[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1252},["ShallowReactive",2],{"landing-all-guides":3},[4,340,781],{"id":5,"title":6,"author":7,"body":8,"category":328,"date":329,"description":330,"extension":331,"image":332,"meta":333,"navigation":334,"path":335,"readTime":336,"seo":337,"stem":338,"__hash__":339},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-google-tracking-you.md","How to Stop Google Tracking You","The Privacy Authority",{"type":9,"value":10,"toc":314},"minimark",[11,16,20,23,27,38,47,51,59,88,91,95,98,119,130,134,137,169,173,176,187,191,194,199,224,227,231,234,254,258,261,285,288,292,295,311],[12,13,15],"h2",{"id":14},"the-problem","The Problem",[17,18,19],"p",{},"Google tracks your searches, location history, YouTube watches, voice recordings, app usage, and browsing activity. All of this feeds into an advertising profile that follows you everywhere.",[17,21,22],{},"The good news: you can turn most of it off. The bad news: Google makes it deliberately confusing. This guide walks through every setting that matters.",[12,24,26],{"id":25},"step-1-check-what-google-already-has-on-you","Step 1: Check What Google Already Has on You",[17,28,29,30,37],{},"Go to ",[31,32,36],"a",{"href":33,"rel":34},"https:\u002F\u002Fmyactivity.google.com",[35],"nofollow","myactivity.google.com",". This is everything Google has recorded. Searches, voice commands, places you've been, videos you've watched. Scroll through it. Take a moment to review what's there.",[17,39,40,41,46],{},"Now go to ",[31,42,45],{"href":43,"rel":44},"https:\u002F\u002Fadssettings.google.com",[35],"adssettings.google.com",". This is the advertising profile Google built from all that data. Your age, interests, income bracket, relationship status. Some of it is surprisingly detailed. Some of it is hilariously wrong. All of it is monetized through targeted advertising.",[12,48,50],{"id":49},"step-2-nuke-your-activity-controls","Step 2: Nuke Your Activity Controls",[17,52,29,53,58],{},[31,54,57],{"href":55,"rel":56},"https:\u002F\u002Fmyaccount.google.com\u002Factivitycontrols",[35],"myaccount.google.com\u002Factivitycontrols"," and turn off:",[60,61,62,70,76,82],"ul",{},[63,64,65,69],"li",{},[66,67,68],"strong",{},"Web & App Activity",": This is the big one. It tracks everything you do across Google services and any site using Google ads or analytics (which is most of the internet). Turn it off. Also uncheck \"Include Chrome history and activity from sites, apps, and devices that use Google services.\"",[63,71,72,75],{},[66,73,74],{},"Location History",": Tracks everywhere your phone goes. Turn it off. Note: Google still collects \"approximate location\" from your IP even with this off, but it stops the detailed GPS timeline.",[63,77,78,81],{},[66,79,80],{},"YouTube History",": Every video you watch and search for. Turn it off if you want. This will make your recommendations worse, which is arguably a feature.",[63,83,84,87],{},[66,85,86],{},"Ad Personalization",": Turn it off. Your ads will become generic instead of eerily specific. This is a win.",[17,89,90],{},"After turning these off, click \"Delete activity\" on each one and choose \"All time.\"",[12,92,94],{"id":93},"step-3-fix-chrome-or-better-yet-ditch-it","Step 3: Fix Chrome (or Better Yet, Ditch It)",[17,96,97],{},"Chrome is a Google product. It's fast, but it's also a tracking machine. If you insist on using it:",[99,100,101,104,107,110,113,116],"ol",{},[63,102,103],{},"Go to Settings > Privacy and Security",[63,105,106],{},"Turn off \"Help improve Chrome's features and performance\" (sends usage data to Google)",[63,108,109],{},"Turn off \"Make searches and browsing better\" (sends URLs to Google)",[63,111,112],{},"Set third-party cookies to \"Block third-party cookies\"",[63,114,115],{},"Turn on \"Send a 'Do Not Track' request\" (mostly ignored, but costs you nothing)",[63,117,118],{},"Turn off \"Improve search suggestions\" (sends everything you type in the address bar to Google in real time)",[17,120,121,124,125,129],{},[66,122,123],{},"Better option",": Switch to Firefox or Brave. Both are Chromium-compatible (your extensions still work on Brave) and don't phone home to Google. Check our ",[31,126,128],{"href":127},"\u002Fcompare\u002Fbrowsers","browser comparison"," for a detailed breakdown.",[12,131,133],{"id":132},"step-4-lock-down-android","Step 4: Lock Down