{"id":519833,"date":"2026-04-08T16:24:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T16:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/519833\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T16:24:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T16:24:16","slug":"fbi-warning-stop-this-tracking-on-your-smartphone-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/519833\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI Warning\u2014Stop This Tracking On Your Smartphone Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enough is enough. That\u2019s the key takeaway from the FBI\u2019s warning to iPhone and Android users<\/a> that apps on their smartphones are harvesting their data and tracking their devices. The bureau\u2019s focus is Chinese apps, but the risk is widespread, and you need stop this tracking now.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisable unnecessary data sharing,\u201d the FBI<\/a> warns in its new guidance to citizens. \u201cData security risks are not specific to only mobile apps or those which are foreign-developed. Good cyber hygiene is crucial to protecting your digital identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBESMicrosoft Now Forces Windows Upgrade On Millions Of PCsBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you own an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security<\/a>. You\u2019ll find three tracking settings to check and change. First is Location Services. This lists every app that has permission to track you and your device. Disable or change permissions for any apps you don\u2019t need to have always-on location access. \u201cWhile Using the App\u201d or \u201cAsk Next Time\u201d are benign. Be careful with apps asking for \u201cAlways.\u201d<\/p>\n

You should also ensure that under Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking, you do not \u201cAllow Apps to Request to Track,\u201d by disabling the setting. I can think of no good reason why anyone would leave this enabled.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

iPhone privacy settings.<\/p>\n

Apple<\/p>\n

Finally, look through the wider permission settings listed app-by-app under Settings > Privacy & Security, focusing on sensitivities such as Contacts, Health and Photos, as well as your Camera and Microphone. Don\u2019t be afraid to disable permissions. If you\u2019re using an app and it needs a permission, it will prompt you.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re on Android, you can use the Privacy Dashboard<\/a>. Search for it on your phone. From there, Google<\/a> explains, \u201cyou can see which apps are accessing data, which permissions apps are using, and when that access is happening. You can also manage permissions for camera, microphone, calendar, and more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Permission management isn\u2019t as easy as on iPhone, but Google has made huge improvements in the last two years, introducing much more robust user controls and protections. You can find details here<\/a>, albeit the actual UX may vary by Android version and manufacturer, with Samsung<\/a> offering even better options.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

Galaxy Privacy Settings.<\/p>\n

Samsung<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can scan your device for threats and resolve any issues right from the Security and privacy screen,\u201d Samsung says. \u201cNavigate to and open Settings, then tap Security and privacy, and your device will automatically be scanned. The first time you visit this feature, you may need to tap Dismiss on the notification. Then, tap the results to resolve any issues if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, just as with iPhones, you\u2019re looking for location settings and access to sensitive data (health, contacts, messages) and functions (phone, microphone, camera). Don\u2019t be afraid to stop anything that concerns you.<\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBESSamsung Issues 14 Critical Fixes For Hundreds Of Millions Of Galaxy PhonesBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The FBI\u2019s warning is to be very robust when it comes to sharing data with foreign-owned apps, especially from China. But you should also err on the side of caution when it comes to any app from any country tracking you and your phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsers should be aware of what user data these apps request access to upon download,\u201d the bureau says. \u201cWhen access is permitted by the user, the app can persistently collect data and users\u2019 private information throughout the device, not just within the app or while the app is active.\u201d<\/p>\n

You have been warned \u2014 check and change your settings now.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published on Forbes.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Enough is enough. That\u2019s the key takeaway from the FBI\u2019s warning to iPhone and Android users that apps…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":519834,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[35417,159686,2306,26716,86,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-519833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-fbi","tag-location-services","tag-mobile","tag-mobile-apps","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=519833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/519834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=519833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=519833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=519833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}