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You may already know that there are plenty of apps out there that can run down your smartphone battery and, more worrying, invade your privacy. Since your phone holds so much data about you, the more you know about apps that can negatively affect your phone, the better. Tech Security Expert Imani Francies, a digital security expert with InsuranceProviders.com, spoke to SHEFinds.com about the five apps security experts say your should delete to protect your privacy.
#1 – Scanner Apps:
“These apps have become more popular during the pandemic because they allow you to scan PDF documents with your phone,” Francies says. “However, you are at risk of third parties potentially taking sensitive data from your phone or the PDFs you scan when using these apps.”
According to Francies, a better alternative would be to use your camera on your phone. “Most smartphones, like Apple, are already equipped with PDF scanners in their systems,” Francies says.
#2 – Facebook Messenger App:
The Facebook Messenger app collects a wide range of information like your purchase history, financial information, location details, contacts, phone details, email ID, and usage data.. “This app allows you to direct message people on Facebook from your phone,” Francies says. “It is actually the only way to message people on Facebook unless you are using a desktop or laptop, but the app collects usage data and location details.”
#3 – QR Code Scanners:
“Many restaurants and other businesses started using QR codes for menus and other paper material to avoid the spread of COVID,” Francies says. “These QR codes can be used by attackers to easily embed a malicious URL containing custom malware to extract data from a mobile device when scanned.”
#4 - Flashlight apps:
There are various apps like these to download, and no one actually takes the time to research who created them, Francies says — not to mention there is already a flashlight installed on your phone that you can use. “They can be used to track your location or as a Trojan horse for malware,” Francies says.
#5 - Game apps:
Who isn’t looking for a distraction these days? But be aware that not all games are kind to your privacy. “There are always ads online for a new game to download and play on your phone, but to use them, some require you to disable privacy settings,” Francies says. “This gives the app access to your location and any other private data without knowing who monitors the information that passes through the app.”