Android",[17,135,136],{},"If you're on Android, Google is baked into the OS. You can't fully escape it without switching to a custom ROM (which most people won't do), but you can limit the damage:",[99,138,139,145,151,157,163],{},[63,140,141,144],{},[66,142,143],{},"Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager",": Review which apps have access to your location, camera, mic, contacts. Revoke anything that doesn't need it. That flashlight app does not need your contacts.",[63,146,147,150],{},[66,148,149],{},"Settings > Privacy > Ads",": Delete your advertising ID and opt out of ad personalization.",[63,152,153,156],{},[66,154,155],{},"Settings > Location",": Turn off location for any app that doesn't genuinely need it. Set the rest to \"Only while using the app\" instead of \"Always.\"",[63,158,159,162],{},[66,160,161],{},"Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account",": This takes you to the same activity controls from Step 2. Make sure they're off here too.",[63,164,165,168],{},[66,166,167],{},"Google Play Store > Settings > General",": Turn off \"User controls\" and opt out of data sharing.",[12,170,172],{"id":171},"step-5-handle-google-maps","Step 5: Handle Google Maps",[17,174,175],{},"Google Maps is hard to replace because it's genuinely the best mapping app. But you can use it without feeding Google your entire travel history.",[99,177,178,181,184],{},[63,179,180],{},"Open Maps > tap your profile picture > Settings > Maps history > turn off",[63,182,183],{},"Use Maps without signing in (you can still search and navigate)",[63,185,186],{},"For walking directions and simple lookups, try OpenStreetMap-based alternatives like OsmAnd or Organic Maps",[12,188,190],{"id":189},"step-6-search-without-google","Step 6: Search Without Google",[17,192,193],{},"This is the easiest switch with the biggest impact. Your search history is one of the most revealing datasets about you.",[17,195,196],{},[66,197,198],{},"Alternatives that actually work:",[60,200,201,212,218],{},[63,202,203,206,207,211],{},[66,204,205],{},"DuckDuckGo",": Doesn't track searches, good enough for 90% of queries. Add ",[208,209,210],"code",{},"!g"," to any search to fall back to Google when you need it.",[63,213,214,217],{},[66,215,216],{},"Startpage",": Uses Google's results but strips out the tracking. Best of both worlds.",[63,219,220,223],{},[66,221,222],{},"Brave Search",": Fully independent index, no Google dependency.",[17,225,226],{},"Set your default search engine in your browser settings. You'll forget you switched within a week.",[12,228,230],{"id":229},"step-7-limit-youtube-tracking","Step 7: Limit YouTube Tracking",[17,232,233],{},"If you still use YouTube (and let's be honest, you do):",[99,235,236,239,248,251],{},[63,237,238],{},"Watch in a private\u002Fincognito window when you don't want something in your history",[63,240,241,242,247],{},"Use ",[31,243,246],{"href":244,"rel":245},"https:\u002F\u002Ffreetubeapp.io\u002F",[35],"FreeTube"," on desktop for a privacy-respecting YouTube client",[63,249,250],{},"On mobile, NewPipe (Android) lets you watch without a Google account",[63,252,253],{},"If you must use the official app: Settings > History & privacy > Pause watch history and Pause search history",[12,255,257],{"id":256},"the-nuclear-option","The Nuclear Option",[17,259,260],{},"If you want to go all the way:",[99,262,263,271,279,282],{},[63,264,265,266],{},"Download all your data from ",[31,267,270],{"href":268,"rel":269},"https:\u002F\u002Ftakeout.google.com",[35],"takeout.google.com",[63,272,273,274,278],{},"Switch to a privacy-respecting email provider (see our ",[31,275,277],{"href":276},"\u002Fcompare\u002Femail-providers","email comparison",")",[63,280,281],{},"Move your files from Google Drive to a local or encrypted cloud solution",[63,283,284],{},"Delete your Google account entirely",[17,286,287],{},"This is extreme and most people won't do it. But everything from Step 1 through Step 6 takes about 15 minutes and dramatically reduces what Google knows about you going forward.",[12,289,291],{"id":290},"what-this-wont-fix","What This Won't Fix",[17,293,294],{},"Be honest about the limitations:",[60,296,297,300,303],{},[63,298,299],{},"If you use Gmail, Google can still read your emails (they scan for spam and smart replies)",[63,301,302],{},"Websites using Google Analytics and Google Ads still report your visits back to