Keep an Eye on Your iPhone's Privacy Settings
Modern smartphones, like the iPhone, are equipped with robust privacy safeguards. However, it's essential to periodically check your device's settings to ensure unnecessary apps don't have access to your personal data. With proper care, you can see whether Instagram truly needs access to your contact list and if TikTok requires your location information.
It takes only minutes to scrutinize the privacy permissions granted to each app, but your online identity will appreciate it. Many individuals inadvertently provide apps with excessive access, and the fault isn't entirely theirs. When installing a new app, it often demands permissions for location, notifications, contacts, and other features, and if lifelessly granted, leaks can accumulate.
Facebook-owned apps, like Instagram, are infamous for requesting more permissions than required. For instance, you don't need to grant Instagram camera, microphone, and photo library permissions to utilize the app. Uber, on the other hand, successfully functions without location access, as long as you're prepared to manually enter your location whenever you need a ride.
While denying apps unnecessary permissions isn't a miraculous privacy guarantee, it is still beneficial. Advertisers and service providers possess various means to retrieve your data, and you can only marginally influence their reach by revoking these permissions. Nonetheless, it's still prudent to perform – your iPhone accumulates a wealth of private data that no one should peruse without your explicit approval.
So, here's how to promptly review your iPhone's privacy settings.
Credit: Pranay Parab
Block apps from tracking you
Your iPhone allows you to prevent apps from tracking you. With this feature, you can deny apps permission to utilize your device ID, an exclusive advertising identifier, or your email address to track you within and outside the app.
Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and disable Allow Apps to Request to Track. Although developers who rely on tracking will likely find alternate ways, disabling this permission makes their task more challenging.
The most convenient method to withdraw privacy permissions on iPhone
Credit: Pranay Parab
Credit: Pranay Parab
Going through several pages of privacy permissions can be time-consuming. Apple alleviates this by incorporating a feature called Safety Check. To use it, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check > Manage Sharing & Access. Follow the on-screen instructions to conduct a privacy audit. Initially, the process mainly focuses on your shared calendars and notes. You can skip this step for the moment. The subsequent step enables you to quickly review app permissions – just select all the apps that don't need access, and tap Stop App Access. Alternatively, tap the Information tab within this step and choose a permission (such as Location, Contacts, etc.), and then halt apps from accessing that data. Once done, tap the Quick Exit button in the top-right corner to exit Safety Check.
Inspect all essential privacy permissions on your iPhone
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Check the apps that access private information by going to Settings > Privacy & Security. Select each option on this page and examine if a given app truly requires access.
Tap Location Services and select any app that appears. This displays information about what the app can access. Under Allow Location Access, adjust the permission for most apps to While Using the App or Never, depending on what the app does with your location data. Decline Instagram access to your location, and it won't be able to provide location tags for your stories, but if this feature isn't essential, it's more judicious to withhold location access. Declining location access to Google Maps, though, renders the app mostly useless.
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Another step to decrease the data shared with apps is to disable Precise Location within the Location Services section. Instead of telling apps your precise location, your phone will indicate your location to be in New York instead of within your apartment.
While reviewing your Contacts, Microphone, Health, and Camera, deny access to apps that don't require it. Repeat this process for every option on this page to ensure you aren't granting apps more access than necessary.
In future, some solutions may emerge to limit other types of data Apple gathers. Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security and scroll to the bottom. Tap on Analytics & Improvements, then disable Share iPhone & Watch Analytics to halt Apple's collection of diagnostics and usage data. This page hosts various settings designed to enhance Apple products and services, but you are not obliged to provide this information, so turn off all options if preferable.
Head back to the privacy settings page and tap on Apple Advertising. Turn off Personalized Ads here to prevent Apple from utilizing your data for tailored advertising. Additionally, you can prevent Apple from listening to your Siri commands.
Credit: Pranay Parab
Additional Insights:
- Privacy Guarded: Sensitive data, including photos and location, is typically stored in separate silos within your iPhone, making access difficult for third-party apps.
- Location Service Toggles: You can turn on and off Location Services based on your preferences. However, some apps might not work properly without location services enabled.
- Metadata Management: Location is also associated with metadata in photos, which means images shared with friends could reveal your location. It's generally best to disable Location Services for any photography app that isn't specifically designed for that purpose.
- App Recognition: When using a camera app, the app "switches heads" to a camera app. If you want to prevent the app from accessing your photos and camera, disable access.
- Notifications: Apps can request permission to send notifications. Make sure to approve only the apps that you trust.
- Contact Access: If you allow an app to access your contacts, it might be able to send you an email or SMS invite. You can decide to give access when these invites are sent.
- Health Data: If apps have access to your health data or fitness activities, they could potentially provide advertisers more information about your lifestyle.
[^1]: As cellular technology improves, more advanced methods of tracking become available. Users must stay vigilant to protect their privacy. [^2]: It's also possible for apps to track your movements through Wi-Fi signals. However, iOS has built-in protections to prevent this. [^3]: Apple's Privacy and Security section in settings is divided into categories such as Personal Safety, Microphone, Camera, Contacts, Photos, Location, and more. [^4]: These settings can also be accessed through the device's Lock screen using the “Emergency SOS” function. Tapping on the emergency call button after quickly pressing the side button five times will bring up an option to enable “Emergency SOS” and explore related privacy settings. [^5]: Regularly review these privacy settings and consider removing access from apps you no longer use or aren't actively tracking your data. This will reduce the amount of data being collected and give you more control over your digital footprint.
