users indicating an inability to access Apple services. Some users are having having trouble loading Apple's System Status page, which is not displaying any information on the outage. iTunes is displaying connectivity error messages, as is the App Store on iOS devices, with users unable to load either service.

ituneserror
The services appear to have been down for approximately 20 minutes at the time of posting and it is unclear how long the outage might last. At the current time, iMessage appears to be working fine.

Update 4:12 PM PT: As noted in our forums, it appears the outage is caused by a Google DNS issue. Apple services and web pages are accessible after turning off Google DNS.

Update 4:33 PM PT: The issue appears to have been resolved and all Apple services are now functioning as normal with Google DNS.

Top Rated Comments

LoonyPandora Avatar
165 months ago
Google DNS

Funnily enough, it's actually Google DNS that is the problem..

It appears that they dropped the entire apple.com zone file about 30 minutes ago. A search on twitter will verify a bunch of other people having the same problem: https://twitter.com/search?q=google%20apple%20dns&src=typd


Google DNS:
dig apple.com @8.8.8.8

; <<>> DiG 9.8.3-P1 <<>> apple.com @8.8.8.8
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: SERVFAIL, id: 65529
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;apple.com. IN A

;; Query time: 16 msec
;; SERVER: 8.8.8.8#53(8.8.8.8)
;; WHEN: Wed Mar 12 22:41:47 2014
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 27

OpenDNS:

dig apple.com @208.67.222.222

; <<>> DiG 9.8.1-P1 <<>> apple.com @208.67.222.222
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 8424
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 3, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;apple.com. IN A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
apple.com. 1313 IN A 17.172.224.47
apple.com. 1313 IN A 17.149.160.49
apple.com. 1313 IN A 17.178.96.59

;; Query time: 18 msec
;; SERVER: 208.67.222.222#53(208.67.222.222)
;; WHEN: Wed Mar 12 22:37:18 2014
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 75
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oletros Avatar
165 months ago
Show me a quote from it that backs up your understanding then. That or some technical understanding (like I've done) rather than childish chortling of BS.

Also prove there's a logical reason why you'd use their DNS. If anything I'd want to use a DNS because it blocked ads rather than opening the door for them furture. 'Google it' if you must use their search engine. There are significant technical reasons as to why you would NOT connect with Google's APIs/let them track you.

People often use ad blocking DNS'... businesses pay big money for it. Kids who think they are tweaking their connection/being techie use a Google one. I use my ISP's and block connections to tracking APIs because it's FASTER and uses less bandwidth.

Logic - why would Google offer a DNS for 'free' if there was no benefit? Why do they offer a free AndroidOS? Free search engine? Because data is their GOLD!! They make money off data mining.


I repeat, learn what a DNS system is, learn what DNS providers log, re read what Google privacy says because that link clearly states that they can't use that data for advertising.

But as it is clear that you don't want to lear, have a good day
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
165 months ago
I repeat, learn what a DNS system is, learn what DNS providers log, re read what Google privacy says because that link clearly states that they can't use that data for advertising.

But as it is clear that you don't want to lear, have a good day

Dude I'm trying to help you out in understanding things here. The DNS and 'privacy policy' are not rocket science. If you must know, I have my own DNS server at home. It filters my web feed so that domains that host ads/tracking devices (e.g. Google Analytics) loop back to 0.0.0.0. Ads do not appear on ANY of my devices at home. Web pages load faster than they would with the Google DNS.

1) All good to say that I have no idea... not sure why you assume that based on my posts (given I've tried to simplify the workings of a DNS for you). I repeat... a DNS is a guy in the middle who turns 'www.macrumors.com' into an IP address. Google DNS loads a LOT of sites quicker because they rely on multiple references to Google APIs, Google Analytics...etc. Hence... the page appears to load quicker (because Google ads + analytics are performed quicker on Google's local DNS server).

As I stated... if you don't want your ISP to change domain names into IPs then why tunnel everything through a renowned advertising/data mining company. As stated by Google, they will permanently store all of your location data gained through their DNS server. ALL their privacy statement says is that this won't be matched up with your IP. BUT they can and will match up your home address (provided by your ISP) with the sites you visit and store it forever.

2) Again I have no issues with you saying I don't know Google's privacy policy BUT... I quoted directly off it with points that proved my viewpoint on the matter. I will repeat... all they delete is IPs. The rest will be saved and could be used for anything. Their ONLY privacy claim is that they will not store your IP for more than 24 hours.

Using your knowledge of DNS servers can you tell me why IPs are not useful to Google after 24 hours but location data is?

Answer: location/ISP data = your hone address. The IP simply points Google to this data so once they have it they DO NOT NEED YOUR IP in order to join the dots. What's more if your ISP is like mine the IP will change ~once a day (or more). There's no real point keeping an IP because wait... wait... the whole purpose of a DNS server is so that if a site's IP changes, you'll still be able to see it!!!

A translation of Google's privacy policy is that they don't keep IPs... they just keep ISP data and location data. Whether or not they use this for evil is moot.

Why store my home address connected with the sites I visit indefinitely? Google suggest that this is mostly to prevent mischievous behaviour/hacking. They WILL however directly use the google analytics data (which you can't block if Google are your DNS) for tracking. I would suggest that the DNS data is also used for tracking/bubbling... what's clear is that they keep it forever. Even if you 100% trust the current privacy policy, what if it changed tomorrow? I'm glad they'd know your address and not mine...

PS - Whether Google Analytics gets your data directly or collaborates with Google DNS in data mining is moot.

Google resolves the names of their analytics servers, so stops you from killing them before your data reaches Google Analytics (unlike my home DNS rig which blocks both Google AND Apple trackers). Result? Even if Google does NOTHING with the data mines full of data that it collects from Google DNS... it doesn't matter because you're leaving the door open for Google Analytics to rob that exact same data.

Don't believe me that Google Analytics tracks/bubbles you? How about we both do a Google search....

You'll get one linked with all of your most common searches. You'll also get targeted ads.

I'll get no ads (although advertisers will still be charged) and my search will be based entirely on my query rather than any other search I've done. This is without being logged into a Google account by the way...

Where do you propose that they got your data from in order to do this?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oletros Avatar
165 months ago
Back up your condecending bollocks with facts mate.
:D:D:D:D:D:D

The link are the facts, not what you have understood of them
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
165 months ago
The one that has to read the link is you because this is what every ****ing DNS server does.

But don't let reality break your alternate world.

let them live in their fantasy world where steve jobs, tim cook and apple are gods and everyone else is satan :D
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oletros Avatar
165 months ago
He DID get his facts straight, read the link. It says:

The one that has to read the link is you because this is what every ****ing DNS server does.

But don't let reality break your alternate world.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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