Google, even if you opted out of personalization. Use an ad blocker like uBlock Origin to stop this.",[63,304,305,306,310],{},"Google can still link your activity through your IP address even without cookies. A VPN helps here. Check our ",[31,307,309],{"href":308},"\u002Fcompare\u002Fvpns","VPN comparison"," if you're shopping for one.",[17,312,313],{},"Privacy isn't all-or-nothing. Every setting you change is one less data point in their profile.",{"title":315,"searchDepth":316,"depth":316,"links":317},"",2,[318,319,320,321,322,323,324,325,326,327],{"id":14,"depth":316,"text":15},{"id":25,"depth":316,"text":26},{"id":49,"depth":316,"text":50},{"id":93,"depth":316,"text":94},{"id":132,"depth":316,"text":133},{"id":171,"depth":316,"text":172},{"id":189,"depth":316,"text":190},{"id":229,"depth":316,"text":230},{"id":256,"depth":316,"text":257},{"id":290,"depth":316,"text":291},"Guide","2026-04-19","Google knows more about you than your closest friends. Here's how to shut it down across Search, Chrome, Android, YouTube, and Maps.","md","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fgoogle-tracking.jpg",{},true,"\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-google-tracking-you",10,{"title":6,"description":330},"guides\u002Fstop-google-tracking-you","5Y6lgIr7gr77DeCXVkZ_84rH3BcImg5d4aZDLwRWpCg",{"id":341,"title":342,"author":7,"body":343,"category":328,"date":772,"description":773,"extension":331,"image":774,"meta":775,"navigation":334,"path":776,"readTime":777,"seo":778,"stem":779,"__hash__":780},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-iphone.md","Best Privacy Settings for iPhone",{"type":9,"value":344,"toc":756},[345,349,352,355,359,364,369,374,379,383,388,391,431,437,441,446,449,487,491,494,499,513,518,526,530,535,543,548,553,556,560,565,605,610,615,619,629,640,646,650,655,660,664,669,674,678,683,691,695,700,717,720,724,727,731,734,753],[12,346,348],{"id":347},"why-this-matters","Why This Matters",[17,350,351],{},"Apple markets the iPhone as the privacy phone, and to their credit, it's better than Android out of the box. But \"better than Android\" is a low bar. Your iPhone still shares more than you'd expect unless you go through the settings manually.",[17,353,354],{},"This guide covers every privacy setting worth changing. It takes about 10 minutes.",[12,356,358],{"id":357},"tracking-and-advertising","Tracking and Advertising",[17,360,361],{},[66,362,363],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking",[60,365,366],{},[63,367,368],{},"Turn off \"Allow Apps to Request to Track.\" This is the big one. It tells every app that you don't want to be tracked across other apps and websites. With this off, apps can't access your IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers).",[17,370,371],{},[66,372,373],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising",[60,375,376],{},[63,377,378],{},"Turn off \"Personalized Ads.\" Apple runs its own ad network in the App Store and Apple News. This opts you out.",[12,380,382],{"id":381},"location-services","Location Services",[17,384,385],{},[66,386,387],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services",[17,389,390],{},"Don't turn location off entirely (Maps and Find My need it). Instead, go through each app individually:",[60,392,393,396,399,428],{},[63,394,395],{},"Set most apps to \"While Using\" instead of \"Always.\" Almost nothing genuinely needs your location 24\u002F7.",[63,397,398],{},"For apps that don't need location at all (games, calculators, social media you don't geopost on), set to \"Never.\"",[63,400,401,402],{},"Scroll to the bottom and tap \"System Services.\" Turn off:\n",[60,403,404,410,416,422],{},[63,405,406,409],{},[66,407,408],{},"Significant Locations",": Apple tracks places you visit frequently. Turn it off and clear the history.",[63,411,412,415],{},[66,413,414],{},"iPhone Analytics",": Sends location data to Apple for \"improving\" products.",[63,417,418,421],{},[66,419,420],{},"Routing & Traffic",": Sends your driving data to Apple.",[63,423,424,427],{},[66,425,426],{},"Improve Maps",": Sends places you visit to Apple.",[63,429,430],{},"Keep \"Find My iPhone\" and \"Emergency SOS\" on. Those are actually useful.",[17,432,433,436],{},[66,434,435],{},"Tip",": Turn on the status bar icon for location (at the bottom of System Services). This shows an arrow in your status bar whenever any app