Ever noticed ads popping up on social media right after you’ve casually mentioned a product or service around your phone? That’s not just a coincidence; your phone is listening—and tracking you in ways you might not realize. For small businesses across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, understanding these tracking methods isn’t just a personal matter; it’s essential to keep your business safe from data leaks and cyber threats. In this article, we’ll cover the top ways your phone is tracking you and practical steps you can take to limit the exposure.
Why Your Phone Tracking is a Security Risk
Your phone’s tracking data is valuable to marketers, who use it for personalized ads. However, it’s not just about advertisements—cybercriminals can exploit this data, too. Here’s why it’s dangerous for you and your business:
- Privacy Invasion: Constant tracking allows apps, websites, and third parties to collect detailed information about your location, routines, and interests, often without your full knowledge.
- Increased Risk of Identity Theft: If tracking data falls into the wrong hands, cybercriminals can use it to steal your identity or gain unauthorized access to sensitive business accounts.
- Physical Security Risks: Real-time location tracking can compromise your physical safety by making it easier for bad actors to predict your routines or locate you.
How Your Phone Tracks You—and How To Turn It Off
1. Location Services: Your phone’s GPS and location services track your whereabouts in real time, recording where you are and how long you stay there. Using “Frequent Locations,” your phone makes assumptions about where you work and live based on when you visit and how long you stay. While this is helpful for finding directions or nearby restaurants, constant tracking can also reveal your movement patterns, leaving you vulnerable to privacy invasion.
Both Apple and Android give you the option to turn this feature off. Exact instructions will vary by specific model and operating system; however, here are basic instructions:
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Toggle off Location Services or manage individual app permissions. Scroll down to System Services. Select Significant Locations to see the logged record of where you’ve been and toggle it off. You can also clear your history by clicking Clear History.
- Android: Go to Settings > Location > App Permissions, and either disable location tracking for specific apps or turn off Use Location To delete your device’s location history, tap Delete Location History at the bottom of the screen under Location History.
2. App Permissions: Many apps request access to your contacts, photos, microphone and camera, allowing them to track your activity, even when you’re not actively using the app, and collect more information than necessary. You can adjust this and should review it regularly to make sure you aren’t compromising your privacy.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. From there, check categories like Camera, Microphone and Contacts to review and adjust app permissions.
- Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Permissions. Here you can manage which apps have access to sensitive data like contacts, microphone and camera.
3. Wi-Fi And Bluetooth Connections: Your phone constantly scans for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, allowing third parties to track your location based on the networks and devices you’ve interacted with.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and toggle off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. For full control, go to Settings > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth to disable scanning.
- Android: Go to Settings > Location > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Disable these options to prevent your phone from constantly searching for networks and devices.
4. Browsing Activity: Web browsers and apps monitor your search history and the websites you visit. This data is used to build profiles about your preferences, feeding you targeted ads and potentially selling your behavior patterns to third parties.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone & Android: Use your browser’s private or incognito mode for safer browsing. In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and turn off Web & App Activity. Additionally, clear your browsing history and cookies regularly.
5. Ad Tracking: Your phone assigns you a unique advertising ID that companies use to track your behavior across apps and websites. This ID follows your activity, providing advertisers with insight into your interests to serve personalized ads.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track. You can also go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising to disable personalized ads. *This does not mean you won’t still see ads; you just won’t see personalized ads.
- Android: Go to Settings > Privacy > Ads, then toggle on opt out of Ads Personalization.
6. Social Media And Search Engines: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Google track your online interactions, searches and location to create detailed profiles of your habits and interests. They use this data for advertising and content recommendations, which can feel invasive.
How to turn it off:
- Social Media: Go to each platform’s settings (e.g., Facebook > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts) to review what data is being collected and manage ad preferences.
- Google: Go to Google Account > Data & Privacy > Web & App Activity to control how Google tracks your search and activity history. You can also adjust Ad Settings to limit ad tracking.
By adjusting these settings, you can significantly reduce the amount of personal information your phone tracks, giving you more control over your privacy.
Why Business Owners Should Take Notice
If you’re a business owner in Kentucky, Indiana, or Ohio, protecting your privacy is essential—not just for your personal security but for safeguarding your business operations. Cybercriminals can use data gathered from your phone to track your routines, access confidential communications, and potentially disrupt your business. Taking steps to limit your phone’s tracking functions adds a layer of security that protects you and your business from data breaches, identity theft, and targeted cyber-attacks.
Strengthen Your Business Security
Protecting your personal devices is just one step toward securing your business’s entire network. If you want to ensure that your business is protected, schedule a FREE Security Risk Assessment with our team at Service Solutions Inc. We’ll evaluate your network for vulnerabilities and recommend solutions to keep your business safe from potential threats. Don’t wait for a security breach to catch you off guard. Contact us at 502-632-3481 or click here to schedule your assessment today.
