Tech Tip: How to Block Location Tracking on your Phone

Smartphones 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.

Here are some tips, suggested by the Associated Press (AP), to help smartphone users limit the collection of private data on personal devices.

How does a smartphone track your location?

All 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.

Darren 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.

Guccione’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.

Identify your app permissions

One 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.

Internet 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.

The 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.

Ad trackers

To 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.

To 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.

Check your Google account

Along 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.

To 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.

How to use web browsers

Popular 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.

If 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.

Find my device

Phones 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.

Block the signal

Some 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.

A 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.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

location – n. a place where someone goes or something happens

track – v. to follow the movements of something

navigation – n. a method to find the right direction to travel in by using maps or other equipment

digital – adj. any kind of information that is changed from electrical or physical to a form that is used by computers

cookie – n. small data files that are stored on an internet user’s computer as they browse different websites.

tablet – n. a small computer that uses a touch screen

bag – n. a container made of paper, plastic, etc. that is used for carrying things

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