accesses your location. You'll be surprised how often it blinks.",[12,438,440],{"id":439},"app-permissions-audit","App Permissions Audit",[17,442,443],{},[66,444,445],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security",[17,447,448],{},"Go through each category and revoke access for apps that don't need it:",[60,450,451,457,463,469,475,481],{},[63,452,453,456],{},[66,454,455],{},"Camera",": Only apps that genuinely take photos\u002Fvideos",[63,458,459,462],{},[66,460,461],{},"Microphone",": Only calling apps and voice recorders",[63,464,465,468],{},[66,466,467],{},"Contacts",": Almost nothing needs this. Messaging apps, sure. That random game? No.",[63,470,471,474],{},[66,472,473],{},"Photos",": Set to \"Limited Access\" instead of \"Full Access\" where possible. This lets you choose specific photos to share instead of giving the app your entire library.",[63,476,477,480],{},[66,478,479],{},"Bluetooth",": Many apps request Bluetooth to track your location via beacons, not because they need to connect to devices. If the app doesn't pair with hardware, deny it.",[63,482,483,486],{},[66,484,485],{},"Local Network",": Apps use this to discover devices on your Wi-Fi. Most don't need it. Deny unless it's a casting or smart home app.",[12,488,490],{"id":489},"safari-privacy","Safari Privacy",[17,492,493],{},"If you use Safari (and on iPhone, you should since all browsers use Safari's engine anyway):",[17,495,496],{},[66,497,498],{},"Settings > Apps > Safari",[60,500,501,504,507,510],{},[63,502,503],{},"Turn on \"Prevent Cross-Site Tracking\"",[63,505,506],{},"Turn on \"Hide IP Address\" (set to \"Trackers and Websites\" for maximum privacy, or \"Trackers Only\" if some sites break)",[63,508,509],{},"Turn off \"Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement\" (Apple's alternative to tracking, but it still sends data)",[63,511,512],{},"Set \"Clear History and Website Data\" periodically",[17,514,515],{},[66,516,517],{},"Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced",[60,519,520,523],{},[63,521,522],{},"Turn on \"Block All Cookies\" if you're willing to log in more often. This breaks some sites but massively reduces tracking.",[63,524,525],{},"Check \"Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection\" is set to \"All Browsing\"",[12,527,529],{"id":528},"siri-and-dictation","Siri and Dictation",[17,531,532],{},[66,533,534],{},"Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri",[60,536,537,540],{},[63,538,539],{},"Turn off \"Improve Siri & Dictation.\" This stops Apple from reviewing your Siri audio recordings.",[63,541,542],{},"Delete your Siri & Dictation History",[17,544,545],{},[66,546,547],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements",[60,549,550],{},[63,551,552],{},"Turn off \"Improve Siri & Dictation\" here too (yes, it's in two places)",[17,554,555],{},"If you don't use Siri, consider disabling it entirely. It's one less thing listening.",[12,557,559],{"id":558},"lock-screen-security","Lock Screen Security",[17,561,562],{},[66,563,564],{},"Settings > Face ID & Passcode",[60,566,567,570],{},[63,568,569],{},"Use a 6-digit or alphanumeric passcode, not 4 digits",[63,571,572,573],{},"Scroll down to \"Allow Access When Locked\" and turn off:\n",[60,574,575,581,587,593,599],{},[63,576,577,580],{},[66,578,579],{},"Notification Center",": Prevents strangers from reading your notifications",[63,582,583,586],{},[66,584,585],{},"Control Center",": Prevents someone from turning on Airplane Mode (which disables Find My)",[63,588,589,592],{},[66,590,591],{},"Wallet",": Prevents unauthorized payments",[63,594,595,598],{},[66,596,597],{},"Reply with Message",": Prevents reading and replying to messages",[63,600,601,604],{},[66,602,603],{},"USB Accessories",": Prevents data extraction tools from connecting when locked",[17,606,607],{},[66,608,609],{},"Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection",[60,611,612],{},[63,613,614],{},"Turn this on. It requires biometric authentication for sensitive actions when you're away from familiar locations.",[12,616,618],{"id":617},"icloud-and-data","iCloud and Data",[17,620,621],{},[66,622,623,624,628],{},"Settings > ",[625,626,627],"span",{},"Your Name"," > iCloud",[60,630,631,634],{},[63,632,633],{},"Review what's syncing. Do you need Safari bookmarks, Siri data, and Game Center in the cloud?",[63,635,636,639],{},[66,637,638],{},"Advanced