In a world where technology dominates much of our lives, privacy has become an increasing concern, especially regarding location tracking on our mobile phones. Both Android and iOS devices allow applications to access the user’s location, which can be useful for certain functions but also poses significant privacy risks. Fortunately, there are measures users can take to control and limit app access to their location.
Location Control: Is it Really Necessary?
For many applications, such as photo, map, or public transport apps, access to the user’s precise location is essential for proper functionality. However, other apps, like those for entertainment in bars or restaurants, do not require knowing the exact location of the device. In these cases, allowing access only to approximate location data may be sufficient.
The key is to review which applications truly need this detailed access and which do not require it at all. Most of the time, apps shouldn’t have permanent access to the device’s location, as only in exceptional situations is it necessary for them to know the user’s exact location.
How to Protect Your Privacy on Android
Android users have more settings to adjust if they want to limit app access to their location. The first step to reduce intrusive tracking is to go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Ads and select the option “Delete Advertising ID.” Although Google presents a warning message that may seem alarming, users should ignore it and confirm their decision. If you don’t see this option, it means you’ve already deleted the Advertising ID.
Google assigns a unique identification number to each Android device for advertising purposes, which makes it easier for apps to track user habits. By deleting this identifier, the ability of applications to track the user for advertising purposes is significantly reduced. Google provides more information about this process in its official documentation.
Privacy Settings on iOS
In contrast, Apple devices offer greater default control over tracking. iOS does not provide access to the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) by default, which is the equivalent of the unique advertising identifier on Android devices. However, some apps may display a pop-up requesting users to enable this setting.
iPhone users can check this by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. There, they will see the apps that have permission to access the unique ID. It is advisable to turn off the option “Allow Apps to Request to Track” to prevent apps from asking for access to the IDFA. It is also recommended to disable personalized ads in Apple Ads to further reduce tracking.
The Fight Against Tracking: Beyond Applications
In addition to adjusting location permissions in applications, users should also be aware of other more invasive forms of tracking, such as those mentioned in recent reports from media outlets like Haaretz and NOTUS. These reports have revealed how some companies and governments have taken advantage of broadly collected location data for surveillance purposes.
Location tracking, especially when used without the user’s knowledge or consent, poses a significant threat to privacy. Taking steps to minimize access to location data on mobile devices is essential to prevent the misuse of this data by applications or third parties.
Conclusion
In a digital world where applications and companies are trying to collect more and more data about users, it’s crucial to take control of privacy. Adjusting settings on Android and iOS devices, deleting advertising identifiers, and disabling unnecessary access to location are simple yet powerful steps to protect against excessive tracking. Protecting privacy is more important than ever, and the tools are available for users to fight against location tracking abuse on their devices.
References: OpenSecurity, ArcTechnica, 404Media, and Notus.