Whatever you do, don't leave any app set to "Always" - especially if it's a weather app. In the case of something like Google Maps or Lyft, change it to "While Using the App." This means that the app in question won't know exactly where you are even when you're not using it. Unless it's for a service that actually needs to know where you are, like a maps app, you should individually switch every individual app setting to "Never." On this screen, you'll find a list of apps that either have requested or have access to your location data. More than likely, you will see that the feature is turned on. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. The invasiveness is staggering - "accurate to within a few yards and in some cases updated more than 14,000 times a day."Īpps requesting unfettered access to your location data, say, to tell you your location-specific weather, are some of the most obvious culprits.
Location, location, locationĪs the New York Times demonstrated in December, many mobile apps are constantly collecting users' locations throughout the day and then sharing that information with numerous third-party companies. There are some small, privacy-focused steps you can take to mitigate your risk without having to go live in the woods. And, if you've been paying attention, you know that a seemingly never-ending combination of unscrupulous companies and data breaches mean that said you is perpetually on the edge of being put on permanent display.īut hey, no one is suggesting you throw your phone into the ocean and wash your hands of the entire thing. It's an unparalleled collection of things that, taken in the aggregate, make you you. These days, your iPhone (and all its accumulated data) is the window to your soul.Įverything - that's your contacts, your location, your photos, your emails, your texts, and even your bank account - can often be found on that smartphone in your pocket.