What do apps actually know about me?
The permissions and data collection behind ordinary apps, and how to see and reduce what is being gathered.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 30 min
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Check the permissions each app has and revoke anything it does not obviously need — location, contacts, microphone and photos are the ones worth reviewing. Most apps request far more than their function requires.
Apps collect data through permissions you granted, through the identifiers on your device, and through embedded advertising code. All three are partly controllable, and most people have never looked at any of them.
What you'll need
- Your phone (optional)
- Twenty minutes (optional)
Step by step
- Review app permissions on your phone.Settings, Privacy or Apps. Go through location, contacts, microphone, camera and photos. Revoke anything an app does not obviously need for its function.
- Change location permissions from Always to While Using.Very few apps need background location. It is the single largest privacy and battery change available and it rarely affects functionality.
- Turn off cross-app tracking.iPhone: Settings, Privacy, Tracking. Android: Settings, Privacy, Ads. Both let you refuse the identifier used to link your activity across apps.
- Review what you granted at install and forgot.Permissions granted once persist indefinitely. Apps you use rarely may have had access to contacts or location for years.
- Check the app's data disclosure.Both app stores now require a summary of what data is collected and whether it is linked to you. It is often revealing.
- Request your data from services you use heavily.Most major services have a download-your-data function. Seeing the actual volume is usually more persuasive than any general warning.
- Delete apps you no longer use.The most complete privacy measure available. An uninstalled app collects nothing, and most phones have many that are never opened.
- Be selective about what you sign in with.Using a social account to sign in elsewhere links the two. A separate email address for sign-ups keeps them independent.
Tips
- Free apps are monetised somehow, and if it is not through purchases it is usually through data. That is not sinister but it is worth being aware of.
- Games and torch apps requesting contacts or location are a well-known pattern. The request rarely relates to the function.
- Reviewing permissions once a year takes twenty minutes and usually finds several apps with access they no longer need.
Common mistakes
- Granting permissions automatically at install — They persist indefinitely, and apps routinely request far more than their function needs. Each one is worth a moment's thought.
- Allowing background location — It is the largest single source of both privacy exposure and battery drain, and very few apps genuinely need it.
- Keeping apps you never use — They may still collect data in the background. Deleting unused apps is the simplest privacy improvement available.
Questions people ask
How do I see what permissions my apps have?
On iPhone, Settings then Privacy and Security, which lists each permission and the apps with it. On Android, Settings then Privacy then Permission manager. Both let you revoke access.
Do free apps sell my data?
Many are monetised through advertising, which involves sharing data with advertising networks. Both app stores now require a disclosure of what is collected, which is worth reading.