4 Secrets on How Mobile Apps Compromise Privacy by Exposing Personal Information
We all love mobile applications as they allow us to connect with people as well as access information more conveniently and faster than before. Most of the brands also have mobile apps that clients can download and use to not only contact the customer care team but also place orders.
Before you download an app, you need to consider your privacy. Will the app compromise your confidentiality? Research studies have proven that they can actually expose personal information. Here are four primary ways that apps do this as noted in an article posted on Digital Care Org.
Monitor Your Location and Movements
There are certain apps that use GPS to track users’ location and movements to provide the best experience. For instance, photo apps often geo-tag photos while social media apps such as Snapchat has a map feature that is designed to determine your exact location and show your users who are nearby. Other application request access to your microphone and camera to better monitor your activities without your consent and discreetly.
Unnecessary App Permissions
Just because an application requests for certain permission does not really mean that, it requires it. Why would a photo app require access to your camera and microphone? This is one of the main reasons why both Android and iOS gives users an opportunity to either accept or deny apps certain permissions. The extra permissions are used for heinous purposes such as collecting personal information for marketing purposes. Based on these facts, it is recommended to revoke any permission that you feel is unnecessary or does not in way support the functionalism of the app.
Gathering and Sharing Data
Unknown to most people is that the main objective of some apps is to provide not only services and information more conveniently, but to also collect personal data. While such an action may seem harmless, the data can be used in countless ways. Your browser history can be used by marketers to determine which ads to display to you while online. A blackhat hacker can also use this information to actually net your credit card information if you are accustomed to purchasing products online.
In-App Ads
Virtually all the free mobile applications display this kind of ads to users. Unfortunately, these ads are designed to lure you to not only purchase a product or visit a certain website, but to also track your location as well as your entire phone state. This includes most frequently used apps and your call log.
Indeed, mobile apps can pose great danger to your privacy if they successfully collect and share your personal information. Stay on the safe side by only downloading legit apps and be vigilant about the permissions that you grant them.
