Have you ever mentioned a product or service in casual conversation with your phone nearby, only to start seeing ads for it on your social media feed? It feels like your phone is listening. If that makes you uneasy, there’s more to worry about: your devices are also tracking you! From the phone itself to the apps you use, there are numerous ways your device can monitor your location.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent your phone from spying on you. In today’s article, we’ll explore why this is dangerous, the top six ways your phone is tracking you, and how you can stop it.
Why Is It Dangerous?
Data collected from tracking is highly valuable to Internet marketers. It’s used to target you with local and interest-based ads. This digital “stalking” is legal as long as you’re given the option to opt in or out. However, marketers aren’t the only ones interested in your data—cybercriminals are too. Here’s why allowing your phone to track you is risky:
Privacy Invasion: Phone tracking enables apps, websites, and third parties to gather extensive information about your location, habits, and behaviors without your full consent. This constant surveillance can significantly invade your privacy, making you vulnerable to targeted advertising, data harvesting, or even malicious tracking for harmful purposes. Identity Theft and Fraud: If your phone’s tracking data falls into the wrong hands, such as hackers or cybercriminals, it can be used to gather personal details and patterns. The FTC received over 1 million identity theft reports in 2023 alone, many of which were fueled by data harvested from mobile devices. This data can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to sensitive accounts, causing financial and emotional harm. Physical Security Risks: Sharing your real-time location data can expose you to physical security threats. Stalkers or criminals could use this information to track your whereabouts, compromising your safety. Publicizing your movements can also make it easier for bad actors to predict your routines or target you when you’re most vulnerable.
How Your Phone Is Tracking You
**Location Services:**Your phone’s GPS and location services track your movements in real time, recording where you are and how long you stay there. While this can be helpful for navigation or finding nearby amenities, constant tracking can reveal your movement patterns, leaving you vulnerable to privacy invasion.
How to turn it off:
iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Toggle off Location Services or manage individual app permissions. Scroll down to System Services, select Significant Locations, and toggle it off. You can also clear your history by clicking Clear History. Android: Go to Settings > Location > App Permissions, and either disable location tracking for specific apps or turn off Use Location entirely. To delete your device’s location history, tap Delete Location History under Location History.
**App Permissions:**Many apps request access to your contacts, photos, microphone, and camera, allowing them to track your activity even when you’re not actively using the app. Regularly reviewing and adjusting these permissions can help protect your privacy.
How to turn it off:
iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Check categories like Camera, Microphone, and Contacts to review and adjust app permissions. Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Permissions. Manage which apps have access to sensitive data like contacts, microphone, and camera.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connections: Your phone constantly scans for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, enabling third parties to track your location based on the networks and devices you’ve interacted with.
How to turn it off:
iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and toggle off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. For full control, go to Settings > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth to disable scanning. Android: Go to Settings > Location > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth scanning. Disable these options to prevent your phone from constantly searching for networks and devices.
Browsing Activity: Web browsers and apps track your search history and the websites you visit. This data is used to build profiles about your preferences, leading to targeted ads and potentially selling your behavior patterns to third parties.
How to turn it off:
iPhone & Android: Use your browser’s private or incognito mode for safer browsing. In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and turn off Web & App Activity. Regularly clear your browsing history and cookies.
Ad Tracking: Your phone assigns you a unique advertising ID that companies use to track your behavior across apps and websites. This ID provides advertisers with insight into your interests to serve personalized ads.
How to turn it off:
iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track. You can also go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising to disable personalized ads. Android: Go to Settings > Privacy > Ads, then toggle on opt out of Ads Personalization.
Social Media and Search Engines: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google track your online interactions, searches, and location to create detailed profiles of your habits and interests. They use this data for advertising and content recommendations, which can feel invasive.
How to turn it off:
Social Media: Go to each platform’s settings (e.g., Facebook > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts) to review what data is being collected and manage ad preferences. Google: Go to Google Account > Data & Privacy > Web & App Activity to control how Google tracks your search and activity history. Adjust Ad Settings to limit ad tracking.
By adjusting these settings, you can significantly reduce the amount of personal information your phone tracks, giving you more control over your privacy. The NIST Privacy Framework provides additional guidance on managing privacy risks for both individuals and organizations.
Why This Matters for Business Owners:
For business owners, protecting personal privacy is as crucial as securing company information. The same tracking methods that monitor your every move can also expose your business to risks. Hackers, cybercriminals, and even competitors can exploit these vulnerabilities to gather valuable data about your business activities, customer interactions, and confidential communications.
By taking steps to limit phone tracking and adjusting privacy settings, you’re not just protecting yourself—you’re also safeguarding your business from potential data breaches, identity theft, and targeted cyber-attacks. In today’s world, cybersecurity isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a strategic one, and staying ahead of threats starts with being informed and proactive.
If you’re concerned about your business’s
overall security, don’t wait for a problem to occur. Schedule a **FREE
Discovery Call** with our team today, and let’s ensure your entire
network is protected from top to bottom. Our experts will identify
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my phone is tracking my location?
You can check your phone’s location settings by going to the settings menu and looking for location services. On iPhones, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, while Android users can find it under Settings > Location. Here, you can see which apps have access to your location and adjust their permissions.
What are the risks of having location services enabled on my smartphone?
Enabling location services can lead to privacy invasions, as apps and third parties may collect extensive data about your movements and habits without your full consent. This information can be exploited by marketers or, worse, cybercriminals, potentially leading to identity theft or physical security risks if your location data falls into the wrong hands.
Can apps still track me if I turn off location services?
Yes, some apps can still collect data even if location services are disabled, particularly if they have access to other permissions like contacts, camera, or microphone. It’s important to regularly review app permissions and limit access to sensitive information that you do not wish to share.
How can One82 help me protect my phone from tracking?
One82 offers cybersecurity solutions that can help safeguard your devices from unwanted tracking and data collection. By implementing privacy-focused strategies and educating users on best practices, they can assist you in maintaining better control over your personal information and digital footprint.
