Using Content Filter Providers to track Data Usage of the Device - Xcode Extension

Question

Created May ’22

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Hi, We are an MDM Solution, who is trying to collect the Data Usage Datas from iOS Devices. We have our own Native app, there we can able to get the data usage with some limitations

While trying to fetch continuously, it shows usage for maximum upto 4GB. After 4 GB, it again resets the current count and starts from 0 .

Forum Link

Also These Above data fetched on one instance resets to zero on Restarting Device,

So we are planning for Content Filter Provider extensions to get a track of data usage. We have no clear Documentations to use this.

With Some third party domain references , Below are the Questions on it.

For Content Filtering to be working , We need to add a plugin web content Filter with apps distribution Certificate as its authentication. -> As we are an MDM solution ,Is it needed to give all the cx our Distribution Certificate with its private key?
Will the Content Filtering will satisfy our needs, as we can see that it works on tight container ? Is it possible to collect the data usages of the device without any limitations?
It will good ,if there was a proper apple document to use this extension. Is it any there?
Also will it be possible to use this without the distribution Certificate Authentication?

Apple Doc: Link

Any Suggestions are welcome. Thanks in Advance

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Answer 1

Systems Engineer OP

Apple

May ’22

I'm not going to address each one of your questions, but instead recommend that you avoid using Content Filter APIs as a means to track data usage on the device. The reasoning here is because the Content Filter APIs were not built to aggregate data usage so you run into the edge cases that you are describing.

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Answer 2

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

May ’22

To expand on Matt’s point, this is very similar to the issue he covered in TN3120 Expected use cases for Network Extension packet tunnel providers. NE content filters were not designed as a mechanism for monitoring data usage. You may be able to make some progress with this technique but it’s not supported by DTS.

The only advice I have to offer here is that you file a enhancement request requesting MDM-level support for this [1]. Please post your bug number, just for the record.

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[1] The fact that you’re doing this on managed devices helps alleviate some of the privacy concerns associated with adding a general-purpose API for this.

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