Our phones store a lot of sensitive information, including text messages with loved ones, bank account details, passwords, family photos, and more.
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Whether it's an app developer on the other side of the world or the person sitting behind you at the coffee shop, you don't want anyone snooping around, so take five minutes to perform this privacy audit and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Check your permissions
When you download an app, it often requests a variety of permissions to access different parts of your phone, such as your location, camera, microphone, contacts, text messages, etc. Some of these are essential for the app to function properly (for example, a navigation app that needs access to your location), while others are completely unnecessary.
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The most important permissions to pay attention to are your phone's location, camera, and microphone – only trust apps that have a clear and legitimate need for these permissions.
Use common sense too. Ask yourself: Does a shopping app really need to access my contacts? Does a photo editing app need to know my location? In my case, the answer is no. Giving unnecessary permissions increases your privacy exposure, so it's better to err on the side of caution.
Make sure you monitor what you allow the different apps on your phone to access. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
To see what permissions each app has:
- Apple iPhone: Go to setting > Privacy and Securityafter that Location services, camera or microphone.
- Google Pixel: open setting > Security and Privacy > Privacy Controls > Permission Manager.
- Samsung Galaxy: Head to setting > Security and Privacy > Permission Manager.
Perhaps you forgot that you granted permissions to an app on your computer. Here's how to check it out:
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Lock everything down
Your lock screen is your first line of defense against unwanted eyes. It can be a PIN, a pattern, a fingerprint, facial recognition, or anything else. Whatever method you choose, it's far better than leaving your phone unprotected.
If you use a PIN, avoid obvious numbers such as 1234 or the last digits of your date of birth, address, or phone number.
- Apple iPhone: To set up Face ID and passcode.
- Google Pixel: Head to setting > Security and Privacy > Device Lock.
- Samsung Galaxy: under settingsearch Lock screen and AOD.
Set your phone to automatically lock as soon as possible — it's a simple and surefire way to keep your sensitive information safe from prying eyes. (iStock)
You should also lock your phone as soon as possible when you're not using it — I think the sweet spot between safety and annoyance is about 30 seconds.
- Apple iPhone: under settingchoose Display and brightness > Automatic Lock.
- Google Pixel: Head to setting > Display and Touch > Screen Timeout.
- Samsung Galaxy: Tap on Settings Display > Screen Timeout.
Keeping strangers out
The built-in short-distance transfer technology in iOS and Android is very useful when you need to share something with friends or relatives. However, you don't want to be bombarded with unwanted photos, videos, and other files from people you don't know.
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This happened to me once at an airport. In my case, some teenagers were just teasing me with funny pictures, but it could end much worse.
- Apple iPhone: Your device uses AirDrop for these types of transfers – try limiting it to contacts only or turning it off completely. setting > General > Airdrop.
- Android devices: The transfer tool here is called Quick Share (formerly known as Nearby Share). On the Pixel, the sharing settings are setting > Connected Devices > Connection Settings > Quick ShareIn the galaxy, setting > Connected Devices > Quick Share.
Browse the web
As soon as you open your phone's browser, tracking begins unless you do something about it.
Web browsing apps are packed with instant tracking mechanisms, and fortunately, you can disable them. (Chesnot/Getty Images)
- To restrict this on iPhone, setting > Apps Tap to SafariIn the app settings, Privacy and Security Switch On option Prevent cross-site tracking.
- For Android Chrome, open your browser and click Three points (Top right). From there setting > Privacy and Security > Third Party Cookies Turn it on Block third-party cookies.
Not so bad, right? So, do your loved ones a favor and share this information with others so they too can stay safe. Yes, that includes teenagers!
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