Proven Tech Tips To Prevent Phone Tracking
This is a collaborative post. Thank you for supporting the posts which make this blog possible.
The advent of mobile technology is a boon and blessing at the same time. While mobile devices keep you connected on the go, they also open up security risks. Hackers can access your data and find your location through your device. You can imagine the risk to your privacy and security in these circumstances. Thankfully, you can do your bit to address these concerns, but you must know the technology basics. The good thing is that even non-tech-savvy users can implement some simple measures to protect themselves from tracking and hacking. Let us share a few proven tech tips to prevent phone tracking.
Photo by Bagus Hernawan on Unsplash
Turn off your phone
The easiest way to stop tracking is by shutting down your phone because it puts the device in an isolated ecosystem. Besides addressing tracking issues, you need not worry about spyware and hacking attacks with this simple measure. But it may not be a practical step for most people because being without a device is like cutting your connections. However, you may borrow a device to call and back up your data on a computer.
Switch to airplane mode
Switching to airplane mode is another savvy solution to prevent passive location tracking. You only need to change the setting, and it hardly takes a few seconds to obscure your whereabouts from the world. The mode shuts off the cell and Wi-Fi radios inside your phone, which means it can no longer connect to networks. However, the downside of using the mode is that you cannot make calls or use the internet.
Disable location settings
Another simple measure to avoid tracking is by disabling location settings. Manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google record and store movements through the GPS function. But you can hide your location by following some steps, which may vary a bit for Android and iOS phones. Turning off the settings disables the functionality of some apps and services, so you will not have the convenience of checking maps and local businesses. However, it is a small price to protect your privacy.
Use a VPN
Using a virtual private network (VPN) goes a long way in enhancing the location security of your cell phone. Connecting to a VPN alters the IP address of your device through a private network. It means no one can track your location because a different address links back to your phone. However, a VPN will not prevent device tracking when it is offline, so you must consider the factor.
Watch app permissions
Every new app you download will seek tracking permission from the outset. But you have the option to deny these permissions if you do not want the app to track your location down the line. Besides watching app permissions, you must be selective about the ones you download. You need not install all free apps only for the sake of having them on your device. Stick with the trusted and necessary ones.
Location tracking is a concern for phone users, but you can prevent it with these simple tech tips. Also, use technology wisely to avoid security issues in the long run.
Leave a Reply