Sunday 16 October 2016

Smartphone tips by Blade IT


How much do you reveal about yourself by using a smartphone, using common apps.

*What you search for*

When you google anything, a record is kept by the company, who in turn, sells that data to marketing companies & third parties who may be interested in what you are searching for. Practically, you may search for a road test for a particular car, as soon as you do, you can expect to see adverts for new/used cars, insurance policies, satellite tracking etc.



_To prevent this, us a search engine that does not track you. Eg.https://duckduckgo.com returns similar results than google does and searches are anonymous._

*Your email*

If you use a gmail account, the contents are screened & interrogated by teams of computers, all designed to extract personal information about you. This is then sold to third parties & adverts are fired at you.

_To prevent this, use a paid for email account, @telkom  @yourcompanyname etc. These can't be accessed by anyone other than your service providers, who are by law, not bound to hand over your emails to authorities._

*Surfing the web*

Most browsers will retain a history, which you can easily retrieve, should you wish to do so. If you use Google’s chrome, they sell your browsing data to third parties, again, to target you. Pages like Facebook, will also sell your data, each time you click on a friend’s photograph, someone you don’t know, or an advert on your page.

_To prevent this, use a browser like Firefox. You can install extensions that prevent third party data collection & ad blockers. You can also use a browser in private mode_

*Reducing your data costs*

Data is consumed by the apps your install, when you surf the web, share media files, etc. The are no FREE apps. let me repeat that… THERE ARE NO FREE APPS. Get into the habit of buying software. Each time you download a free game or silly app that supposedly remembers where you parked your car.. you are giving companies you know nothing about access to your private data. This includes your messages, contacts, browsing data, the apps you have installed, etc.

_Check your phone settings, make sure you give data access to the apps only you approve. A practical example, you may download a free app which uses R10 a week, when the app costs only R10 and contains no adverts._

*Your location*

If you use google maps, you are revealing your location data to Google and its business partners. Everywhere you go, when you go, how often you go etc… This data is sold to ppl who wish to use that information.

_To prevent this, use Apple maps or turn off location tracking within Google Maps. Note that Waze is owned by Google maps. There are community mapping apps, Garmin etc… these do not track your movements. *WARNING!!* Never tell the whole world where you are. You can tell them where you’ve been._

*Your photographs*

Your photos and photos of anyone you shoot, is private. When you upload a photo to Facebook or Google, you inadvertently hand over joint ownership to them. This allows them to use your photos as they see fit. It is not a good practice.

_To protect your privacy, use Instagram in private mode. Don't upload personal photographs to Facebook and don't tag anyone you know, without their permission._

*General*

Use a passcode to protect your device from intruders. Use a code as opposed to your fingerprint to unlock your phone. Authorities can't force you to reveal a PIN code, but a judge can instruct you to unlock your phone with your finger print.

Don't allow all apps to access your contacts, and personal data.

Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp are one organisation, you need to be weary of how you use your phone. I've already had an instance where I was contacted by someone, who’s number was not saved on my phone, a day later she was suggested as a friend on Facebook.

Consider that these organisations are worth billions of dollars. Why? because selling your private data is very profitable.

*Protect your data and guard against intrusion.*‎ ~my~


By: Blade It www.bladeit.co.za

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