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Your phone probably knows more about you than any other device you own. It may hold saved passwords, payment information, banking apps, private messages, and even a running record of where you go.
That convenience can come with privacy risks, especially when your phone’s default settings give apps or services more access than they actually need. A few minutes spent reviewing your phone can reduce the amount of personal and financial information you choose to expose.
Take a Closer Look at App Permissions
When you install an app, you’re often hit with a barrage of requests for access to your location, contacts, photos, microphone, or camera.
Some permissions make sense — a navigation app needs your location, for example. A simple mobile game probably doesn’t need access to your contacts, though.
Both Apple and Android allow you to review these permissions at any point after you install an app. If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll head to “Settings” and manage individual app permissions under “Privacy & Security.” Android users can review permissions in the Permission Manager or Privacy Dashboard, though menus may vary slightly by device.
Be sure to check your permissions periodically, especially for apps you rarely use. If you can’t think of a good reason an app needs access to a specific piece of information, consider disabling that permission.
Be Selective About Location Tracking
Location access deserves its own special consideration, since it can reveal patterns about where you live, work, shop, and spend your free time.
Rather than giving every app unrestricted access, choose location-sharing options such as “while using the app” when available. iPhone users can also disable “Precise Location” for apps that only need a general idea of their location. Android similarly allows users to control location access by app.
Think Before Banking on Public Wi-Fi
Checking your account balance from a coffee shop can be tempting, but pay attention to the network you join.
The Federal Trade Commission notes that widespread website encryption has made public Wi-Fi safer than it once was, but users should still be cautious about entering personal information over a public network, and should make sure they’re visiting websites that use HTTPS.
Before you connect to public Wi-Fi, it’s important to double-check that you’re logging into the right network. A similarly named hotspot could lead you somewhere you didn’t intend to visit. For particularly sensitive tasks like transferring money or entering financial information, it may be easier and safer to rely on your cellular connection.
Audit Your Autofill
Autofill can be a useful tool, but you may not realize that your phone and browser are storing old addresses, credit card numbers, contact details, and passwords to accounts you barely use anymore.
That doesn’t mean you need to turn autofill off completely — Apple and Google’s password managers can still be great tools for creating and remembering strong, varied passwords for all of your accounts.
Every so often, take a look at the information your phone is autosaving and remove expired cards, outdated addresses, and login information you no longer need. Keeping that list current gives you the convenience of autofill without leaving unnecessary personal information stored on your device.
Don’t Forget Your Lock Screen
One overlooked privacy risk is sitting in plain sight: Notification previews. These popups may display texts, emails, verification codes, or financial alerts, even while your phone is locked.
iPhone users can set notification previews to appear only when the device is unlocked (or to never appear at all). Android also provides controls for hiding sensitive lock screen notifications.
Mobile security doesn’t require you to turn off every convenient feature. The better (and more realistic) goal is to regularly review what information your phone can access, save, and display. A quick settings check today could make your personal information, passwords, and finances considerably harder for someone else to reach.
