Smartphone privacy: How to stop apps and websites from spying on you
In today's reality, each of us owns a smartphone, which has become an indispensable part of everyday life. Although it is a fantastic device that simplifies life, it can also serve as a tool for spying. How can you check which apps and websites have access to your camera?
2:12 PM EDT, June 5, 2024
Many apps installed on your smartphone currently require permission to access the camera. Granting this permission opens the door for potential hackers who can watch you through the device's front camera. Below, we present a simple way to limit access to the camera to reduce the risk of violating your privacy.
Limit camera access on your phone
Modern smartphones are packed with features aimed at simplifying our daily lives. Media encourages the installation of more apps, which involves creating accounts and sharing data, including camera access.
Communication or photo editing apps indeed need such access, but in many other cases, it is not essential for the application's proper functioning. So, if you're worried that your phone might be used as a spying tool, use the method below, especially if you have an Android smartphone.
Start by reviewing the apps on your phone. Do you need all of them? If not, delete those, just taking up space in your device's memory.
After finishing your clean-up, go to your smartphone's settings, find the "apps" tab, and click the three dots at the top corner of the screen. A list will appear with an option for "permission manager." Next, select "camera" and check which apps can access the camera. Consider which of them need this permission. The more apps, the greater the risk that hackers may infect one.
Websites can spy on you too
When visiting new websites, you usually have to accept terms and agree to tracking and sharing certain features, including access to your phone's camera. Over time, you may forget that some websites have ongoing access to this feature of your device. Therefore, it's worth periodically cleaning your browser of excess sites that have permission to access the camera.
How do you do it? Open the browser, click the three dots at the top corner of the screen, then go to "settings" and select "site settings." The final step is to click the "camera" option and uncheck all the sites that appear. With a few simple clicks, your phone becomes safer and protects you from unwanted observers.