Data Protection",": Turn this ON. This enables end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, Photos, Notes, and more. Without this, Apple can access your iCloud data if compelled by law enforcement. With it on, not even Apple can access it with keys they control.",[17,641,642,645],{},[66,643,644],{},"Important",": Advanced Data Protection means if you lose your password and recovery key, Apple can't help you recover your data. Set up a recovery contact or save your recovery key somewhere safe.",[12,647,649],{"id":648},"mail-privacy","Mail Privacy",[17,651,652],{},[66,653,654],{},"Settings > Apps > Mail > Privacy Protection",[60,656,657],{},[63,658,659],{},"Turn on \"Protect Mail Activity.\" This prevents email senders from knowing when you opened their email, your IP address, and your location. It works by routing remote content through Apple's servers.",[12,661,663],{"id":662},"notifications","Notifications",[17,665,666],{},[66,667,668],{},"Settings > Notifications",[60,670,671],{},[63,672,673],{},"For sensitive apps (banking, messaging, health), set previews to \"When Unlocked\" instead of \"Always.\" This prevents your notifications from being readable on a locked screen.",[12,675,677],{"id":676},"network-privacy","Network Privacy",[17,679,680],{},[66,681,682],{},"Settings > Wi-Fi",[60,684,685,688],{},[63,686,687],{},"Tap the info button on your current network and make sure \"Private Wi-Fi Address\" is on. This rotates your MAC address so networks can't track your device across visits.",[63,689,690],{},"Also turn on \"Limit IP Address Tracking\" which routes some traffic through Apple's relay servers.",[12,692,694],{"id":693},"analytics","Analytics",[17,696,697,699],{},[66,698,547],{},"\nTurn everything off:",[60,701,702,705,708,711,714],{},[63,703,704],{},"Share iPhone Analytics",[63,706,707],{},"Share iCloud Analytics",[63,709,710],{},"Improve Safety",[63,712,713],{},"Improve Siri & Dictation",[63,715,716],{},"Share with App Developers",[17,718,719],{},"This stuff sends usage data to Apple and third-party developers. There's no benefit to you.",[12,721,723],{"id":722},"app-store-privacy","App Store Privacy",[17,725,726],{},"Before installing apps, scroll down on the App Store listing to \"App Privacy.\" Apple requires developers to disclose what data they collect. Look for \"Data Not Linked to You\" or \"Data Not Collected.\" If an app collects a suspiciously large amount of data for what it does, find an alternative.",[12,728,730],{"id":729},"what-you-cant-control","What You Can't Control",[17,732,733],{},"Even with every setting optimized:",[60,735,736,739,747,750],{},[63,737,738],{},"Your carrier knows your location (any cell tower your phone connects to records it)",[63,740,741,742,746],{},"Apps can still fingerprint your device using screen size, installed fonts, and other signals. Check our ",[31,743,745],{"href":744},"\u002Ftools\u002Fbrowser-fingerprint","browser fingerprint tool"," to see how this works.",[63,748,749],{},"Apple still collects some telemetry even with analytics off (though far less than Google)",[63,751,752],{},"Your ISP sees your DNS queries and traffic volume unless you use a VPN",[17,754,755],{},"No phone is perfectly private. But an iPhone with these settings changed is dramatically better than one running defaults.",{"title":315,"searchDepth":316,"depth":316,"links":757},[758,759,760,761,762,763,764,765,766,767,768,769,770,771],{"id":347,"depth":316,"text":348},{"id":357,"depth":316,"text":358},{"id":381,"depth":316,"text":382},{"id":439,"depth":316,"text":440},{"id":489,"depth":316,"text":490},{"id":528,"depth":316,"text":529},{"id":558,"depth":316,"text":559},{"id":617,"depth":316,"text":618},{"id":648,"depth":316,"text":649},{"id":662,"depth":316,"text":663},{"id":676,"depth":316,"text":677},{"id":693,"depth":316,"text":694},{"id":722,"depth":316,"text":723},{"id":729,"depth":316,"text":730},"2026-04-18","Your iPhone has dozens of privacy settings buried in menus you've never opened. Here's every one worth changing.","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fiphone-privacy.jpg",{},"\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-iphone",12,{"title":342,"description":773},"guides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-iphone","vKR06HEosI0ovvfKoGSSsrqYdV2hcj4nTkOe2Zlgcmw",{"id":782,"title":783,"author":7,"body":784,"category":328,"date":1244,"description":1245,"extension":331,"image":1246,"meta":1247,"navigation":334,"path":1248,"readTime":777,"seo":1249,"stem":1250,"__hash__":1251},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-android.md","Best