These days, most smartphone users have one big concern, and that’s keeping their data safe in today’s digital age.
Our iPhones often house a lot of valuable information about us, as well as data that reveals a lot about us as users. While there are often a lot of safe apps out there in the app store, there are some that end up collecting more data than you’d expect. Using information from tech experts, we’re listing two apps you might want to consider deleting in order to prevent them from stealing your personal data. Read more about them below.
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1. Free Weather Apps
Most iPhone users tend to use their preinstalled weather app that's powered by Apple, but there are a few users out there who like using third-party weather apps. Although they might come with more features, it doesn't mean they're not collecting a lot of your data behind the scenes.
"Many third-party weather apps are essentially 'Trojan horses' for location data brokers," explains cybersecurity pro Ed Burnett. "While they provide accurate forecasts, they often track your precise GPS coordinates second-by-second in the background and sell this movement history to advertising firms or research groups. Why delete it? These apps often collect data that is far more granular than what is needed to tell you if it's raining in your zip code. By removing them and using your phone's built-in weather service, you prevent third parties from building a "pattern of life" map that shows."
2. Photo Editing Apps
It's no secret that many iPhone users enjoy taking and posting photos, which means that they also enjoy editing their photos. Many users enjoy having one go-to or several photo editing apps on their device, and while they seem straightforward, they're collecting more data than you'd think.
"Photo editing and filter apps monetize through collecting biometric data and image metadata," says tech expert Erik Grewe. "They often have vague consent terms that don't make it clear what types of data they collect and how it's used. Deleting these apps reduces the risk of personal images being stored, analyzed, or shared."
