How to limit the tracking of iPhone applications



[ad_1]

Applications tracking your activity – even while you sleep – is a widespread practice, including on the Apple iPhone.

What can you do to limit a part of it?

1) Perform a census of the application.

In iOS 12, go to Settings, then Privacy, and turn off location services for apps that do not really need them – especially those that have requested "always" access. (This key is essential because applications will periodically wake up if you want, give them "always" access to the location. ")

Follow the same process for other sensitive information, such as contacts and health data, and to access your microphone and camera.

Even better: just delete applications that you do not use regularly.

2) Enable "tracking the ad limit".

Go to Settings, then Privacy – and look at the bottom right under the heading "Advertising". Enabling tracking the limited number of ads will not stop all these unwanted behaviors, but it will speed up.

This application saves and limits many trackers, much like a tracker blocker that you add to a web browser, except for your entire phone. This may interfere with the operation of some applications, but Privacy Pro decision-makers try to find a balance between confidentiality and functionality. (You do not have to pay for the subscription version unless you also want a virtual private network, or VPN, to help you keep your data secret from your ISP.)

What about Android users? Samsung phone owners can download a version of Disconnect software called Pro Privacy and Performance for $ 25 from the Galaxy Apps store. The Android app is not available in the Play Store, due to restrictions imposed by Google.

4) Disable "background refresh" on applications.

Go to Settings, then General and then Refresh App in the background. Disabling application access will prevent them from sending data while you sleep at night, but this will not necessarily prevent them from sharing your data with third parties when you use their applications. (Manually, forced-close applications will not help stop tracking applications for which you have allowed background refresh.)

5) Use Apple's leading apps.

Apple applies its own services, such as Photos and Maps, to a higher privacy standard than other apps. In most cases, it encrypts your data and tries to minimize their collection.

Read more technical advice and analysis from Geoffrey A. Fowler:

Help Desk: Stop online "sextorsion", optimize the life of your laptop's battery and protect secret Word documents.

All iPhones are not identical. These are cheaper and better for the Earth.

Touch my data! 15 default privacy settings that you must edit now.

[ad_2]

Source link