A lot of things, in fact. (And yes, maybe it’s time to change some privacy settings.)
Your phone is not only a useful tool, supplying you with information and fun. It’s also a little pocket supercomputer, watching your every step. And it can reveal more than you’d like to. Even when you don’t realize it at all.
Read our comprehensive guide to what to be aware of.
1. … where did you sleep last night
Your mobile phone knows a lot of things about you: where do you live, where do you work or where did you buy your morning coffee yesterday. Yes, it may sound cool. This internal location tracking has a lot of pluses: it connects your photos with certain places or it helps you to find your lost iPhone. However, there is a dark side, as well.
Location information is a valuable commodity for (almost) any company out there. They use it to personalize ads they are showing you, knowing exactly what (and when) to tell you to force you to buy.
Both Androids and iPhones have internal tracking devices that can see your location. Anytime. Unless you turn it off.
How to turn off the location tracking:
- On your Android phone, open the Settings app and tap Security & location and Location, then turn tracking off.
- On your iOS phone, open the Settings app, go to Privacy and Location services and disable the tracking.
2. Apps that are spying on you
Do you consider your apps to be private? It doesn’t work that way. Nowadays, most apps can trace your habits, look into your contact list, make phone calls without your knowledge, track your location, examine your files and more.
–> Read also: Worse than spammers? Some call blockers can steal your personal information
Why should you bother? A lot of owners and runners of internet services, mobile apps or even internet adverts make a living of selling your personal information to third parties: for example to banks or telemarketing companies.
Check what are your apps allowed to do:
- On your Android phone, open the Settings app and go to Apps & notifications. Choose an app and then click Permissions.
- On your iOS phone, open the Settings app and choose an app, then you’ll see all permissions it has.
The most important advice? Just keep your information private. Think of everything you share online. Always read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before downloading any app or subscribing to any online service.
3. What do you search online
Comments on friend’s Facebook posts, Skype calls, emails or everything you search online. Your mobile browser knows almost anything about you: your searches, the device you’re on or where are you right now. You’re being tracked both by your browser app and by the sites you visit.
Protect your privacy. This time for real
Best way to keep your mobile phone private? Think of everything you do when online. Always read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before downloading any app or subscribing to any online service. And consider if you really want to have the location tracking turned on.
One more tip to keep your privacy safe. Get the Should I Answer app. It not only blocks all incoming spam and marketing calls, but it’s also completely safe: your data and personal information never leave your phone.