Privacy Settings for Android",{"type":9,"value":785,"toc":1228},[786,790,793,796,800,803,809,832,839,843,847,850,893,903,907,911,919,923,927,953,957,962,987,992,1000,1004,1007,1012,1032,1040,1044,1047,1067,1071,1076,1087,1092,1100,1104,1109,1114,1119,1133,1135,1147,1151,1156,1161,1166,1171,1175,1178,1204,1208,1211,1225],[12,787,789],{"id":788},"the-reality","The Reality",[17,791,792],{},"Android is made by Google. It's an operating system built by an advertising company. That doesn't mean you can't use it privately, but it does mean the defaults are configured to enable broad data collection. Every toggle that's on by default is on for Google's benefit, not yours.",[17,794,795],{},"This guide goes through every setting worth changing. Most of these work on stock Android, Samsung, and Pixel devices. Menu names might be slightly different on your phone, but the options are the same.",[12,797,799],{"id":798},"google-account-settings","Google Account Settings",[17,801,802],{},"Before touching your phone settings, lock down your Google account. This is where the most invasive tracking lives.",[17,804,805,806,58],{},"Open ",[66,807,808],{},"Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & Privacy",[60,810,811,816,822,827],{},[63,812,813,815],{},[66,814,68],{},": Tracks every Google search, Maps lookup, Assistant command, and website you visit through Chrome. Turn it off. Tap \"Delete activity\" and select \"All time.\"",[63,817,818,821],{},[66,819,820],{},"Location History (Timeline)",": Records everywhere your phone goes with GPS precision. Turn it off and delete all history.",[63,823,824,826],{},[66,825,80],{},": Logs every video you watch and search for. Turn it off.",[63,828,829,831],{},[66,830,86],{},": Builds an advertising profile from everything above. Turn it off.",[17,833,834,835,838],{},"This is the same stuff from our ",[31,836,837],{"href":335},"Google tracking guide",", but it's worth repeating because it's the single highest-impact change.",[12,840,842],{"id":841},"permissions-audit","Permissions Audit",[17,844,845],{},[66,846,143],{},[17,848,849],{},"Go through each permission category:",[60,851,852,858,864,869,875,881,887],{},[63,853,854,857],{},[66,855,856],{},"Location",": Set everything to \"Allow only while using the app\" or \"Deny.\" The only apps that legitimately need \"Allow all the time\" are navigation apps running in the background. That weather widget? \"While using\" is fine.",[63,859,860,863],{},[66,861,862],{},"Camera & Microphone",": Only messaging, video calling, and camera apps. Revoke everything else.",[63,865,866,868],{},[66,867,467],{},": Messaging apps and your phone dialer. That's it.",[63,870,871,874],{},[66,872,873],{},"Phone",": Some apps request this to read your phone number or call state. Most don't need it.",[63,876,877,880],{},[66,878,879],{},"Files and Media",": Only file managers, photo editors, and media players. If a game wants access to your files, that's a red flag.",[63,882,883,886],{},[66,884,885],{},"Nearby Devices",": Used for Bluetooth and local connections. Deny for anything that doesn't connect to hardware.",[63,888,889,892],{},[66,890,891],{},"Body Sensors",": Only fitness apps.",[17,894,895,898,899,902],{},[66,896,897],{},"Pro tip",": On Android 12+, go to ",[66,900,901],{},"Settings > Privacy > Privacy Dashboard",". This shows a timeline of which apps accessed your camera, microphone, and location in the last 24 hours. Check it occasionally. You'll catch apps misbehaving.",[12,904,906],{"id":905},"advertising-id","Advertising ID",[17,908,909],{},[66,910,149],{},[60,912,913,916],{},[63,914,915],{},"Tap \"Delete advertising ID.\" This removes the unique identifier that apps use to track you across different services and build advertising profiles.",[63,917,918],{},"On older Android versions, this might say \"Opt out of Ads Personalization\" and \"Reset advertising ID.\" Do both.",[12,920,922],{"id":921},"location-settings","Location Settings",[17,924,925],{},[66,926,155],{},[60,928,929,940,946],{},[63,930,931,932,935,936,939],{},"Turn off ",[66,933,934],{},"Wi-Fi scanning"," and ",[66,937,938],{},"Bluetooth scanning"," (under \"Location services\" or \"Improve accuracy\"). These let Google and apps scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth beacons to determine your location even when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are \"off.