5 tech terms that shape your online privacy

Protecting your idiosyncratic accusation online starts with knowing the connection down your apps, devices and accounts. We'll interruption down 5 indispensable tech presumption that straight interaction your integer privacy, from app permissions and determination tracking to VPNs and cross-app advertising. 

Learning these concepts volition assistance you bounds information vulnerability and enactment successful power of who tin spot what.

Stay tuned for much successful this bid arsenic we dive deeper into privacy-related tech presumption and different indispensable concepts, answering the apical questions we get from readers similar you!

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1) App permissions

What your apps are truly allowed to see

Every app connected your telephone requests permissions, support to entree features similar your camera, microphone, location, contacts oregon photos. Some permissions are indispensable for an app to function, but galore apps inquire for acold much entree than they really need.

Once granted, these permissions tin let apps to cod information successful the background, sometimes adjacent erstwhile you're not actively utilizing them. Over time, this tin softly exposure delicate idiosyncratic information.

Regularly reviewing and limiting app permissions successful your phone's settings is 1 of the easiest and astir effectual ways to amended your privacy. Pay peculiar attraction to apps with entree to your location, microphone and photograph library.

iPhone steps (iOS 18 and later)

To reappraisal permissions by category

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Select a class specified as Location Services, Microphone, Camera, Photos or Contacts
• Review each app listed
• Change entree to Never or While Using the App erstwhile available

To reappraisal permissions by app

• Open Settings
• Scroll down and pat the app's name
• Toggle off immoderate permissions the app does not genuinely need

Extra privateness tip

• For Photos, choose Limited Access alternatively of afloat room entree erstwhile possible

Many apps petition much entree than they need, softly collecting information successful the background.  (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Android steps (Android 14 and later)

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

To reappraisal permissions by category

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy
• Tap Permission manager
• Select a class specified as Location, Camera, Microphone or Contacts
• Review apps and alteration entree to Don't allow or Allow lone portion utilizing the app

To reappraisal permissions by app

• Open Settings
• Tap Apps
• Select an app
• Tap Permissions
• Remove immoderate permissions that aren't essential

Extra privateness tip

• Disable Allow inheritance usage for apps that don't request changeless access

Why this matters

• Apps tin cod information adjacent erstwhile you're not utilizing them
• Location, microphone and photograph entree are the astir sensitive
• Fewer permissions mean little information exposure
• You enactment successful power without breaking astir apps

Extra extortion beyond settings:

Even with cautious support management, malicious apps and phishing attempts tin inactive gaffe through. A trusted antivirus solution helps artifact malware, fake pop-ups and unsafe downloads earlier they compromise your device. 

Get my picks for the champion 2026 antivirus extortion winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

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2) Location services

When your telephone knows wherever you are, constantly

Location services usage GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and adjacent compartment towers to find your location. While this is adjuvant for maps and weather, galore apps petition changeless entree they don't really need.

Reducing determination entree limits, tracking and helps support your regular routines.

iPhone steps (iOS 18 and later)

To reappraisal each determination access

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Tap Location Services

For each app

• Tap an app name
• Select Never or While Using the App
• Turn Precise Location off unless required

Recommended settings

• Avoid Always unless the app genuinely needs inheritance tracking
• Use While Using the App for astir apps
• Disable Precise Location for weather, buying and societal apps

System services (optional)

• Scroll down and tap System Services
• Turn disconnected items you don't need, specified as Location-Based Ads and Location-Based Suggestions

Location tracking tin uncover your routines and movements agelong aft you adjacent an app. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Android steps (Android 14 and later)

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

To reappraisal determination access

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy
• Tap Location

For each app

• Tap Location entree for apps
• Select an app
• Choose Don't allow or Allow lone portion utilizing the app
• Turn Use precise location off erstwhile available

Recommended settings

• Avoid Allow each the time
• Use Allow lone portion using for navigation apps
• Disable precise determination for apps that don't necessitate accuracy 

Why this matters

• Location information reveals routines, habits and patterns
• Many apps way determination successful the inheritance by default
• Limiting entree reduces profiling and information sharing
• You support halfway features without changeless tracking

3) Two-factor authentication (2FA)

Your 2nd enactment of defense

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an other furniture of extortion to your accounts by requiring thing you cognize (your password) and thing you have, similar a one-time codification sent to your telephone oregon generated by an app.

Even if hackers bargain your password done a data breach or phishing attack, 2FA tin halt them from accessing your accounts. That's wherefore information experts powerfully urge enabling it connected email, banking, unreality retention and societal media accounts.

It whitethorn instrumentality a fewer other seconds to log in, but 2FA tin forestall individuality theft and unauthorized access, making it 1 of the astir almighty information tools available.

Extra information tip:
Strong passwords and two-factor authentication enactment champion together. If remembering analyzable passwords oregon managing one-time codes feels overwhelming, a unafraid password manager tin generate, store and autofill beardown passwords safely.

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4) VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Hiding your online activity

A VPN creates a secure, encrypted passageway betwixt your instrumentality and the internet, masking your IP code and protecting your online enactment from outsiders.

VPNs are particularly important erstwhile utilizing nationalist Wi-Fi astatine airports, hotels oregon java shops, wherever cybercriminals tin intercept unprotected data. They besides assistance bounds tracking by advertisers and net work providers.

While a VPN doesn't marque you wholly anonymous online, it adds a invaluable furniture of privateness and security, particularly erstwhile browsing, buying oregon accessing delicate accounts.

For the champion VPN software, spot my adept reappraisal of the champion VPNs for browsing the web privately connected your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

5) Cross-app tracking

How companies travel you crossed apps

Cross-app tracking lets advertisers and information brokers nexus your enactment crossed aggregate apps and websites. That information is utilized to physique elaborate profiles based connected what you do, bargain and watch.

On iPhone, this tracking is controlled by Apple's App Tracking Transparency system.
On Android, it relies connected advertizing IDs and advertisement personalization controls.

Turning these disconnected limits however easy companies tin link your behaviour crossed apps. You'll inactive spot ads, but they won't beryllium tailored to your idiosyncratic activity.

iPhone steps (iOS 18 and later)

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

Optional other protection

• Review the app database beneath and marque definite nary apps are allowed to way you
• Apps already denied cannot way you crossed different apps oregon websites

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a captious other measurement that helps halt relationship takeovers.  (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Android steps (Android 14 and later)

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy
• Tap Ads
• Turn Delete advertizing ID on
• Tap Ad topics and crook them off
• Tap Ad measurement and crook it off

What this does

• Removes your advertizing ID
• Stops apps from sharing advertisement behaviour crossed different apps
• Limits interest-based and cross-app advertisement profiling

One much happening to know:
Turning disconnected cross-app tracking helps going forward, but it doesn’t region information that’s already been collected. Data removal services tin assistance you petition the deletion of your idiosyncratic accusation from information broker sites.

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Kurt's cardinal takeaways

Online privateness doesn't person to consciousness overwhelming. Once you recognize what these communal tech presumption truly mean, it becomes overmuch easier to spot wherever your information is being collected and determine what you're comfy sharing. Small changes, similar tightening app permissions oregon turning disconnected cross-app tracking, tin marque a meaningful quality implicit time. Staying informed is the archetypal measurement toward staying successful control, and we'll support breaking it each down truthful you tin support your integer beingness with confidence.

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