Today, our phones hold more than we realize, but some apps might be watching us without us knowing. This article uncovers which apps could invade our privacy, showing how our safety might be at risk in the digital world.
At Facebook, you’re not a customer but a product; your information, activities, connections, and more hold value. Considering Facebook’s reputation for data collection, even from non-users, deleting apps associated with Facebook is a wise step in protecting your privacy. When prioritizing which app to remove for data safety, Facebook should top the list.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger doesn’t encrypt your messages, so any Facebook employee with the right permissions can see them. Even though they’re bringing in a “Secret Conversation” mode with encryption, it won’t be the default and won’t cover calls. Plus, the app checks links and photos you send; if it spots anything iffy, company moderators might read your messages.
Instagram requests various permissions, such as accessing your contacts, storage, location, call logs, and even system settings. What’s more concerning is that updates might bring in new permissions automatically, raising even greater worries about the level of access it gains without your explicit consent.
Since Facebook owns both WhatsApp and Instagram, they share similar risks. Weaknesses in WhatsApp, for both iPhone and Android, allow attackers to target users by sending tailored messages to their phone numbers. This breach granted access to WhatsApp’s functionalities, including the microphone, camera, and contacts, posing a significant threat to users’ privacy and security.
TikTok
Some security experts see TikTok as a possible problem. It’s quite ironic that a platform with young people dancing to songs hides such concerns. In reality, TikTok doesn’t seem to gather more data than American apps like Facebook do. However, its connections to China raise worries about potential political threats.
Dating Apps
Tinder and Grindr collect over 50% of your personal data, while Facebook tops the list at 70%. They gather information such as names, emails, phone numbers, jobs, and even pet ownership, along with basic details like age and location. In 2020, five different dating apps suffered data breaches, leaking millions of profiles and leaving users vulnerable to scams and identity theft.
DoorDash
DoorDash shares a ton of personal data with nine third-party trackers once you open it. These trackers collect info like your name, email, address, and even your phone’s details. On top of that, DoorDash uses Facebook and Google ad trackers, letting these big companies know every time you use the app, posing serious privacy concerns.
Children’s Apps
Allowing kids to play games can be a useful distraction, but be cautious with apps lacking reviews. Watch out for children’s apps storing video or audio content, as these can persist for a long time. Being careful about what they use is key to their safety online.
Angry Birds
When Snowden exposed the NSA’s surveillance methods, he singled out Angry Birds as an app being used to collect users’ personal data like phone numbers, call logs, location, and even relationship status, scooped up by the NSA without hesitation. Deleting the app is safest, but the developers fixed the leak. If you’re still keen on flinging birds, update to the latest version for added security.
Flashlight Apps
Most free flashlight apps show ads and ask for permissions like accessing contacts or recording audio to work. This can mean sharing your info with developers who sell it to advertisers. Experts suggest deleting these apps, changing your social media and email passwords, and asking companies to delete your data, as laws in certain places allow consumers this right.
Airbnb
Airbnb, like other apps, tries to snap your face and knows your vacation whereabouts. It’s puzzling why they’d want your face—maybe to confirm the right person pays that cleaning fee for leaving crumbs on the couch? Cover your camera and then book your stay for some peace of mind.
Weather Apps
Numerous weather apps might contain Trojans or other harmful software. Even those claiming to use your data solely for weather accuracy can be suspicious. If you have the app Good Weather, it’s crucial to remove it promptly as it’s considered especially risky.
CamScanner
CamScanner, an app designed to turn your phone into a scanner, has worried consumers. Cybersecurity experts found a troublesome element inside the app that acts like a Trojan Downloader, collecting infected files. Removing this app swiftly is essential as it can cause serious harm to your phone, but once deleted, the risk decreases significantly.
Ring Doorbell
Ring Doorbell users may believe they’re the ones observing, but the app goes further by gathering data on their phones. An investigation by the Electronic Frontier Foundation discovered that the Android app contains numerous trackers sharing details like names, IP addresses, mobile carriers, and sensor data with four marketing and analytics companies.
Walmart
The Walmart app uses location data to track when shoppers are going to the store, but their data collection doesn’t end there. Going beyond, Walmart gathers and sells users’ information, leveraging the profits gained from data mining by offering users’ data for sale on Rollback.
ZombieMod
The ZombieMod game tried to gather lots of personal info from users’ Google accounts, even usernames and passwords. It also flooded devices with aggressive ads that sometimes caused them to crash, requiring a reset. Uninstalling Zombie Mod might be tricky, so start by deleting the original Scary Granny Zombie Mod app. For added security, change your Google password if you’ve installed this game.
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