Prevent location tracking by phone using 5 free tips

Your phone knows where you are standing or sitting at this moment as it tracks your location even without you knowing it. Most people know that. How else could you use GPS? While location tracking is essential for finding directions, it also helps big tech sell you things which they want .

“Targeted advertising” is a massive phenomenon which is used by these tech companies to target specific users like us. Companies are eager to fill your phone screen with ads, which are primarily influenced by your day-to-day habits for all the things. All these tech companies such as Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and many others make money off mobile ads, and they need this information to power their data-mining machines to generate a more proper picture about the user.

Why is your phone allowed to track you and share that data with unknown third parties? It is because you gave it the permission to do so. Typical data-sharing policies are buried within pages and pages of privacy policies and terms of agreements.

However, the good news is that you can take control of your privacy.

Here are five steps to help you limit the extent to which your phone tracks your every move and restricts the flow of your personal information to advertisers.

1. Modify your phone’s location settings

Your phone’s default settings may allow apps to access your location at all times, even when you’re not using them. To regain control, navigate to your phone’s settings and manage the app permissions which you have already given for your peace of mind. Set apps to access your location only while using them, rather than constantly tracking your whereabouts which is not a good thing for your safety. They should be able to access your location only when you are using them just for the specific time period.

2. Limit Ad Tracking for location

Most mobile operating systems, like iOS and Android, provide an option to the users to limit ad tracking which they are viewing. By enabling this feature, your phone will generate a random advertising identifier, making it harder for advertisers to build a comprehensive profile of your preferences.

3. Stop Google from tracking your every move or location

Google is known for tracking your location history. To prevent this, you can pause location history or delete your existing location data. You can also restrict Google’s access to your location history through your phone’s settings.

4. Use private browser on your phone

When you browse the internet on your phone, you often leave digital footprints that advertisers can track and use it as per requirement. Consider using a private browser like Firefox Focus, DuckDuckGo, or Brave. These browsers prioritize privacy and limit the data collected during your online activities which is pretty good thing for your safety.

5. opt out of Ads

Some apps and websites offer the user an option to opt out of personalized ads while using their services. While this won’t eliminate all ads, it will make them less tailored to your interests. Check the privacy settings within the apps and websites to find the opt-out option for the ads.

Protecting your privacy in the age of constant digital surveillance is essential. Taking these steps can help you regain some control over your personal information and limit the extent to which advertisers track your every move. By tweaking your phone’s settings, limiting ad tracking, stopping Google from collecting your data, using a private browser, and opting out of personalized ads, you can enjoy a more private and secure mobile experience. Remember, you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy for the convenience of technology.