Did you know that at least some of the apps on your phone are probably tracking your location even if the app doesn’t need location data in order to perform the task it was intended for.
Of course a Maps app has a legitimate need to track your location, for obvious reasons.
So does an app that keeps you up-to-date on where to buy the cheapest gasoline in the area you happen to be driving through.
Ditto for a weather app.
But truth be told, there’s no reason why the vast majority of apps available today should ever need to collect any location data on you via your device.
If they are collecting it, what are they doing with it? Just a little food for thought…
I strongly recommend revoking the tracking ability of any app that doesn’t truly need to keep tabs on your current location.
Luckily, it’s very easy to do that with just a few quick taps. Just follow the steps below for the type of phone you’re using.
Note: The actual steps required to revoke an app’s access to location data might vary a bit depending on the device and the app. Therefore, just use the procedures detailed below as general guides.
If you’re using an iPhone:
1 – Tap your phone’s gear-shaped Settings icon.
2 – Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
3 – Tap Tracking. You should now see a list of the apps that requested permission to track you.
4 – Disable permission for every app on the list that you don’t want tracking you.
Note: To stop all apps from asking permission to track you, turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track (at the top of the screen).
If you’re using an Android phone:
1 – Tap your phone’s “gear” shaped Settings icon.
2 – Depending on your phone’s Android version, tap either Apps or Apps & notifications.
3 – Tap See all [XX] apps.
4 – Scroll down to the apps list and tap the name of the first app you want to prevent from accessing your location.
5 – Tap Permissions.
6 – Tap Location.
Note: If “Location” is either grayed out or not included on the list, that means this particular app doesn’t track location data at all (and that’s a good thing)..
7 – Depending on your phone’s Android version, tap either Don’t allow or Deny.
8 – Repeat the steps above for every other app that doesn’t have a legitimate need to track your location.
That’s all there is to it. Every app that you denied location access for will no longer be able to track your location and potentially send it back to the app’s developer or to some third-party entity.
Bonus tip: Do you hate it when people try to snoop by looking at your phone’s screen while you’re using it? If so, you need one of these. (#ad)