Top 20 Apps to Track You Every Day

If something is free, you are the product for sale. This is especially true for most of the online services we use. for example, Google’s main sources It’s a revenue ad. They collect data about you and me and make money by selling targeted ads to businesses, which shows products that are relevant to our profits.

You may have noticed that the moment you search for a product on Google, you will see ads on Facebook. The same applies to apps such as Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn. In fact, research shows that the apps that collect the most data about customers are one of the most widely used apps.

Let’s take a look at the top 20 of them and explore how you can take control of you personal information.

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Probably the most invasive apps you use

The app collects all kinds of data about you, but let’s straighten one thing. Not all data collection is bad. Some apps really need access to certain information to function properly. For example, Uber can help you store location data and find rides faster, but WhatsApp requires access to contacts, so you can send messages.

The real problem is data collection that does not serve its purpose other than displaying advertisements or selling information to third parties. According to Marin Marinčić, head of IT infrastructure nsoftthe top 20 most invasive apps collect data that you don’t need for core functions.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

It is the meta of all four that leads the list. Major Apps. Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and threads share 68% of the data collected with third parties and use it for targeted ads. LinkedIn continues, sharing about 37% of user data, Amazon ranks third, followed by YouTube.

What we are concerned about is how deeply these apps are embedded in our daily lives, making it almost impossible to find alternatives or avoid data collection entirely.

This list includes No. 5 Elon Musk’s X, followed by Uber Eats, PayPal, Uber, Google and Amazon Prime videos. Tiktok ranks 14th despite continued scrutiny of data policy. Many of these names were expected, but one surprising entry is the mobile game Candy Crush, which uses 28% of the ADS collected data. You can find the complete list in the image below.

Hidden Costs of Free Apps: Your Personal Information

Looking for an alternative is the only solution

With the above apps, it is almost impossible to avoid data collection. The only way to dodge these invasive apps is to switch to apps that respect privacy. It may seem impossible to replace some of the biggest platforms, but there are alternatives that collect little or no unnecessary data.

• For messagingthe signal is one of the best options. Unlike WhatsApp, it does not store metadata or share information with third parties. If you need a search engine that doesn’t track your activity, See these options Instead of Google.
• Regarding social mediaMastodon and Bluesky offer decentralized alternatives to Twitter.
• For those who want to exchange YouTubePeertube and Nebula are worth exploring.
• If you shop frequently on Amazonconsider small online retailers or direct branded websites that may be unlikely to track any movement.
• Instead of Google Driveto consider These solutions Provides cloud storage with strong encryption.

Switching to these alternatives may take some effort, but it is the best way to limit how much your personal data is collected. Controlling your privacy starts with making conscious choices about the apps you use.

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How to get rid of Robocalls using the app and data removal service

Five Ways to Reduce Data Sharing

If you are unable to delete the above apps, follow the simple steps below to minimize the amount of information collected and shared.

1. Please check the app permissions: Most apps require access to data that you don’t actually need. Go to your phone settings and check the app permissions iPhone and Android. Disable access to locations, microphones, contacts and other sensitive data unless absolutely necessary.

2. Turn off ad personalization: Many companies track online activity to show targeted ads. This can be restricted by disabling ad personalization Google, Facebookand other accounts. This reduces the amount of data collected about interests and behavior.

3. Limit social media tracking: Social media platforms track your activity even if you are not using it. Adjust your privacy settings Limit data collection.

4. Do not sign in to Google or Facebook: Many websites use Google or Facebook to provide login options. It’s useful, but this shares even more data with these platforms. Instead, create individual accounts using email whenever possible.

5. Uses Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Private Browsing mode. a vpn It helps to hide your IP address and obscure your location and online activity, making it difficult for your website to track you. In combination with private browsing or incognito mode, this reduces the amount of data that businesses can collect about online activities. VPN services allow you to enhance privacy by encrypting your internet traffic, making it difficult for hackers and third parties to intercept your data, especially public Wi-Fi.

VPNs do not directly prevent phishing emails, but they reduce the exposure of your browsing habits to trackers that use this data maliciously. A VPN allows you to securely access your email account from anywhere, even in areas with restrictive internet policies. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for your personal browsing the web Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices

6. Clean up your regular app: Uninstall the app It is no longer used to reduce passive data collection.

How to delete private data from the Internet

App-specific suggestions for protecting your digital footprint

Use these important privacy adjustments to protect your personal information across the popular platforms listed above.

Facebook/Instagram/Thread:

• Disable activity tracking Settings > Privacy > Activity Tracking.
• erase “Apps, websites, games” Limits third-party data sharing.

LinkedIn:

• Turn off ad targeting Settings > Ad Settings.
• Disable it Profile viewing history.

Amazon/Prime Video:

• Opt out of personalized ads in your account settings.
• Disable Alexa Voice Data Storage to restrict sharing (if applicable).

YouTube/Google products (Gmail, Google Maps, etc.):

• Disable ad personalization below Google Account > Data and Personalization > Ad Settings.
• Turn off location history and web/app activity tracking.

Uber/Uber Eats:

• Use the app Only when necessary If possible, avoid storing payment methods.
• Disable tracking After vehicle/delivery is complete.

PayPal:

• Limit sharing below Settings > Privacy and Security By opting out of data sharing for marketing purposes.

Snapchat:

• Disable location sharing in the snapmap and turn off ad personalizations below Ad Settings.

Tiktok:

• Limit personalized content recommendations Privacy>Personalization and Data.
• Please avoid posting unnecessary personal information.

Spotify:

• Adjust your data sharing settings Account Settings>Privacy Settings.
• Opt out of tailored ads.

roblox:

• set Strict privacy controls Account settings, especially for kids.
• Using another one, Disposable email For account registration.

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Important points of cart

The best way for businesses to reduce data collection is to remove invasive apps from their phones. Many apps require unnecessary permissions that can track activity, so removing them limits exposure. Instead of downloading standalone apps, try using the browser version of popular social media platforms, as there are generally fewer permissions.

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However, web tracking still exists via cookies and fingerprinting, Privacy-focused browser Like Brave, Firefox with enhanced tracking protection, or Safari with intelligent tracking prevention (ITP), can further reduce data collection. However, some apps are very deeply integrated, so it’s difficult to swap them. For example, if you’re using an Android phone, it’s almost impossible to avoid Google’s ecosystem. Meanwhile, Apple offers more privacy controls and better options for users to limit data collection.

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