Your Phone Is Tracking You: Here's How to Stop It

Your smartphone knows where you live, where you work, where you shop, and where you sleep. It knows your doctor's office, your favorite bar, and whether you've been going to the gym.

This isn't paranoia — it's just how phones work. The question is: who else gets to see this data?

Who's Tracking You?

When you use a smartphone, location data flows to:

1. Your phone's OS (Google or Apple)
2. Apps you've installed (often more than they need)
3. Your mobile carrier
4. Advertisers (through tracking IDs)
5. Data brokers (who buy and sell this information)

This data can be used for targeted advertising, sold to third parties, subpoenaed by law enforcement, or leaked in data breaches.

The Good News

Both iOS and Android have improved privacy controls in recent years. You don't have to be a tech expert to reduce tracking significantly.

For iPhone Users

1. Disable Location for Unnecessary Apps

Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services

For each app, choose:

• Never — The app can't access location at all
• Ask Next Time — You decide each time
• While Using — Only when the app is open

Be ruthless. Does your flashlight app really need to know where you are?

2. Disable Precise Location

Some apps only need a general area, not your exact coordinates. In the same Location Services menu, toggle off Precise Location for apps that don't need it.

3. Turn Off "Significant Locations"

Apple tracks places you visit frequently. Turn this off:

Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations → Toggle off

4. Limit Ad Tracking

Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Toggle off "Allow Apps to Request to Track"

Also: Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → Toggle off "Personalized Ads"

5. Use Safari's Privacy Features

Safari blocks cross-site tracking by default. Make sure it's on:

Settings → Safari → Prevent Cross-Site Tracking → On

For Android Users

1. Audit App Permissions

Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager → Location

Review every app and change to "Allow only while using the app" or "Don't allow" for apps that don't need constant location access.

2. Delete Your Google Location History

Google may have years of your location data. Delete it:

Go to myactivity.google.com → Location History → Delete all

Then turn off future collection.

3. Disable Ad Personalization

Settings → Privacy → Ads → Toggle off "Opt out of Ads Personalization"

4. Use Private DNS

This blocks some tracking at the network level:

Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS → Set to dns.adguard.com or dns.quad9.net

5. Review Google Settings

Visit myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy and review what Google is collecting. Turn off:

• Web & App Activity
• Location History
• YouTube History

Both Platforms: General Tips

Turn Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning

Even when Wi-Fi is "off," your phone may still scan for networks (which can be used to track you).

• iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Toggle off Networking & Wireless
• Android: Settings → Location → Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning → Off

Use a Privacy-Focused Browser

Switch from Chrome to Firefox or Brave for everyday browsing. They block trackers by default.

Be Careful with "Free" Apps

If an app is free and isn't from a non-profit, you're probably paying with your data. Check what permissions it requests before installing.

The Nuclear Options

If you want maximum privacy:

1. Use a VPN — Hides your IP address from websites and your ISP
2. Use Signal instead of regular SMS — End-to-end encrypted messaging
3. Get a secondary phone number — Apps like MySudo provide burner numbers
4. Consider a privacy-focused phone — GrapheneOS on a Pixel device removes Google entirely

Balance Privacy with Convenience

You don't have to go full paranoid. Even implementing half of these recommendations will dramatically reduce your tracking footprint.

Start with the easy wins:

1. Audit app location permissions (5 minutes)
2. Turn off ad tracking (1 minute)
3. Delete location history (2 minutes)

Small changes add up to meaningful privacy improvements.