All apps are not created equal — and some can negatively impact your personal data and privacy. If one of your tech goals is to keep your data protected and maintain your security online, it’s important to know which apps should be placed in the “consider deleting this one” category. Security experts say you should delete these three apps immediately — they’re putting your personal data at risk.
Candy Crush
With more than 500 million downloads, Candy Crush is one of the most popular apps around. But is it safe for your data? Absolutely not, says Krishna Rungta, the founder of Guru99.
“The game requires players to sign up for an account in order to play,” Rungta says. “Once you sign up for an account, you will be asked to provide your name, email address, and date of birth. This information is then stored on their servers which are not encrypted by HTTPS.”
Sure, it’s a fun way to pass time, but downloading Candy Crush can put your data at risk — and is probably not worth that hassle.
“Instagram is another popular app that has been downloaded more than one billion times,” Rungta says. “The app requires users to sign up for an account in order to use it. Once you’ve signed up for an account and connected it with your Facebook profile, you can post photos and videos as well as view other users’ photos and videos. Your privacy settings on Instagram are not very secure since they do not use HTTPS on their website or app.”
The popular messaging app has been downloaded more than one billion times since its release in 2009, Rungta says. But Rungta also points out that its founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton left Facebook after disagreements over advertising revenue sharing policies within WhatsApp’s business model.
Many Social Media Apps
In addition to WhatsApp and Instagram, the sad truth is that three of the most dangerous apps for your own personal information are also three of the most popular applications around, according to Privacy Expert Bill Mann at Restore Privacy.
“Sadly, apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok have serious red flags in regards to privacy and the safety of your most cherished information,” Mann says. “Facebook has taken a few strides to keep personal data safe but there are still a lot of gaps in their game plan that allow a lot of leeway for hackers and those hoping to scoop up the personal info of innocent people. But perhaps the biggest question mark is TikTok, which is still keeping nearly everything about how it’s run completely secret and hidden under lock and key. We just don’t know enough about how TikTok is run to make a formative and definitive statement about how safe it is. The most important thing you can do with any of these apps is to keep your personal information far, far away from them. Do not type your credit card information into these apps under any circumstances because you are only asking for trouble.”
