Apps collect sensitive data about you. Learn what they're gathering and how to control it.
# Privacy and Data: What Apps Collect About You and How to Control It
Apps are everywhere, but do you know what data they're collecting? Here's what you need to know to protect your privacy.
What Data Do Apps Actually Collect?
[Apps may ask for access to information from your device, like your location, your contacts, or your photos.](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-websites-apps-collect-use-your-information) But the data collection goes deeper than that. [The data collected can reveal sensitive information, such as communications with contacts, search queries about health conditions, political interests, and other affiliations, as well as other highly personal information.](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-websites-apps-collect-use-your-information)
[When you use an app on your smartphone, advertisers may use a unique advertising identifier to track you.](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-websites-apps-collect-use-your-information) This tracking happens even when you're not actively using the app. [Mobile devices can reveal information about a user's location that could be used to build detailed profiles of consumer movements over time and in ways not anticipated by consumers.](https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/mobile-privacy-disclosures-building-trust-through-transparency-federal-trade-commission-staff-report/130201mobileprivacyreport.pdf)
Why Should You Care?
The numbers are striking. [54% of app users have decided to not install a cell phone app once they discovered how much personal information they would need to share in order to use it, and 30% of app users have uninstalled an app that was already on their cell phone because they learned it was collecting personal information that they didn't wish to share.](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/09/05/main-findings-7/)
Real consequences exist too. [The FTC said that the makers of the Flo app shared users' personal health information with marketing and analytics companies like Facebook and Google — even though it had promised users to keep this sensitive information private.](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/01/does-your-health-app-protect-your-sensitive-info)
The good news? You have more control than you think. [App permissions are a set of controls found on your computer and mobile device that allow a user to define what categories of data an app can access.](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/training/manage-application-permissions-privacy-and-security)
For Android users: [To find your apps and their permissions on Android, open the Settings and then tap Apps. The menu will show you shortcuts to the permission settings of the four apps you most recently opened, but right under the last one, you can access a full list of every app you've installed on your phone. Tap the name of the app you're interested in and select Permissions to see all the privileges it enjoys.](https://www.popsci.com/control-app-permissions/)
For iPhone users: [On iOS, check on app permissions by opening Settings, then tapping Privacy. Here, iPhones group all the permissions by type, including access to your device's location, the Health app, the microphone, and other functions. Tap any permissions entry to see which apps have requested access and hit the toggle switches to approve or block individual apps in each category.](https://www.popsci.com/control-app-permissions/)
Smart Permission Practices
[A great rule of thumb is to deny access to any data or functions you do not wish the app to have or perform. Just because an app requests access to your camera doesn't mean you need to enable camera permissions if you do not use the app's camera function.](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/training/manage-application-permissions-privacy-and-security)
[If you're not sure why an app is asking for a particular permission, don't shut it down immediately. First, look at its official website or its listing on the Google Play Store to see if it explains why it needs that access.](https://www.popsci.com/control-app-permissions/)
Before downloading, check what the app collects. [The data safety section in Google Play provides details about what data an app can access and use. That way you can confidently decide which apps to download.](https://www.android.com/safety/privacy/)
Browser and Device-Level Controls
You can also control tracking at the system level. [Your browser's privacy settings let you choose whether to allow or block personalized ads based on your browsing history. And your phone also has a setting that lets you opt out of personalized ads from the company that makes the operating system (for example, Apple or Google).](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-websites-apps-collect-use-your-information)
The Bottom Line
[Properly managing your app permissions can help decrease the risk of personal information is shared or sold to third parties.](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/training/manage-application-permissions-privacy-and-security) Take 10 minutes this week to review your app permissions—it's one of the easiest ways to protect your privacy.
Sources
[Federal Trade Commission: How Websites and Apps Collect and Use Your Information](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-websites-apps-collect-use-your-information)
[CISA: Manage Application Permissions for Privacy and Security](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/training/manage-application-permissions-privacy-and-security)
[Pew Research Center: Main Findings on App Privacy](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/09/05/main-findings-7/)
[FTC: Does Your Health App Protect Your Sensitive Info?](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/01/does-your-health-app-protect-your-sensitive-info)
[Google Android: Privacy Settings and Permissions](https://www.android.com/safety/privacy/)
[Pop Science: How to Take Control of Your Apps' Permissions](https://www.popsci.com/control-app-permissions/)
