Do a Privacy Checkup at Least Once Per Month
Keeping your iPhone safe and secure is important, and so is your privacy. Try going through the following checklist at least once a month:
- Check all of your privacy settings. Go to Settings > Privacy and just start looking at every category. Do you want YouTube to have access to your mic right now? Do you need Bluetooth for Hulu? In fact, Bluetooth is one of the ways many apps and services track you. What about your camera and photos, are you comfortable with the apps you use accessing and uploading these to their servers? These are all things to consider.
- Also under Privacy, are Analytics and Improvements and Advertising. Use the first section to control what data gets sent to Apple and the other to limit what gets sent to advertisers.
- Use a VPN, as previously mentioned.
- Delete apps you no longer need or use, and close down dormant accounts. By leaving accounts open, you risk passwords being exposed by hackers, or having an account be used to help gain access to other accounts.