When you’re an Android user, taking advantage of all the apps offered to you can seem really fun at first, but it’s always important to look out for your safety.
With today’s modern technology, most Androids have built-in safety features, but that’s not always the case when it comes to apps and the type of data they take from you. Using information from tech experts, we’re sharing three Android apps you should delete if you want to do the most you can to protect your data. Read more about them below.
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1. Facebook
Facebook is like the blueprint for most of today's major social media apps, and as it's evolved, many tech and cybersecurity pros have noticed just how much more invasive it's become data-wise.
"Facebook is one of the apps that invades your privacy; they track you across websites even if you're logged out," says AI and cybersecurity expert Fergal Glynn. "It collects your location data, contact information, and browsing habits for tailor-made advertising. Facebook silently gathers your data from Android devices by going around Google's privacy protections. There are more privacy violations and fines by Facebook than any other social media company."
2. Free Utility Apps
If you've ever wished your Android had more features, wanted to upgrade your battery without getting a new one, or needed help cleaning out some storage, then there's a chance you might've downloaded a few free utility apps like a 'cleaner' one. Though they may promise good things, they can be quite risky.
"The application itself may be doing the task it claims to be doing, but in the background, it is collecting behavioural data and selling it to third-party companies," explains tech pro Steven Athwal. "This data may range from usage data to advertising IDs and, in some cases, even motion data. The problem isn't that Android is not secure, it's that people will give it full access without realising what that actually means."
3. Instagram
Though it might seem straightforward and reliable, now that it falls under Meta, tech experts are stressing that Instagram can be just as invasive as Facebook in terms of how much of your data it collects, making it unsuitable for those who want more privacy.
"Instagram is also owned by Meta, and it operates in a similar way," adds Fergal. "They track your behavior all over the internet and share your data within Meta. Both Facebook and Instagram collect information across 32 data points and use 7 specifically for tracking you, including your name, address, and phone number."
