If you let your iPhone go unchecked, there are so many apps that will go to town finding ways to collect your data and track your location and movements across your browser. These actions are not even necessarily nefarious (though sometimes they are); they help the app profit by learning more about its users so that it can become more of what it thinks its users want. In many cases, apps are also using third-party advertisers to target ads to you that it suspects you will be interested in, based on your online behavior, such as your Google searches.
You can take matters into your hands by curbing your phone’s ability to invade your privacy. Start by turning these three settings off.
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1. Ad Tracking
Whenever you download a new app, there’s a chance a pop-up will arrive your way that asks, “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” Your first step is denying it that permission so that the app can’t track your browser behavior. Next, go into the Ad Tracking Setting and disable it completely so that apps can’t even ask you for that permission. This way, you never accidentally click “yes” when you meant “no.”
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > tap Tracking > toggle off the option that reads “Allow Apps to Request to Track.”
2. Microphone and Camera Access
It’s important to check which apps have access to your microphone and camera and turn off those permissions immediately to give you back your privacy. To do so, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone (and then search Camera separately). You’ll see a list of apps and those that are toggled are actually able to listen in on your conversations. Toggle them off.
Don’t forget to cut off Siri’s ability to listen in on you, as well. Go to Settings > Siri & Search > turn off “Hey Siri.”
3. Significant Locations
Some apps require your location to function and do their jobs; others simply do not, but will request it anyway and could be following your locations without your knowledge. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > you’ll see a list of apps that have requested location access. For each one, decide if you want the apps to have access to your location “never,” “ask next time or when I share,” “while using the app,” or “always.”
