Have you ever talked about a product or service while your phone was nearby, only to find ads for it popping up in your social media feed? If that gives you pause, consider this: your phone is not just listening; it’s actively tracking you. From your device itself to the apps you use, there are numerous ways your smartphone gathers information about your location and habits.
In this article, we’ll explore why this is a significant concern, the six main ways your phone tracks you, and how you can reclaim your privacy.
Why Is Tracking Dangerous?
Your personal data is a valuable commodity for marketers. While they use it to serve you targeted ads based on your interests, the implications of phone tracking extend far beyond advertising. Cybercriminals also seek access to this data. Here are three critical reasons to be cautious about phone tracking:
- Invasion of Privacy: Phone tracking enables apps, websites, and third parties to collect extensive information about your habits and locations, often without your full knowledge. This constant surveillance can lead to unwanted advertising and data harvesting, making you vulnerable to identity theft.
- Identity Theft and Fraud: If your tracking data falls into the hands of hackers, it can provide them with personal details necessary for identity theft and financial fraud, jeopardizing both your finances and your peace of mind.
- Physical Security Risks: By sharing your realtime location, you may inadvertently expose yourself to threats. Stalkers or criminals could exploit this information, putting your safety at risk.
How Your Phone Is Tracking You
Let’s delve into six common ways your phone tracks you and how to stop it:
- Location Services: Your phone’s GPS tracks your realtime location, recording where you go and how long you stay. This can create a digital footprint of your daily habits.
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 to see the logged record of where you’ve been 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 at the bottom of the screen under Location History.
- App Permissions: Many apps ask for access to your contacts, camera, and microphone, often collecting more data than necessary. Regularly reviewing these permissions is essential.
How to Turn It Off:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. From there, check categories like Camera, Microphone and Contacts to review and adjust app permissions.
- Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Permissions. Here you can 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, allowing 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 Disable these options to prevent your phone from constantly searching for networks and devices.
- Browsing Activity: Web browsers and apps monitor your search history and the websites you visit. This data is used to build profiles about your preferences, feeding you 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. Additionally, clear your browsing history and cookies regularly.
- Ad Tracking: Your phone assigns you a unique advertising ID that companies use to track your behavior across apps and websites. This ID follows your activity, providing 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. *This does not mean you won’t still see ads; you just won’t see 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. You can also adjust Ad Settings to limit ad tracking.
By adjusting these settings, you can significantly limit how much information your phone collects, regaining control over your privacy.
Why This Matters for Business Owners in New Jersey
As a business owner in New Jersey—whether you're in Trenton, Princeton, New Brunswick, or East Brunswick—protecting your personal privacy is as critical as securing your company’s sensitive information. The same tracking methods that monitor your movements can also expose your business to significant risks. Hackers and cybercriminals can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain insights into your business activities, customer interactions, and confidential communications.
By taking proactive steps to limit your phone’s tracking capabilities and adjusting your privacy settings, you not only protect yourself but also safeguard your business from data breaches, identity theft, and targeted cyberattacks. In today's digital landscape, cybersecurity is not just a technical issue; it’s a strategic necessity.
If you’re concerned about the overall security of your business in the New Jersey area, don’t wait for a problem to arise. Schedule a FREE Security Risk Assessment with our team today, and let’s ensure your entire network is protected. Our experts will identify vulnerabilities and recommend tailored solutions to keep your business safe. Click here or call us at 732-972-6665 to get started.
