Skip to main content

Why Does This Flashlight App Need My Location? (Understanding App Permissions)

 Have you ever downloaded a simple calculator app, a flashlight, or a solitaire game, and suddenly it asks for permission to access your Contacts, Location, and Microphone?

You might click "Allow" just to get the app to work. But you should pause.

Data is Money

Free apps are rarely free. If you aren't paying for the app, the developer is likely making money by selling your data.

A flashlight app doesn't need to know you are in a coffee shop in Chicago. But a data broker will pay good money for that information to build a map of where you go, where you shop, and where you sleep.

The "Ask App Not to Track" Revolution

If you have an iPhone, you’ve seen the pop-up: "Allow app to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites?"

Always click "Ask App Not to Track."

This blocks the app from accessing your IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers), a unique ID code that advertisers use to follow you around the internet.

A Simple 2-Minute Audit

Right now, pick up your phone and do this:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Search for "Permission Manager" (Android) or "Privacy & Security" (iOS).

  3. Click on Location.

  4. Look at the list. Does a weather app need your location? Yes. Does a wallpaper app need it? Absolutely not. Switch it to "Never" or "Ask Next Time."

It’s the easiest way to lock down your digital house.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Sharenting": Why You Should Think Twice Before Posting Your Kids Online

 We all love seeing photos of our friends' children. The first day of school, the messy birthday cake face, the bathtub photos. It feels like a digital scrapbook. But in 2025, privacy experts are warning parents about "Sharenting"—oversharing parenting content—and the long-term risks it creates for children who are too young to consent. The Risks You Might Not See 1. Identity Theft Starts Early When you post a "Happy 2nd Birthday!" photo with your child's full name and the location of their preschool, you are handing identity thieves the puzzle pieces they need. Banks and government agencies use names, birth dates, and mother's maiden names as security questions. 2. The "Forever" Digital Footprint Facial recognition technology is now standard. Photos you post today feed into databases that can track your child for the rest of their lives. A cute photo of a tantrum might seem funny now, but could it embarrass them when they apply for a job in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beyond Cookies: Why Browser Fingerprinting is the New Privacy Battleground of 2025

 If you’re like most people, you’ve spent the last few years dutifully clicking "Reject All" on those annoying cookie banners. You might even use a privacy-focused browser that blocks third-party cookies by default. You feel relatively safe. Unfortunately, the advertising industry is one step ahead. As the "cookie cookie" crumbles, a more insidious tracking method has taken its place: Browser Fingerprinting . What is Browser Fingerprinting? Unlike a cookie, which is a file stored on your device, a fingerprint is a profile constructed from the unique characteristics of your browser and hardware. When you visit a site, it queries your browser for information, including: Screen resolution and color depth Installed fonts Operating system version Battery status Time zone Graphics card renderer (Canvas fingerprinting) Individually, these details seem harmless. But combined, they create a "digital fingerprint" that is accurate enough to identify you across the we...
Post a Comment
Read more