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If you are concerned about privacy, one of the key components of your digital life to address is the apps that you use daily. Some apps are known for sharing your data with outside advertisers — Facebook comes to mind. But there are others that are loose with your security in more discreet ways. Tech Expert Jenelle Fulton-Brown at VPNReactor spoke with SHEFinds.com about the scary app you should remove from your phone ASAP — and a few more to keep on your radar, as well.
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It’s the app that has taken the world by storm — one hailed as the social media platform you need to build your brand, business, and stay connected to friends and influencers. But TikTok is also gaining a reputation as an app that may not be as secure as you think.
“Did you know that in the TikTok privacy policy, the company states that your acceptance grants them access to a world of your personal information including logging your keystroke pattern,” Fulton-Brown says. “They’ve also admitted to a number of security flaws in the past 12 months.”
Perhaps you expect the worst privacy breaches from social media apps and have decided they are worth the risk. You may not feel the same way about apps that do less to connect you to the outside world. One example is Words With Friends.
“Yes, your favorite ‘family friendly’ game made by Zynga will collect all sorts of personal data from you when you grant it access including location, Facebook ID, contacts from your address book and approximate physical location amongst the most concerning,” Fulton-Brown confirms.
And another seemingly innocent app is one disguised as incredibly useful: AccuWeather.
“With over 2.5 million downloads across the App Store and Google’s Play Store, AccuWeather tracks your location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Fulton-Brown says. “This data can then be sold by the app to advertisers or other 3rd parties - which you agreed to in the terms of service by the way.”
Bottom line: always read the fine print before you sign off on Terms of Service agreements and keep in mind that even the most enjoyable, silly, or helpful apps can be major invaders of your privacy.
