These days, keeping your personal information and data safe online is extremely important in the digital world we live in.
There are lots of devices, websites, apps, and more with built-in safety features that can protect you automatically; however, not all of them are as safe as you think. That’s why, using information from tech experts, we’re listing three apps that you should consider deleting this year in order to protect that sacred information as best you can. Read more about them below.
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1. Flo
Flo is a popular app to help women keep track of their periods and other aspects of their health, offering them calendars, reminders, tips, and more. Though it was once considered a reliable and convenient tool, there have been major data and privacy issues. Now, some tech experts are suggesting you ditch it entirely and stop giving it your information.
"The Flo app shared private information from 38 million users with Meta without consent," explains cybersecurity pro Vlad Cristescu. "Meta then targeted those users with ads."
2. Dating Apps (Grindr, Tinder, More)
In today's modern age, dating looks a whole lot different from how it did in previous decades. One of the most common forms of dating is using a dating app, but as it turns out, they can access and use more of your personal information than you may think.
"Dating apps update your GPS location every single time you open the app," says tech safety pro Adam Pilton. "Tinder and Bumble display distance metrics like '2.3 miles away' to show how close matches are, which means the app is actively tracking and broadcasting your position. Grindr was one that came to my attention. Some years ago, researchers discovered a triangulation vulnerability in Grindr's location system that allowed attackers to pinpoint users' exact coordinates."
3. Duolingo
The language-learning app has become an essential part of people's routines. Though it's great to always be eager to learn, keep up a streak, and educate yourself, this particular app has been known to collect more data than usually expected, prompting many to get rid of it.
"Most people understandably think of Duolingo as a harmless app for learning a new language," adds Aimee Simpson. "But they might be surprised to learn the app collects a huge amount of sensitive information. That includes personally identifiable information and even webcam and microphone recordings if users take a language test on the app. Also, keep in mind that Duolingo experienced a massive data leak in 2023, when data on 2.6 million users was compromised."