\" Most people don't know this exists.",[63,941,931,942,945],{},[66,943,944],{},"Google Location Accuracy"," (also called \"Improve location accuracy\"). This sends Wi-Fi, cell tower, and sensor data to Google. Your GPS still works without it.",[63,947,948,949,952],{},"Review ",[66,950,951],{},"Recent location requests"," to see which apps are actively using your location.",[12,954,956],{"id":955},"network-and-connectivity","Network and Connectivity",[17,958,959],{},[66,960,961],{},"Settings > Network & Internet",[60,963,964,978],{},[63,965,966,969,970,973,974,977],{},[66,967,968],{},"Private DNS",": Set to a privacy-respecting DNS provider. Tap \"Private DNS provider hostname\" and enter ",[208,971,972],{},"dns.quad9.net"," or ",[208,975,976],{},"one.one.one.one",". This encrypts your DNS queries so your ISP can't see which websites you visit.",[63,979,980,983,984,986],{},[66,981,982],{},"VPN",": If you use a VPN, turn on \"Always-on VPN\" and \"Block connections without VPN\" (kill switch). Check our ",[31,985,309],{"href":308}," for recommendations.",[17,988,989],{},[66,990,991],{},"Wi-Fi settings:",[60,993,994,997],{},[63,995,996],{},"Make sure \"Randomized MAC\" is enabled for each network you connect to. This prevents Wi-Fi networks from tracking your device's hardware address across visits.",[63,998,999],{},"Turn off \"Wi-Fi auto-connect\" for open networks. Your phone shouldn't auto-join random coffee shop Wi-Fi.",[12,1001,1003],{"id":1002},"google-chrome-or-why-you-should-switch","Google Chrome (or Why You Should Switch)",[17,1005,1006],{},"Chrome on Android sends a lot of data back to Google. If you must use it:",[17,1008,1009],{},[66,1010,1011],{},"Chrome > Settings > Privacy and Security:",[60,1013,1014,1017,1020,1023,1026,1029],{},[63,1015,1016],{},"Turn off \"Help improve Chrome\" (sends usage data)",[63,1018,1019],{},"Turn off \"Make searches and browsing better\" (sends URLs in real-time)",[63,1021,1022],{},"Turn off \"Access payment methods\" (shares with websites)",[63,1024,1025],{},"Block third-party cookies",[63,1027,1028],{},"Turn on \"Send a 'Do Not Track' request\"",[63,1030,1031],{},"Turn on \"Always use secure connections\" (forces HTTPS)",[17,1033,1034,1036,1037,1039],{},[66,1035,123],{},": Switch to Firefox or Brave. Unlike iOS, Android lets you use actual different browser engines. Firefox with uBlock Origin is the one of the strongest privacy setups on mobile. Check our ",[31,1038,128],{"href":127},".",[12,1041,1043],{"id":1042},"samsung-specific-settings","Samsung-Specific Settings",[17,1045,1046],{},"If you're on a Samsung phone, there's extra tracking to disable:",[60,1048,1049,1055,1061],{},[63,1050,1051,1054],{},[66,1052,1053],{},"Settings > Privacy > Customization Service",": Turn this off. Samsung tracks your app usage, contacts, and Calendar to \"personalize\" their apps. It's Samsung's version of what Google does.",[63,1056,1057,1060],{},[66,1058,1059],{},"Settings > Privacy > Samsung Analytics",": Turn off sending diagnostic data.",[63,1062,1063,1066],{},[66,1064,1065],{},"Galaxy Store > Menu > Settings",": Turn off \"Personalized recommendations.\"",[12,1068,1070],{"id":1069},"lock-screen-and-security","Lock Screen and Security",[17,1072,1073],{},[66,1074,1075],{},"Settings > Security",[60,1077,1078,1081,1084],{},[63,1079,1080],{},"Use a PIN of at least 6 digits or an alphanumeric password. Avoid pattern locks (they're easy to shoulder-surf and leave smudge traces).",[63,1082,1083],{},"Turn on biometric unlock (fingerprint or face) for convenience, but know that a PIN\u002Fpassword is legally stronger. In many jurisdictions, you can be compelled to provide biometrics but not passwords.",[63,1085,1086],{},"Set auto-lock to 30 seconds or 1 minute.",[17,1088,1089],{},[66,1090,1091],{},"Settings > Lock Screen",[60,1093,1094,1097],{},[63,1095,1096],{},"Set notifications to \"Hide content\" or \"Show alerting notifications only.