Whether it's an Android or iOS smartphone, every phone is "spying" on users. If you're serious about your digital identity and privacy, be careful and change some of your phone's settings immediately.

In today's digital age, everyone has a smartphone in their pocket. It's always with us like a shadow. But did you know that the phone in your pocket is a spy, monitoring your every move and every location? If you have an iPhone and are under the illusion that it can't spy on you, be careful. Whether Android or iOS, every smartphone can peek into your life. Sometimes you might have realized that you talked about something and, just minutes later, an advertisement for it appeared on your social media. This isn't a magical coincidence, but rather a deep data surveillance through which tech companies are building a profile of your personal life.

If you're serious about your digital identity and privacy, be careful and change some of your phone's settings immediately. It's not that you have no way to prevent others from accessing your data or knowing your likes and dislikes. Your smartphone itself has features that can help you remain "invisible" in the digital world. However, most users don't utilize these safety features.

Prevent location and movement tracking

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Whether your iPhone or Android, it keeps a record of your every location, from the gym to the office to your secret places. iOS users should go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations. From here, delete the history and turn it off. Your location will stop being tracked.

Your phone's name (e.g., 'Vimal iPhone') is visible to every public scanner within 50 feet. Change it to something generic like "System-Error-404" or "Pixel-Null" to prevent strangers from discovering your true identity.

Control of sensors and microphones

Apps often use your microphone 24/7. The sudden appearance of ads could be the result of 'ultrasonic cross-device pings,' where your phone makes sounds that humans can't hear, but your smart TV and laptop can. iOS users should visit their privacy dashboard. If a game or calculator app needs microphone access, block it immediately. For other apps, select "Only while using the app."

Don't let your photos be used for spying

When you post a photo on social media, your exact home address (location data) is also included with the photo. Before sharing a photo, disable location metadata in your settings.

Reset Tracking and Advertising ID

Your Advertising ID is a digital fingerprint that connects your behavior across different apps. Go to your privacy settings and click 'Reset Advertising Identifier.' Do this at least once a month.

App Tracking

Apple gives you the option to “Request apps not to track you.” Make sure this option is always 'Off' in Settings → Privacy → Tracking.

Internet browsing and background data:Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) monitors which websites you visit and sometimes sells this data. Safari and Chrome are products of the same data-collecting companies. Instead, use the Brave or DuckDuckGo browsers, which block trackers by default.

Background refresh

Apps continue to send information about your battery level and location even when you're asleep. Turn off Background App refresh completely by going to Setting →General.This will protect  your privacy and save battery.

Keyboard and email spying

Your phone also learns your spoken language and passwords to make typing faster, but this 'learning file' can be a treasure trove for a hacker. Reset the Keyboard Dictionary from time to time by going to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset. Marketers hide 'tracking pixels' in emails which let them know when and where you opened the mail. Go to mail settings and turn on 'Protect Mail Activity', this hides your IP address.

Network and SIM card safety

Hackers often steal your data by creating fake Wi-Fi networks like "Starbucks-Guest." Disable "Auto-Join Hotspot" in your Wi-Fi settings to prevent your phone from accidentally connecting to unsecured networks. If your phone is stolen, the thief can insert your SIM into another phone and obtain the OTP. Go to Settings → Cellular → SIM PIN and set a 4-digit code. This code will be required when activating the SIM in another phone.

 PC: News18