6 Ways Your Phone Is Tracking You

Have you ever mentioned a product or service in casual conversation with your phone nearby, only to see ads for it on your social media feed shortly after? It feels like your phone is listening, and if that concerns you, there's more to worry about: your devices are also tracking you! From the phone itself to the apps you use, there are various ways your device can track your location.

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

Why Is It Dangerous?

This data is highly valuable to internet marketers who use it to target you with local and interest-based ads. This digital "stalking" is legal as long as you're given the option to opt in or out. However, 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:

1. Privacy Invasion: Phone tracking enables apps, websites, and third parties to gather extensive information about your location, habits, and behaviors without your full awareness. This constant monitoring can lead to a significant invasion of privacy, making you vulnerable to targeted advertising, data harvesting, or even malicious tracking for harmful purposes.
2. 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 gather personal details and patterns. This data can facilitate identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to sensitive accounts, causing financial and emotional harm.
3. Physical Security Risks: Sharing your real-time location data can expose you to physical security threats. For example, stalkers or criminals could exploit this information to track your whereabouts, compromising your safety. Publicizing your movements can also make it easier for bad actors to 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 there. Using "Frequent Locations," your phone makes assumptions about where you work and live based on your visits. While helpful for finding directions or nearby restaurants, constant tracking can reveal your movement patterns, leaving you vulnerable to privacy invasion.

To disable this feature:

• 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, 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 request access to your contacts, photos, microphone, and camera, 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.

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 the networks and devices you've interacted with.

To disable scanning:

• 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 scanning. 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.

To protect your browsing activity:

• 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, 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. You can also go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising to disable 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 for advertising and content recommendations.

To manage data collection:

• 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. Adjust Ad Settings to limit ad tracking.

By adjusting these settings, you can significantly reduce the amount of 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-sensitive information. The same tracking methods that follow your every move can expose your business to risks. Hackers, cybercriminals, and even competitors can exploit these vulnerabilities to gather valuable data about your business activities, customer interactions, and confidential communications.

By taking steps to limit how your phone tracks you and adjusting your 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 isn't just a technical issue; it's a strategic one, and staying ahead of threats starts with 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 CEO 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 201-719-7000 to get started.