You’re being tracked secretly by 3 settings on your phone
When mobile apps first hit the scene, many were designed to make our phones more useful. This included new tools for productivity, as well as apps for entertainment. Many of today’s apps, though, are packed with sneaky permission requests and hidden trackers.
These tactics are legal because app developers (and the companies behind them) have to give you a choice to opt in or out of these tracking permissions. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to do that … or the developers make it really challenging to figure it out.
Keep reading, and I’ll walk you through how to turn off these invasive tracking options.
⚠️ A heads-up before we get into the settings
Many smartphones use your location data to send info to first responders in an emergency. When you’re changing your settings, you may see an option to allow emergency services to bypass certain restrictions.
Also, some apps might not function correctly after you disable tracking features (think ride-hailing and fitness-tracking apps). For apps you use a ton and trust with your data, keep your location access enabled.
Then, there’s personalization — and it’s not just about seeing fewer targeted ads. Turning off certain settings could impact other app features, like nearby places, weather alerts and commute times.
🍎 Apple fam, let’s do this
When you stop something like location tracking at the iOS level, all the apps you’ve installed have to abide by those rules. That means you don’t need to change the setting for every single app, in some cases. Score.
1. Ad tracking
Developers know what you’re doing in their apps, sure, but some want to follow you around the web, seeing where you go, when you have your phone with you and even other apps you’ve installed. Why? To build a detailed profile of who you are, which allows for even more targeted advertising. Worse, many take your data, package it up and sell it off to other companies. No, thanks.
You’ll need to change your ad tracking on an app-by-app basis, but Apple makes it easy. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking to block apps and stop them from asking for permissions in the first place.
2. Significant locations
Your iPhone keeps tabs on the places you visit most. They say it’s to help you navigate to your favorite spots quicker. It’s also why you see recommendations for where to go when you open Maps at certain times of day. It’s all based on your patterns.
To opt out and delete your existing data, visit Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations.
3. Location tracking
These really are the keys to the castle, and you’re in control. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. From here, you can disable location tracking across your iPhone or give select apps permission to log where you are at specific times.
Use common sense here. Some apps, like those for navigation, need full location access to show you where to go. Your latest game obsession, though, probably doesn’t need to know your location.
🤖 Android folks, I didn’t forget you
1. Location tracking
Open Settings > Location to select which apps are allowed to know your current location. Set this permission for specific apps or completely disable location tracking on your phone.
2. The all-seeing Google
By default, Google logs what you’re up to when you’re signed into Android on your phone, Chrome on your desktop, and everywhere else you’re using Google software or products.
On your phone, go to Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy controls > Activity controls. Here, you can stop your data from being logged altogether or set it to auto-delete after a certain time. I like the three-month option.
3. App tracking
Google really wants to know the apps you’ve installed and how you’re using them so it can recommend new ones to you. Again, no, thanks.
In the Play Store app, tap your Google profile picture (top right), then choose Personalization in Play > Play personalization and history to delete your data and stop future tracking.
😂 Speaking of tracking … I overheard a guy complaining angrily about the NSA tracking him. Some people are so annoying when they have a chip on their shoulder.
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Tags: ad tracking, Android, Apple iPhone, apps, Google, location data, significant locations, tracking
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