The Hidden Spy in Your Pocket: 8 Ways Your Devices Secretly Watch You (Along With Solutions) (2 of 5)

GPS/Location Tracking

Many apps track your location in real time, and it’s not only of the Google Maps variety. Your weather and photo apps also log where you’re going. Advertisers then purchase the information they collect, bombarding you with highly targeted ads. 

Solution: Unless you’re using a certain app for the expressed purpose of tracking your movements, make sure to disable location sharing. And even when you do want to use these features, select “While Using App” and never “Always.”

Wi-Fi Networks

Here’s something you probably never considered. While strolling around, your device may be pinging the WiFi networks of cafes, places of business, and even the public Wi-Fi spots. So what? You’re not connected to those networks, so it doesn’t matter, right? Actually, those places can probe your device’s MAC address and track such things as your foot traffic patterns and location history without you even connecting!

Solution: Keep your WiFi turned off when you aren’t looking to connect. Avoid public Wi-Fi whenever possible, but if you absolutely must, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when connecting.