Tech Tip: How to Block Location Tracking on your Phone
2025-02-20
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1Smartphones have become valuable tools for helping to organize our lives.
2However, the devices can also capture personal data and location information that users might want to keep private.
3Here are some tips, suggested by the Associated Press (AP), to help smartphone users limit the collection of private data on personal devices.
4All a user has to do is open a phone's map tool to search for a restaurant or other business to activate data tracking.
5Similarly, someone choosing to look up the price of a product online can unknowingly permit the smartphone to track the user's location and share data with others.
6Darren Guccione is the chief executive of U.S.-based internet security company Keeper Security.
7He told the AP that many apps, "from fitness tracking to navigation," can record data signals that show a user's movements, both physical and digital.
8Guccione's advice to users is to "turn on location tracking only when necessary, such as during navigation, emergencies or sharing updates with trusted contacts..."
9He adds that after this kind of necessary tracking is complete, users should immediately turn off location tracking.
10One step to limit smartphone tracking is to identify and change app permission settings.
11To do this, iPhone users can first go to the device's Privacy & Security settings.
12Then go to Location Services to check settings for individual apps.
13Internet security experts say it is not a good idea to let apps always use your location in the background.
14Instead, get the app to either ask first before using your location, or use it only when the app is open.
15A user can also choose the setting that never lets an app track location.
16The process works a little differently for Android phones because manufacturers have different versions.
17In general, Android users should go to settings.
18Then go to Location to turn the setting on or off for all apps.
19To avoid being tracked by advertising systems, privacy experts suggest that users block advertising identifiers on Android or Apple devices.
20This can stop third parties from tracking ads to target users.
21To do this, iPhone users can go to the Privacy setting, then find Apple Advertising.
22Then turn off Personalized Ads.
23On newer Android phones, users should go to the Privacy setting, then to Ads, and choose Delete Advertising ID.
24Along with app permissions for your device, security experts say it is a good idea to look closely at your Google account to make sure it is not tracking you.
25To find this out, go to myaccount.google.com and find Data & Privacy.
26Users can find Location History controls there.
27Under recent changes, the history will be removed after three months although users can change that setting as well.
28Popular web browsers for smartphones - like Safari or Chrome - could also give away location information.
29Try using one that does not store your data. Such browsers include DuckDuckGo, Firefox Focus or Ecosia.
30If a privacy-protected browser needs to identify your location through an IP address, it will ask first before doing so.
31These kinds of browsers will also let users easily remove internet cookies and other web browsing data.
32Phones or tablets can also be tracked with Apple's Find My or Google's Find My Device services designed to recover lost devices.
33Users can turn this tool off if they think someone was able to take control of their Apple or Google account and is using it for tracking.
34Some cybersecurity websites advise using a smartphone's Airplane Mode to block tracking operations.
35But some experts say this does not always turn off all tracking signals.
36Users should not depend on this setting alone to block data collection.
37A better tool in many situations would be a signal-blocking Faraday bag.
38These block all wireless signals to the smartphone. Experts suggest testing the bag to make sure data is actually being blocked.
39While such bags can be helpful, devices kept inside the containers cannot be used.
40I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Smartphones have become valuable tools for helping to organize our lives. However, the devices can also capture personal data and location information that users might want to keep private. 2Here are some tips, suggested by the Associated Press (AP), to help smartphone users limit the collection of private data on personal devices. 3How does a smartphone track your location? 4All a user has to do is open a phone's map tool to search for a restaurant or other business to activate data tracking. Similarly, someone choosing to look up the price of a product online can unknowingly permit the smartphone to track the user's location and share data with others. 5Darren Guccione is the chief executive of U.S.-based internet security company Keeper Security. He told the AP that many apps, "from fitness tracking to navigation," can record data signals that show a user's movements, both physical and digital. 6Guccione's advice to users is to "turn on location tracking only when necessary, such as during navigation, emergencies or sharing updates with trusted contacts..." He adds that after this kind of necessary tracking is complete, users should immediately turn off location tracking. 7Identify your app permissions 8One step to limit smartphone tracking is to identify and change app permission settings. To do this, iPhone users can first go to the device's Privacy & Security settings. Then go to Location Services to check settings for individual apps. 9Internet security experts say it is not a good idea to let apps always use your location in the background. Instead, get the app to either ask first before using your location, or use it only when the app is open. A user can also choose the setting that never lets an app track location. 10The process works a little differently for Android phones because manufacturers have different versions. In general, Android users should go to settings. Then go to Location to turn the setting on or off for all apps. 11Ad trackers 12To avoid being tracked by advertising systems, privacy experts suggest that users block advertising identifiers on Android or Apple devices. This can stop third parties from tracking ads to target users. 13To do this, iPhone users can go to the Privacy setting, then find Apple Advertising. Then turn off Personalized Ads. On newer Android phones, users should go to the Privacy setting, then to Ads, and choose Delete Advertising ID. 14Check your Google account 15Along with app permissions for your device, security experts say it is a good idea to look closely at your Google account to make sure it is not tracking you. 16To find this out, go to myaccount.google.com and find Data & Privacy. Users can find Location History controls there. Under recent changes, the history will be removed after three months although users can change that setting as well. 17How to use web browsers 18Popular web browsers for smartphones - like Safari or Chrome - could also give away location information. Try using one that does not store your data. Such browsers include DuckDuckGo, Firefox Focus or Ecosia. 19If a privacy-protected browser needs to identify your location through an IP address, it will ask first before doing so. These kinds of browsers will also let users easily remove internet cookies and other web browsing data. 20Find my device 21Phones or tablets can also be tracked with Apple's Find My or Google's Find My Device services designed to recover lost devices. Users can turn this tool off if they think someone was able to take control of their Apple or Google account and is using it for tracking. 22Block the signal 23Some cybersecurity websites advise using a smartphone's Airplane Mode to block tracking operations. But some experts say this does not always turn off all tracking signals. Users should not depend on this setting alone to block data collection. 24A better tool in many situations would be a signal-blocking Faraday bag. These block all wireless signals to the smartphone. Experts suggest testing the bag to make sure data is actually being blocked. While such bags can be helpful, devices kept inside the containers cannot be used. 25I'm Bryan Lynn. 26The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 27_____________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29location - n. a place where someone goes or something happens 30track - v. to follow the movements of something 31navigation - n. a method to find the right direction to travel in by using maps or other equipment 32digital - adj. any kind of information that is changed from electrical or physical to a form that is used by computers 33cookie - n. small data files that are stored on an internet user's computer as they browse different websites. 34tablet - n. a small computer that uses a touch screen 35bag - n. a container made of paper, plastic, etc. that is used for carrying things