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6 Ways Your Phone Is Tracking You
Have you ever mentioned a product or service in casual conversation while your phone was nearby there are multiple ways your device can pinpoint your location.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fortunately and explain how you can stop it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Why Is It Dangerous?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n
This data is highly valuable to Internet marketers. It's used to target you with ads based on your location and interests. This form of digital \"stalking\" is legal as long as you have 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 a bad idea:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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Privacy Invasion: <\/strong>Phone tracking enables apps compromising your safety. Publicizing your movements can also help bad actors predict your routines or target you when you're most vulnerable.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
How Your Phone Is Tracking You<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n
Location Services:<\/strong> Your phone's GPS and location services track your whereabouts in real time making you vulnerable to privacy invasion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both Apple and Android offer options to disable this feature. Instructions may vary by model and operating system but here are the basics:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
How to turn it off:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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iPhone:<\/strong> Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Toggle off Location Services or manage individual app permissions. Scroll down to System Services tap Delete Location History at the bottom of the screen under Location History.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
App Permissions:<\/strong> Many apps request access to your contacts allowing them to track your activity even when you're not actively using the app. Regularly review and adjust these permissions to protect your privacy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
How to turn it off:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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iPhone:<\/strong> Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Check categories like Camera and camera.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connections:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
How to turn it off:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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iPhone:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\r\n\t
Android:<\/strong> Go to Settings > Location > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth scanning. Disable these options to prevent your phone from constantly searching for networks and devices.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Browsing Activity:<\/strong> Web browsers and apps monitor your search history and the websites you visit. This data builds profiles about your preferences resulting in targeted ads and potentially selling your behavior patterns to third parties.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
How to turn it off:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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iPhone & Android: <\/strong>Use your browser's private or incognito mode for safer browsing. In Google Chrome clear your browsing history and cookies regularly.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ad Tracking:<\/strong> Your phone assigns you a unique advertising ID that companies use to track your behavior across apps and websites providing advertisers with insight into your interests for personalized ads.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
How to turn it off:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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iPhone:<\/strong> 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. Note that this doesn't mean you won't see ads then toggle on opt out of Ads Personalization.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Social Media and Search Engines:<\/strong> Platforms like Facebook which can feel invasive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
How to turn it off:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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Social Media:<\/strong> Go to each platform's settings (e.g. Facebook > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts) to review what data is being collected and manage ad preferences.<\/li>\r\n\t
Google: <\/strong>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.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
By adjusting these settings giving you more control over your privacy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Why This Matters for Business Owners:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n
For business owners and confidential communications.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
By taking steps to limit how your phone tracks you and adjusting your privacy settings and staying ahead of threats starts with being informed and proactive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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