5 simple tech tips to improve digital privacy

Protecting your privateness doesn’t necessitate precocious tools oregon method expertise. Some of the astir effectual protections are already built into your phone; you conscionable request to cognize wherever to look.

These 5 privateness tips amusement you precisely however to trim tracking and bounds information sharing connected some iPhone and Android utilizing the latest software.

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10 WAYS TO PROTECT SENIORS FROM EMAIL SCAMS

Smartphone users tin boost privateness by adjusting built-in settings that bounds tracking, determination sharing and inheritance information postulation connected iPhone and Android devices. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)

1) Reduce app permissions

Apps often petition entree to your camera, microphone, contacts, photos and location, adjacent erstwhile it’s not necessary. Limiting these permissions reduces inheritance information collection.

iPhone

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Select a support benignant specified as Microphone, Camera, Photos, or Contacts
• Toggle disconnected access for apps that don’t request it

Android

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

• Open Settings
• Tap Security and Privacy
• Scroll down and tap More privateness settings or Privacy controls  
• Tap Permission Manager
• Choose a permission category and acceptable apps to Don’t allow or Allow lone portion utilizing the app

2) Turn disconnected determination entree you don’t need

Location tracking tin uncover wherever you live, work, store and travel.

iPhone

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Tap Location Services
• Select an app and choose While Using the App or Never
• Turn off Precise Location erstwhile nonstop coordinates aren’t needed

Android

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

• Open Settings
• Tap Location
• Tap App determination permissions or App permissions 
• Scroll done the database and tap the app you privation to change
• Select Allow lone portion utilizing the app or Don't allow

3) Turn disconnected photograph sharing with apps

Some apps petition afloat entree to your photograph library, giving them visibility into each representation and video you’ve taken.

iPhone

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Tap Photos
• Select an app and choose Selected Photos or None

Android

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

• Open Settings
• Tap Security and Privacy
• Scroll down and tap More privateness settings or Privacy controls  
• Tap Permission Manager
• Tap Photos and videos 
• Scroll done the database and tap the app you privation to change
• Set apps to Don’t allow, or Allow constricted access

5 TECH TERMS THAT SHAPE YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY

Turning disconnected unnecessary app permissions and tracking features helps support delicate accusation stored connected your phone. (Photo by Sebastian Kahnert/picture confederation via Getty Images)

4) Turn disconnected app tracking

App tracking allows advertisers to travel your enactment crossed aggregate apps.

iPhone

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Tap Tracking
• Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track

Android

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

• Open Settings
• Tap Security & privacy
• Scroll down and tap More privateness settings
• Tap Ads
• Tap Delete advertizing ID to region the existing ID tied to your device
• Tap Reset advertizing ID to make a new, blank ID

This removes the identifier apps usage to way you for targeted ads and replaces it with a caller ID that isn't linked to your erstwhile activity.

5) Turn disconnected unnecessary inheritance app activity

Some apps proceed moving and collecting information adjacent erstwhile you’re not actively utilizing them.

iPhone

• Open Settings
• Tap General
• Tap Background App Refresh
• Turn it disconnected entirely or disable it for idiosyncratic apps

Android

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

• Open Settings
• Tap Apps
• Select an app
• Tap Battery
• Choose Restricted oregon crook off Allow inheritance usage 

Pro tip: Use a password manager

A password manager reduces the request to store logins wrong apps, which tin bounds unnecessary permissions and information collection.

Next, spot if your email has been exposed successful past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager prime includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email code oregon passwords person appeared successful known leaks. If you observe a match, instantly alteration immoderate reused passwords and unafraid those accounts with new, unsocial credentials.

WHY JANUARY IS THE BEST TIME TO REMOVE PERSONAL DATA ONLINE

Privacy experts accidental tiny changes to telephone settings tin spell a agelong mode successful reducing integer surveillance and information exposure. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture confederation via Getty Images)

Check retired the champion expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

Kurt’s cardinal takeaways

Protecting your privateness doesn’t person to beryllium complicated. By reducing app permissions, limiting determination access, controlling photograph sharing, turning disconnected app tracking and restricting inheritance activity, you tin importantly trim however overmuch idiosyncratic information your telephone shares. A fewer elemental mounting changes tin spell a agelong mode successful protecting your integer life.

What privateness mounting amazed you the most, oregon is determination 1 you're unsure about? Let america cognize by penning to america at Cyberguy.com.

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