\" This prevents your messages from being readable when your phone is on a table.",[63,1098,1099],{},"Turn off lock screen widgets and shortcuts that show personal info.",[12,1101,1103],{"id":1102},"app-installation","App Installation",[17,1105,1106],{},[66,1107,1108],{},"Settings > Apps > Special Access > Install Unknown Apps",[60,1110,1111],{},[63,1112,1113],{},"Make sure no app has permission to install from unknown sources (unless you specifically need it for F-Droid or similar). This prevents apps from silently installing other apps.",[17,1115,1116],{},[66,1117,1118],{},"Google Play Store",[60,1120,1121,1127],{},[63,1122,1123,1126],{},[66,1124,1125],{},"Settings > General > App install optimization",": Turn this off. It shares data with Google about your app installations.",[63,1128,1129,1132],{},[66,1130,1131],{},"Play Protect",": Keep this on. It scans for malware. This is one Google feature that's genuinely worth having.",[12,1134,663],{"id":662},[60,1136,1137],{},[63,1138,1139,1140,1146],{},"For sensitive apps (banking, messaging, health), go to ",[66,1141,1142,1143],{},"Settings > Notifications > ",[625,1144,1145],{},"App"," and turn off lock screen previews. Set to \"Show silently\" or \"Alerting\" without content.",[12,1148,1150],{"id":1149},"analytics-and-diagnostics","Analytics and Diagnostics",[17,1152,1153],{},[66,1154,1155],{},"Settings > Privacy > Usage & Diagnostics",[60,1157,1158],{},[63,1159,1160],{},"Turn this off. It sends detailed device usage data to Google.",[17,1162,1163],{},[66,1164,1165],{},"Settings > Google > Ads",[60,1167,1168],{},[63,1169,1170],{},"We covered this above, but double-check it's done.",[12,1172,1174],{"id":1173},"the-nuclear-options","The Nuclear Options",[17,1176,1177],{},"If you want to go further:",[60,1179,1180,1186,1192,1198],{},[63,1181,1182,1185],{},[66,1183,1184],{},"Use F-Droid"," instead of the Play Store for open-source apps. No tracking, no Google account needed.",[63,1187,1188,1191],{},[66,1189,1190],{},"Install a custom ROM"," like GrapheneOS (Pixel phones only) or LineageOS. These strip out Google entirely. GrapheneOS in particular is considered widely regarded as one of the most secure Android distributions.",[63,1193,1194,1197],{},[66,1195,1196],{},"Use Shelter or Island"," to create a work profile that isolates apps from your personal data. Run social media apps in the work profile so they can't access your contacts, photos, or main account.",[63,1199,1200,1203],{},[66,1201,1202],{},"Disable Google Play Services entirely"," if you're comfortable troubleshooting. This breaks some apps (notifications, Google Pay, some login systems) but eliminates Google's deepest integration point.",[12,1205,1207],{"id":1206},"what-you-cant-fully-escape","What You Can't Fully Escape",[17,1209,1210],{},"Even with perfect settings:",[60,1212,1213,1216,1219,1222],{},[63,1214,1215],{},"Your mobile carrier tracks your location through cell towers. There's no way around this while your phone has service.",[63,1217,1218],{},"Google Play Services runs in the background and communicates with Google periodically even with most settings off.",[63,1220,1221],{},"Many apps include Google's Firebase SDK, which sends analytics regardless of your phone settings. An ad blocker or Pi-hole can help here.",[63,1223,1224],{},"Your phone's IMEI is a permanent hardware identifier that carriers log.",[17,1226,1227],{},"Stock Android is unlikely to match the privacy of a de-Googled phone running GrapheneOS. But an Android phone with these settings changed is dramatically better than one running defaults.",{"title":315,"searchDepth":316,"depth":316,"links":1229},[1230,1231,1232,1233,1234,1235,1236,1237,1238,1239,1240,1241,1242,1243],{"id":788,"depth":316,"text":789},{"id":798,"depth":316,"text":799},{"id":841,"depth":316,"text":842},{"id":905,"depth":316,"text":906},{"id":921,"depth":316,"text":922},{"id":955,"depth":316,"text":956},{"id":1002,"depth":316,"text":1003},{"id":1042,"depth":316,"text":1043},{"id":1069,"depth":316,"text":1070},{"id":1102,"depth":316,"text":1103},{"id":662,"depth":316,"text":663},{"id":1149,"depth":316,"text":1150},{"id":1173,"depth":316,"text":1174},{"id":1206,"depth":316,"text":1207},"2026-04-17","Android phones are Google's biggest data pipeline. Here's how to tighten every setting without breaking anything.","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fandroid-privacy.jpg",{},"\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-android",{"title":783,"description":1245},"guides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-android","k3tuKcZHQ71Cz-YO_BAOFCQIV5JmVKCcYn8UWV1VZK0",1776729670386]