Can You Stay Private With Apps Tracking You?

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Have you ever wondered how you receive so many sales calls directed specifically at you? Or why do you see ads for events in your area? The truth is that many apps are constantly tracking you, gathering your data and personal information. Companies often use this information to direct their advertising or sell it to other businesses that use it for various purposes. The worst part is that this is completely legal for companies to do. So, how can you keep from being tracked while online?

In this article, we’ll cover why and how you’re being tracked. We’ll also share a few tips on how to stay private online, such as using location-specific proxies like a Canada proxy, from reliable providers like Smartproxy, to hide your real location, among other protective measures. Keep reading to discover the risks of being tracked and how to avoid them.

Why Are You Being Tracked?

Most businesses track you so that the information can be used to improve marketing and sales offers. By tracking your location and where you go, which stores you visit, and more, the businesses get insights into who you are and your preferences. This information can then be used to create marketing and advertising campaigns directed at you. The digital age has brought a lot more competition to businesses. This means that companies have to go the extra mile to ensure sales. What’s better than creating personalized ads that make the user feel connected to the company from the start?

While this may not be malicious but more annoying, this is not the only way your data can be used. If companies have easy access to your personal data, what keeps those with malicious intentions from abusing the information?

The health and safety risks that this poses should also be considered. Imagine if you’re fleeing from an abusive relationship. What will keep the abuser from tracking you? If it’s so easy for businesses to track your physical location, abusers and stalkers can also do it with a bit of know-how.

Cases Where Data Tracking Was Made Public

A few years ago, the New York Times conducted an investigation known as the Times Privacy Project. During this investigation, the team took a dataset that contained information from 12 million Americans’ phones. From this data, they could identify 50 billion location pings. From this information, the users’ lives became open books. The researchers were able to see which shops the users visited, which doctors, dentists, and other health specialists. They were able to identify the church or other religious monuments that the users visited. They are even able to track where users spent the night.

One of the biggest cases that have been made public is how Facebook tracks data. Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms being used. They also have access to a lot of personal information of the users. The most surprising is how the app even tracks users while not in use. Using Facebook as a sign-up method for other apps indirectly gives the social platform access to your location and GPS data through other apps linked to Facebook. Although you can now monitor what Facebook tracks, what information they have on you, and how it’s used, there is no way to delete this information completely.

How Are You Being Tracked?

The easiest and most common way that apps track you is because you permitted them to do so. You might not even be aware that you’ve given them permission. Every time you install an app and they ask you to grant certain permissions, such as to your GPS, contact list, photos, etc., you permit them to track you. If you think about it, this happens more and more often. Why would a simple gaming app need access to your GPS? Or why would your weather app require access to your contacts? Many of these permissions are not necessary for the app to work, yet we often still allow them as we rush through this step to get to using the app.

How to Stay Private?

Adjusting your location settings alone is not enough to keep businesses from tracking you. You will need to use an approach that combines a few different tactics to keep from being tracked.

Use a Proxy

A proxy will be your biggest defence to ensure your details stay private and you aren’t tracked. Since a proxy keeps your IP address and location hidden, it is an ideal tool to keep you safe online. You can also use location-specific proxies such as a Canada proxy for added security. Using a Canada proxy will make it appear that you are accessing the internet from within Canada, even if you’re really elsewhere. Not only can this help you overcome geo-restrictions, but it also makes it impossible to track you.

Revise App Permissions

Frequently review your app permissions and disable any permissions that aren’t needed. If you use an app that needs specific access, such as a navigation app that requires access to your GPS, you can limit the app only to have access while it is being used.

Disable GPS

Switch off your GPS when you’re not using it and only activate it in situations where it is necessary, such as when you’re using navigation apps. If your GPS keeps running in the background, it can be easy for apps with permission to access the GPS to track your movements.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your personal data private can be a real uphill battle. With different apps being able to track you, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself. By using a proxy and monitoring app permissions, you can start to protect yourself and keep your data and location private.

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