Apps that can track you are very common and often harmless. They track your location for them to work correctly.
But if you want more privacy, you have the option to stop the apps from knowing your every move.
Apps With Location Data Access
Before you stop an app from tracking your location, it is important to determine why it does it in the first place.
Navigation apps like Google Maps have access to your location because it is designed to know where you are in order to accurately give you directions.
The most common apps that track your location are rideshare apps, news and weather apps, deal and coupon apps, streaming apps, car insurance apps and social media apps.
If you are using an iPhone with iOS 14, you have the ability to control how an app would behave. You can grant it permission to access your current location or you can block its location data access, according to How to Geek.
If you prefer the latter, here's a step by step guide.
How to Stop Downloaded Apps From Tracking You
iOS 14 is straightforward with its approach to location tracking.
If you want to turn the feature off a certain app, just go to "Settings," tap on "Privacy," and select "Location Services." You can then choose to toggle "Location Services" off permanently.
You should also see a list of all the apps that have location data access, so you can decide whether you want them to access your location or not. You can choose between "Never," "While Using the App," or "Always."
Remember, disabling the location services of some apps may affect their overall performance, so it is best to carefully select which ones you deny access to.
Disable Location Tracking to Newly Downloaded Apps
New apps ask for your permission before it tracks your location. You will see a pop-up message showing you what the app would track if you give it access to your data.
If you do not want a newly downloaded app to know your location, you can tap "Ask App Not to Track" or "Block" on the pop-up message.
If you no longer want apps to request location tracking going forward, you can disable the feature by going to "Settings" and tapping "Privacy."
Under "Privacy," select "Tracking," and you should be able to toggle off "Allow Apps to Request to Track."
Once you've disabled this feature, apps will be blocked from asking you permission as you've already requested not to be tracked, according to 9to5Mac.
Dealing With Third Party Companies
According to Digital Trends, iOS can't determine what data third-party companies had collected while you were using their apps. The software also can't remove the data that third-party apps have already stored.
You can contact the company that collected your data and file a request to have your data removed, but there is no guarantee that your request will be granted.
Related Article: How to Track a Cell Phone Location Without Them Knowing
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Sophie Webster
