Have you ever noticed that after mentioning a product or service while your phone was nearby,
ads for it started appearing on your social media feed? Ever wonder or HOW that may be? Well,
it’s simple. Your phone is listening to you. If this concerns you, then be prepared. You’ll be even
more concerned, knowing that your devices are actually tracking your every move. Whether it's
the phone itself or the apps you use, there are several ways in which your device can monitor
your location.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent your phone from spying on you! This is the article for you,
where we will discuss the risks involved, the six main ways in which your phone tracks you, and
provide solutions to protect your privacy, and shut this whole nonsense down!
Why Is It Dangerous?
Data is highly sought after by online marketers, who use it to tailor local and interest-based ads
to suit your preferences or peak your interest. This form of digital tracking, or “stalking”, while
legal, as long as you have the option to opt-in or out, is not only of interest to marketers.
Cybercriminals tend to have a keen interest in your data too. Therefore, it is advisable to
reconsider allowing your phone to track your movements for privacy and security reasons. And
here’s why:
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Privacy Invasion: Tracking on phones enables apps, websites, and third parties to gather
vast info about you, your location, activities, and actions without your complete awareness. This
continuous observation can result in a substantial breach of privacy, leaving users open to
tailored advertising, data collection, or potentially malicious surveillance for more harmful
intentions. -
Identity Theft And Fraud: If ever your phone's tracking data is accessed by unauthorized individuals, such as hackers or cybercriminals, this particular data may be used to collect personal information and behavior patterns. This information could potentially lead to crimes
such as identity theft, financial fraud, or illicit access to sensitive accounts, resulting in both
financial and emotional damage to the victim. -
Physical Security Risks: Sharing your real-time location data through phone tracking canpose physical security risks. For instance, individuals with malicious intent such as stalkers or criminals may use this information to track your movements, jeopardizing your safety. Making your whereabouts known publicly can help suspicious individuals in predicting your daily
routines and targeting you during moments of vulnerability.
How Your Phone Is Tracking You
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Location Services: Your smartphone's GPS and location services continuously monitor yourwhereabouts, creating a real-time record of your movements and duration of stays. Through the" Frequent Locations" feature, your phone concludes your workplace and residence based on the frequency and duration of your visits. While this can be convenient for navigation and recommendations, constant tracking may also expose your movement patterns, potentially compromising your privacy.
Both Apple and Android give you the option to turn these features off. The exact instructions will
vary, depending upon the specific model and operating system. However, here are some basicinstructions for you to try out:How to turn it off:
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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 to see the logged record of where you’ve been and toggle it off. You can also clear your history by clicking Clear History.
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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 at the bottom of the screen under Location History.
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App Permissions: It is common for numerous apps to ask for permission to access your contacts, photos, microphone, and camera. This enables them to monitor your behavior, even
when you are not actively using the app, and gather more data than required. It is important to
regularly review and adjust these permissions to safeguard your privacy.How to turn it off:
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iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. From there, check categories like Camera, Microphone and Contacts to review and adjust app permissions.
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Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Permissions. Here you can manage which apps have access to sensitive data like contacts, microphone and camera.
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Wi-Fi And Bluetooth Connections: Your mobile device continuously searches for Wi-Fi andBluetooth signals, potentially enabling external parties to monitor your whereabouts by tracking the networks and devices you have connected with.
How to turn it off:
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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.
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Android: Go to Settings > Location > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth scanning. Disable these options to prevent your phone from constantly searching for networks and devices.
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Browsing Activity: Many web browsers and applications track your browsing history and visited websites. This information is utilized to create personalized profiles based on your interests, which are then used to display targeted advertisements and potentially shared with
other companies.How to turn it off:
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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. Additionally, clear your browsing history and cookies regularly.
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Ad Tracking: When you use your phone, a unique advertising ID is generated for you. Companies use this ID to monitor your interactions across various apps and websites. This ID
tracks your activities, giving advertisers valuable info about your preferences in order to deliver
personalized ads.How to turn it off:
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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. *This does not mean you won’t still see ads; you just won’t see personalized ads.
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Android: Go to Settings > Privacy > Ads, then toggle on opt out of Ads Personalization.
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Social Media And Search Engines: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Google monitor your online activities, search behavior, and whereabouts in order to develop detailed profiles, based on your preferences and behaviors. This data is used then for
advertising purposes and to provide tailored content suggestions, which may at times seem
intrusive.How to turn it off:
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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.
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Google: Go to Google Account > Data & Privacy > Web & App Activity to control how Google tracks your search and activity history. You can also adjust Ad Settings to limit ad tracking.
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By adjusting these settings, you can significantly reduce the amount of personal info your phone
can track, giving you more control over your privacy.
Why This Matters For Business Owners:
As a business owner, it is essential to prioritize the protection of your personal privacy just as
much as safeguarding your company's sensitive information. The same tracking methods that
monitor your movements can also create vulnerabilities for your business, risking exposure to
hackers, cybercriminals, and competitors seeking valuable data on your business operations,
customer engagements, and confidential communications.
By taking proactive steps to control how your phone tracks you and adjusting your privacy
settings, you are not only securing yourself but also fortifying your business against potential
threats, such as data breaches, identity theft, and targeted cyber-attacks. In today's
interconnected world, cyber safety is not just a technical concern but a strategic one. Remaining
vigilant against evolving threats requires staying well-informed and taking proactive steps.
If you are anxious about your business’ overall security, do not wait for an incident to prompt
action. Contact us to schedule a FREE Security Risk Assessment with our team today. Click here or call us at 201.402.1900 to get started.