6 Ways Your Phone Is Tracking You

Have you ever chatted about a product or service with your phone nearby, only to later see ads for it on your social media feed? Your phone might be listening. If that worries you, consider this: your devices are also tracking you! From the phone itself to the apps you use, there are numerous ways your location can be monitored.

Fortunately, there are methods to prevent your phone from spying on you. In this article, we'll discuss why this is dangerous, outline six ways your phone tracks you, and explain how to stop it.

Why Is It Dangerous?

Data collected from phone tracking is highly valuable to internet marketers, who use it to target you with local and interest-based ads. Although this digital "stalking" is legal if you have the option to opt in or out, marketers aren't the only ones interested in your data. Cybercriminals are too. Here are some reasons why allowing your phone to track you is risky:

• Privacy Invasion: Phone tracking enables apps, websites, and third parties to gather detailed information about your location, habits, and behaviors without your full awareness. This constant monitoring can significantly invade your privacy, leaving 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 collect personal details and patterns. This data might enable identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to sensitive accounts, causing both financial and emotional harm.
• Physical Security Risks: Sharing your real-time location data exposes you to physical security threats. Stalkers or criminals could exploit this information to track your whereabouts, compromising your safety. Publicizing your movements can also help bad actors 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 whereabouts in real-time, recording where you are and how long you stay. "Frequent Locations" can deduce where you work and live based on your visits and duration. While useful for navigation, constant tracking can reveal your movement patterns, risking privacy invasion.

To disable this feature:

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Toggle off Location Services or manage individual app permissions. Under System Services, select Significant Locations and toggle it off. 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, tracking your activity even when not in use and collecting excessive information. Regularly review and adjust permissions to protect your privacy.

To adjust permissions:

• 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, allowing third parties to track your location based on networks and devices you've interacted with.

To disable this:

• iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner 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 stop your phone from constantly searching for networks and devices.

Browsing Activity: Web browsers and apps monitor your search history and visited websites, using this data to build profiles and deliver targeted ads. They may also sell your behavior patterns to third parties.

To enhance privacy:

• iPhone & Android: Use 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 a unique advertising ID to track your behavior across apps and websites, providing advertisers with insights into your interests for personalized ads.

To limit ad tracking:

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track. Disable personalized ads in Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising.
• 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 for advertising and content recommendations.

To manage tracking:

• Social Media: Visit each platform's settings (e.g., Facebook > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts) to review data collection and manage ad preferences.
• Google: Go to Google Account > Data & Privacy > Web & App Activity to control tracking and adjust Ad Settings to limit ad tracking.

By adjusting these settings, you can significantly reduce the personal information your phone tracks, giving you more control over your privacy.

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 activities can also expose your business to risks. Hackers, cybercriminals, and competitors might exploit these vulnerabilities to gather valuable data about your business activities, customer interactions, and confidential communications.

By limiting how your phone tracks you 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 is a strategic issue, and staying ahead of threats requires 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 Call With Our Experts with our team today, and let's ensure your entire network is protected from top to bottom. Our experts will identify vulnerabilities and recommend tailored solutions to keep your business safe. Click here or call us at 332-217-0601 to get started.