Some 51% of people think sharing their smartphone PIN with a partner is normal and healthy. Checking internet search histories and tracking a partner’s location are a different story; 74% of those surveyed think location tracking is toxic, and that percentage jumps to 95% if the location tracking is done without the other party’s knowledge.
Shortcut to reading annoying privacy policies
Tech privacy policies are confusing on purpose. I know, big shocker! But I’m always surprised by just how difficult these things are to comb through and what they hide.
Today, I’m calling out the biggest offenders — and sharing one of my favorite, easy-to-use privacy tools.
The worst of the worst
I read these privacy policies so you don’t have to. Some of these companies are collecting far more than you might realize.
- Disney shares your data with third parties. After that, they have no control over how it’s used.
- Instagram tracks your exact location and may share it for targeted advertising.
- Zoom records and shares your meeting data (including video, audio, and chat logs!) with third parties.
- Wikipedia automatically logs and stores your IP address.
- UPS transfers your personal data to other countries, where data protection laws might not be as strict.
- Uber Eats keeps your info indefinitely — even after you deactivate your account.
- Netflix shares your viewing habits and personal information with TV networks, ISPs and other partners.
- Spotify collects and stores voice data, including conversations, through its voice assistant.
- Microsoft collects massive amounts of data, including what you type, your app usage and what’s on your clipboard.
- Yahoo reserves the right to update its privacy policy at any time, without notifying you.
Feeling a little creeped out? Me, too.
Cut to the chase
It’d be nice if we could wave a magic wand to see all the hidden privacy gotchas. The next best thing? These easy tips:
⌛ Time-saving tip: When you’re reviewing a company’s privacy policy on your computer, use Ctrl + F on Windows or Cmd + F on a Mac to quickly search for buzzwords like “sell,” “partners” and “affiliates.” Words like “geolocation” and “geotargeting” indicate your location information will be collected. Def search for those.
💬 Know the terms: Sections with names like “How we collect your personal data” show what a company gathers from you and how they do it. “How we use your personal information” is their take on why they need your data in the first place. “Business purposes” usually means they share it with third parties.
🎮 Protect the kids: Look for references to “COPPA” or the “Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act” to see how a company protects your kid’s data.
Phew, that’s a lot. I’m always on the hunt to shortcut some of the hard work of securing your privacy. That’s where Incogni comes in.
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You understand that your phone knows where you’re located. This is how GPS works, how Find My sees your location and why you get local ads on Facebook and Google. Like other data on your phone, that location data is a hot commodity for internet marketers.
Have any new tech? Take steps now to secure your privacy
Raise your hand if you scooped up some tech for yourself during the holiday sales madness. It’s a great time to score a deal, but I bet you’re also slammed with work and family obligations.
Don’t just set it and forget it with your new gear. (Hackers and scammers are hoping you do, of course.) Take a few minutes to secure it. You’ll be glad you did.
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Ever text a picture to an acquaintance or someone you just met? Depending on your phone and camera’s settings, you may have inadvertently sent where you live, too. This is what someone can see from just a photo.
One good thing about social media is that most platforms wipe out this data. Still, they’re exposing you in other ways. Here’s how to check everything Facebook collects.
Shopping under surveillance: How retailers track you and how to be invisible
If you have a pulse and an internet connection, companies want all the details they can fetch on what you’re willing to buy — and it’s getting harder to tell where they’re obtaining all that info.
Retailers can now track what customers purchase to influence their buying patterns. Loyalty programs collect data on your purchases, frequency and preferences — in exchange for deals.
Use Apple, Google, Facebook or Twitter? Here's how to find out what they know about YOU
It’s no surprise anymore that social media companies like Meta gather a lot of information about you. Tap or click here for 10 Facebook privacy and security settings you need to change right now.
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Most people make this major mistake: Sharing photos
You meet someone on a dating app, then take the conversation to text messages. Things are going well, and you send a picture of the sunrise one morning. Harmless, right? Boom! You may have just given away your exact location.
Put your phone away - The best standalone GPS trackers for your car
Getting stuck in the middle of nowhere is a nightmare, and even thinking about it sends a surge of anxiety through your head. What if you get stuck, and nobody knows where you are? Tap or click here for three map apps better than Google if you have multiple stops.
Protect your privacy: How to stop apps and people from tracking your every move
Imagine if a data broker knows your phone is on a nightstand next to another phone six nights a week and across town on the seventh night. That data broker also knows everywhere you go and how long you stay there. Creepy.
This simple Android location setting saves your privacy
Privacy is more important than ever. Beyond fraud and identity theft risks, access to your information could also impact personal safety.
Your phone doesn’t need your exact location at every given moment. It doesn’t need to know where you are unless you use a program like Google Maps.
Yes, your data is for sale - Here's what you can do to stop it
No matter how careful you are, your privacy is always at risk when you go online. You can mitigate this by avoiding social media and certain apps and websites.
We understand that it’s not always easy to avoid the world’s most popular sites and apps. You can still enjoy them as long as you take some precautions. Tap or click here to learn how to check up on your privacy settings with Facebook and Google.
AirPods led police to find a stolen car with a baby inside
People use technology to find missing objects, alert emergency services or save someone’s life. One example is an Apple Watch that detected a tumor in a 67-year-old woman from Maine.
In another, the iPhone’s emergency SOS function helped a snowboarder contact emergency services after falling into a hidden crevasse at around 10,000 feet above sea level. But probably the most significant boon to Apple’s location-tracking technology is saving a baby’s life.
Hidden map on your phone shows everywhere you’ve been and the photos you took there
Google Maps makes navigating unfamiliar cities frustration-free and straightforward. It has an innovative feature that you’re probably not taking full advantage of, Street View. Sure it’s great for looking at your childhood home. But, you can use it for things like creating your own stories and even going indoors.
Twitter shares your location when you tweet - Take this step now
Social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. Thanks to privacy settings, you can easily share stories and photos only with people you know. Even with the latest privacy tools, people still tend to overshare.
6 common tech myths and misbeliefs debunked
We once believed that Macs would never get a virus, closing apps would save battery life, and private mode was really private.
For the record, switching to incognito in your browser probably doesn’t do what you think. Tap or click for six practical reasons to use it, from keeping your search autofill clean to shopping without spoiling the surprise.
Apps removed for secretly collecting data from millions - Delete them now
There are tons of mobile apps available, all with different functions and capabilities. Tap or click here for five great apps for iOS and Android. No matter which apps you download, you have a reasonable expectation that they will work as promised.
How to change privacy settings on Instagram
Whether they are watching your activity and using it for their means or selling it to third parties, Big Tech is under the privacy microscope. In response, developers have added privacy settings to apps and devices. This primarily serves to better inform you of how you’re being tracked in some cases. In other situations, you have greater control of how you’re tracked.
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Even though mobile phones released in the last few years have larger batteries, there seems always to be something that drains them faster than before. A recent update to Apple’s operating system caused battery issues.
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As GPS trackers become more commonplace with devices like Apple AirTags, we are developing a constant need to know where everything and everyone is at all times. Tap or click here to find out the difference between Tile trackers and Apple AirTags.