![\"Bangkok.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260423898-f48c.jpg\")
\n\t\tDo you have any of the \u2018data hungry\u2019 apps installed? (Picture: Shutterstock\/Thaspol Sangsee)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDo you have any of the \u2018data hungry\u2019 apps installed? (Picture: Shutterstock\/Thaspol Sangsee)<\/p>\n
Some of the most popular smartphone<\/a> apps have been downloaded by hundreds of millions of people.<\/p>\n But experts have warned that some of these seemingly harmless<\/a> apps are in fact requesting \u2018shocking\u2019 levels of access to your personal data.<\/p>\n An investigation by Which? found that 20 popular apps, including Ali Express, Facebook<\/a> and WhatsApp<\/a>, ask for \u2018risky\u2019 permissions such as access to your location, microphone, or files on your device.<\/p>\n This is despite the apps not needing access to this information to function \u2013 which means users could be compromising their privacy when rapidly tapping \u2018agree\u2019 to any permission requests which pop up.<\/p>\n While most of the apps they looked into are free to download and use, Which? editor Harry Rose warned that \u2018users are paying with their data\u2019.<\/p>\n He added: \u2018Millions of us rely on apps each day to help with everything from keeping on top of our health and fitness to doing online shopping.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018While many of these apps appear to be free to use, our research has shown how users are in fact paying with their data \u2013 often in scarily vast quantities.<\/p>\n \u2018Our research underscores why it\u2019s so important to check what you\u2019re agreeing to<\/a> when you download a new app.\u2019<\/p>\n The worst offender was Chinese app Xiaomi Home, which asked for 91 permissions, five of which described as \u2018risky\u2019.<\/p>\n Risky permissions include\u00a0those that access your microphone, can read files on your device, or see your precise location \u2013 which mean businesses can target users with \u2018uncannily\u2019 accurate adverts.<\/p>\n Samsung\u2019s Smart Things app asked for 82 permissions (of which eight are risky), followed by Facebook<\/a> (69 permissions, six risky) and WhatsApp<\/a> (66 permissions, six risky).\u00a0<\/p>\n In some cases there are clear uses for risky permissions \u2013 for example, WhatsApp may need microphone access to allow for voice notes and audio calls.<\/p>\n But in others, the need for these risky permissions was less clear cut. Four of the apps (AliExpress, Facebook, WhatsApp and Strava) requested permission to see what other apps have been recently used or are currently running.<\/p>\n Meta (Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram)<\/p>\n All apps require some data to set up an account \u2013 usually an email address.<\/p>\n However, Which? found Facebook appeared to request the most data to set up an account, requiring the user\u2019s first and last name, birthday, and gender.<\/p>\n In response to the research, Meta said none of its apps \u2018run the microphone in the background or have any access to it with user involvement\u2019. <\/p>\n It said that users must \u2018explicitly approve\u2019 in their operating system for the app to access the microphone for the first time.<\/p>\n Samsung (Smart Things)<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Samsung<\/a> said: \u2018At Samsung, we recognise the importance of privacy and data protection.<\/p>\n \u2018All our apps, including SmartThings, are designed to comply with UK data protection laws and relevant guidance from the Information Commissioner\u2019s Office (ICO). <\/p>\n \u2018Our phones come equipped with Google\u2019s Android operating system, which by default helps protect users by giving them control over what data apps can access. <\/p>\n \u2018We fully comply with Google\u2019s operating system policies, including SmartThings. SmartThings only uses the permissions needed for the app to function properly and deliver the best possible user experience.\u2019<\/p>\n How to make sure apps aren\u2019t accessing your data without permission<\/p>\n \t\t Which? recommends a few ways to increase your privacy when using apps, including:<\/p>\n Limit or revoke permissions in the Apps and Permissions section of your device\u2019s settings. You can limit or revoke permissions app by app \u2013 but revoking entirely could block some app features<\/p>\n Use the app settings to check what additional privacy controls are included in the app. You may be able to limit data tracking, revoke some consents, and lock down your account to some data sharing<\/p>\n Delete the app if you aren\u2019t sure about it \u2013 and make sure all your account data is deleted too. If you no longer use an app, delete it and stop giving them access to your data<\/p>\n Check privacy information on the App Store or Google Play, which will list all the permissions each app will request<\/p>\n Read the privacy policy \u2013 or if you don\u2019t want to read the entire thing, just take a look at the data collection and sharing section<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\tComments Arrow Arrow![\"smartphone](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260423800-3810.jpg\")
\n\t\tSome of these apparently harmless apps request \u2018shocking\u2019 levels of access to your personal data (Picture: Shutterstock\/Primakov)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2199471016-4e1c.jpg\")
\n\t\tThere are ways to improve your privacy (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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