Almost all the apps on your phone collect data to some extent. The practice is common, whether for the device maker or an application developer, because programmers need data to improve the user experience..
But the increase in cybercrime cases and the questionable use of data collected by companies has given users reason to fear for their privacy.
Earlier this week, Google was caught in the act of collecting secret location data from Android mobile phone users, even though the user has already turned off their location services. Companies such as Uber, UC Browser, and even OnePlus often come under the scanner for their data collection tactics..
Before you start bashing these companies, it should be understood that modern apps, especially those on mobile phones, need access to device data in order to function. For example, you need to turn on location in Facebook in order to register at a certain location. Even Google Maps uses your location data to give you better navigation services. In fact, the traffic data in Google Maps comes from anonymous information on millions of Android phones that people carry along the road.
That is, it is important to be able to control the authorized access mode of an application. Here are some easy to use steps to control data on your Android device..
Location settings for apps
You can always check which apps are using your location data by launching Settings> Security & Location> Location .
You can also check this by going to Settings> Apps> tap on a specific app . While this helps you check all kinds of access that a particular app has, the above step makes it easier to monitor your location access.
Google location services
Every time you set up a new Android phone, a long message from Google will appear on your screen. While you may be able to ignore the post as with other page terms of service, it's important to note that Google is actually asking you in the post for permission to grant access to location services.
Google's location services use resources like Wi-Fi and mobile networks to "provide faster, more accurate location information."
While you may have given access while configuring the device, you can still disable it. Launch Settings> Security & Location . You can choose the Device Only option where Google will only use GPS to determine your location.
Phones like the OnePlus 5T give you two more options: high precision and battery saving . "High accuracy" means that the device will transmit data such as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth or mobile networks to determine location. In "battery saving" mode, the GPS will be excluded.
If you turn off Location completely , all apps will lose access to the location. But it also means that "many features will be disabled," warns Google.
Position history
Likewise, you can clear all places saved by Google by going to Settings> Location> Google Location History . If you have multiple Google accounts on your Android device, you need to switch between accounts to clear data individually.
My activity
One of the easiest ways to monitor your data and anything Google has ever accessed is by visiting the "My Activity" dashboard. The dashboard includes a wide range of data ranging from your recent searches to thefts of certain apps.
You can delete the saved data by visiting Delete activity . You can customize your search by keyword or filter by product, then choose to remove the results from the given options.
Bonus tip
Did you know that the voice commands you give to research are saved? You can access all of your voice search histories on your Android phone by going to My Activity> Audio & Voice Activity History . Choose the three vertical dots in the upper right corner and tap / click on the delete options. You can choose to delete your recent searches or the entire history, just like you would clear your history on a browser.