How can I protect my privacy inside Apps?
Your apps can get access to a lot of your personal information and it is important to be aware of what each app collects. Here are some general rules:
- Free apps are generally free because they collect your personal information and sell it to others.
- You can change some privacy settings for an app on your mobile device, but some websites will also make you change your privacy settings in the settings section of the company website. More info abut that here.
- Start wit those apps/companies that you think collect most of your personal data. You can find a list of the most common apps, including links to their Privacy Policies, below.
- Please note that changing privacy settings, might cause access issues when using certain apps. If this is the case, your mobile device will automatically prompt you to change your settings, and you can easily enable/disable access again by following the steps below, or the directions given by your device.
- Change app privacy settings on iOS devices: (iPhones, iPads)
- Go to Settings
- Select Privacy
- Select each individual option (Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, etc.) and enable or disable access rights
- Select Location Services: On and change status per app to Never or While Using the App (depending on your own preference)
- Change app privacy settings on Android devices (Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorala, etc.):
- Go to Settings
- Select Apps
- Tap the gear icon at the top
- Select App Permissions
- Select each option (Calender, Contacts, Location, Microphone, etc.) and enable or disable access rights
Additional Resources:
Below is a list of the most downloaded apps. Click on each link to access their Privacy Policy (sometimes called Privacy Notice). Generally, you'll find out what personal data the company collects, by looking for the "Information we collect" section. You can generally find this section at the beginning of the Privacy Policy.
