Smartphone: Your smartphone is listening to your conversations! To protect your privacy, do this immediately..
In today's digital age, a smartphone is in everyone's pocket. It's always with us, like a shadow. But did you know that the phone in your pocket is a spy that's keeping an eye on your every move and location? If you have an iPhone and are under the illusion that it can't be used to spy on you, then be warned. Whether it's Android or iOS, every smartphone can be used to pry into your life. You might have noticed that you talked about something, and a few minutes later, an advertisement for it appeared on your social media. This isn't a magical coincidence, but rather the deep data surveillance through which tech companies are creating a profile of your private life.
If you are serious about your digital identity and privacy, then take immediate action and change some of your phone's settings. It's not that you don't have any way to prevent others from knowing your data or your likes and dislikes. Your smartphone itself has features that can help you remain "invisible" in the digital world. However, most users don't use these safety features.
Stop Location and Movement Tracking
Whether it's your iPhone or Android, it keeps a record of your every location – from the gym and office to your secret spots. iOS users should go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations. Delete the history from here and turn it off. Your location tracking will stop.
Your phone's name (e.g., "Vimal iPhone") is visible to every public scanner within a 50-foot radius. Change it to something generic like "System-Error-404" or "Pixel-Null" so that a stranger doesn't get your real identity.
Control Sensors and Microphone
Often, apps use your microphone 24/7. The sudden appearance of ads could be the result of ‘ultrasonic cross-device pinging,’ where your phone emits sounds that humans can't hear, but your smart TV and laptop can. iOS users should go to their Privacy Dashboard. If a game or calculator app requires microphone access, block it immediately. For other apps, select the “While Using the App” option.
Prevent spying through photos
When you post photos on social media, the exact address of your home (location data) is also transmitted with the photo. Before sharing photos, go to settings and disable ‘Location Metadata.’
Reset Tracking and Advertising IDs
Your ‘Advertising ID’ is a digital fingerprint that links your behavior across different apps. Go to Privacy settings and click on ‘Reset Advertising Identifier.’ Do this at least once a month.
App Tracking
Apple gives you the option to “Ask Apps Not to Track.” Make sure this option is always ‘Off’ in Settings → Privacy → Tracking.
Internet Browsing and Background Data
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) sees which websites you visit, and this data is often sold. Safari and Chrome are products of companies that collect data. Instead, use Brave or DuckDuckGo browsers, which block trackers by default.
Background Refresh
Even when you're sleeping, apps continue to send information about your battery level and location. Turn off Background App Refresh completely in Settings → General. This will save your privacy as well as your battery.
Keyboard and Mail Spying
Your phone learns your conversational language and even your passwords to speed up typing, but this ‘learning file’ can be a treasure trove for a hacker. Periodically reset your Keyboard Dictionary by going to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset. Marketers embed "tracking pixels" in emails to track when and where you open them. Enable "Protect Mail Activity" in your mail settings; this hides your IP address.
Network and SIM Card Safety
Hackers often create fake Wi-Fi networks like "Starbucks-Guest" to steal your data. Disable "Auto-Join Hotspot" in your Wi-Fi settings to prevent your phone from automatically connecting to unsecured networks. If your phone is stolen, the thief can insert your SIM card into another phone and obtain OTPs (One-Time Passwords). Set a 4-digit code by going to Settings → Cellular → SIM PIN. This will require the code to activate the SIM card in another phone.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
