7+ phone privacy settings to check and turn off ASAP to stop data exposure
Your phone may be broadcasting your location, camera, and mic without you knowing.
In a recent ZDNET article, contributing writer Charlie Osborne warns that smartphone permissions can quietly invade your privacy. Every app you install asks for some level of access—GPS, camera, microphone—and if left unchecked, these permissions can expose your daily routines, conversations, and even your physical location to third parties. The article provides a step-by-step guide to locating permission managers: on Android, go to Settings > Security and privacy > More privacy settings > Permission manager; on iOS, you'll find them under Settings > Privacy & Security or within individual app settings.
Osborne highlights three critical permissions to audit immediately: location, camera, and microphone. Location access should be set to 'only while using the app' or turned on manually, as always-on GPS can reveal your home, work, and frequent haunts. Similarly, camera and microphone permissions should never be left on all the time—they drain battery and risk unauthorized recording. The overarching advice is to restrict permissions to 'while using the app' for any app that doesn't absolutely need background access. Regularly reviewing these settings can drastically reduce your digital footprint and protect against stalking, data brokers, and spyware.
- Location, camera, and microphone permissions are the top three to restrict—set them to 'while using the app' only.
- On Android, find permissions under Settings > Security & privacy > Permission manager; on iOS, go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Always-on permissions can reveal your home, work, and habits, and may drain battery or enable spying via camera/mic.
Why It Matters
Proactively managing app permissions is one of the simplest ways to protect your personal data from exposure.