[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":2543},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-smart-tv-spying":3,"sidebar-guides-\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-smart-tv-spying":573},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":561,"date":562,"description":563,"extension":564,"image":565,"meta":566,"navigation":567,"path":568,"readTime":569,"seo":570,"stem":571,"__hash__":572},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-smart-tv-spying.md","How to Stop Your Smart TV From Spying on You","The Privacy Authority",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":547},"minimark",[10,15,19,22,25,29,40,43,46,50,53,67,82,91,94,98,106,136,149,160,164,171,195,202,205,209,212,232,242,277,300,315,319,322,387,390,394,397,414,422,425,429,432,443,447],[11,12,14],"h2",{"id":13},"the-problem","The Problem",[16,17,18],"p",{},"You bought a television. The television also bought you, then bundled, profiled and resold you to advertisers without you noticing. The mechanism is called Automatic Content Recognition. Every major TV maker enables it by default through setup-time consent prompts that bundle it with other services.",[16,20,21],{},"The good news: the toggle to switch it off has existed for years. The bad news: it is buried four menus deep, named something innocuous, and on some firmware it switches itself back on after an update.",[16,23,24],{},"This guide covers what ACR actually does, why two American states have just intervened, and the exact menu path on every major brand.",[11,26,28],{"id":27},"what-acr-actually-does","What ACR Actually Does",[16,30,31,32,39],{},"Your smart TV takes a screenshot of whatever is on screen, roughly every 500 milliseconds. The Texas Attorney General's ",[33,34,38],"a",{"href":35,"rel":36},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.texasattorneygeneral.gov\u002Fnews\u002Freleases\u002Fattorney-general-paxton-secures-major-agreement-samsung-ensure-texans-are-protected-smart-tvs",[37],"nofollow","December 2025 complaint against Samsung"," describes precisely this cadence; independent academic work has documented similar or higher rates on other brands. The TV fingerprints the frame, compares it against a database, and identifies what you are watching. It does this regardless of source: cable box, games console, streaming app, USB stick, your laptop plugged into HDMI. Anything you put on the screen.",[16,41,42],{},"The viewing log is then tied to your TV's identifier and your IP address, packaged into a profile, and licensed to advertising networks and data brokers. Some manufacturers also use it to overlay \"more like this\" recommendations and ads. The largest ACR aggregators in the supply chain are Inscape (a Vizio subsidiary), Samba TV, and Nielsen, which according to industry disclosures ingest data from tens of millions of consumer TVs between them.",[16,44,45],{},"You consented to this. The consent screen appeared during initial setup, between two other prompts about Wi-Fi and account creation, and was titled something like \"Viewing Information Services\" or \"Live Plus\" or \"Smart TV Experience\". Most people accept the lot.",[11,47,49],{"id":48},"why-this-matters-in-2026","Why This Matters in 2026",[16,51,52],{},"Two things changed this spring.",[16,54,55,56,60,61,66],{},"In February 2026, Samsung settled with the Texas Attorney General over its ACR practices. The ",[33,57,59],{"href":35,"rel":58},[37],"Texas AG's announcement"," states the agreement requires Samsung to obtain Texas residents' \"express consent\" before collecting ACR viewing data, and to update its smart TVs with \"clear and conspicuous\" disclosure and consent screens. According to ",[33,62,65],{"href":63,"rel":64},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.malwarebytes.com\u002Fblog\u002Fnews\u002F2026\u002F03\u002Fsamsung-tvs-stop-spying-on-viewers-in-texas-heres-how-to-disable-acr-anywhere",[37],"Malwarebytes' coverage of the settlement",", Sony, LG, Hisense and TCL are still being sued by the same office.",[16,68,69,70,75,76,81],{},"In March 2026, the Kentucky House passed ",[33,71,74],{"href":72,"rel":73},"https:\u002F\u002Fapps.legislature.ky.gov\u002Frecord\u002F26rs\u002Fhb692.html",[37],"HB 692"," unanimously (92-0); the Senate followed (38-0), and the bill was signed into law on 13 April 2026. According to ",[33,77,80],{"href":78,"rel":79},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hunton.com\u002Fprivacy-and-cybersecurity-law-blog\u002Fkentucky-classifies-smart-tv-data-as-sensitive",[37],"Hunton Andrews Kurth's analysis",", the bill amends the Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act to add ACR data to the definition of \"sensitive data\" and prohibits controllers from collecting it without consumer consent. The effective date is 1 July 2027. Hunton describes it as the first US state law to specifically target smart-TV surveillance.",[16,83,84,85,90],{},"This is not new conduct. In 2017, Vizio paid the FTC and the New Jersey Attorney General ",[33,86,89],{"href":87,"rel":88},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ftc.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fnews\u002Fpress-releases\u002F2017\u002F02\u002Fvizio-pay-22-million-ftc-state-new-jersey-settle-charges-it-collected-viewing-histories-11-million",[37],"$2.2 million"," for collecting viewing histories from 11 million televisions without consent. The FTC complaint described tracking on a second-by-second basis and the sale of viewing profiles to advertisers. The settlement also required Vizio to delete the data it had already gathered.",[16,92,93],{},"Eight years on, the practice is industry-standard. Two states have started pushing back. The remaining 48 have not. These are US actions, but the firmware they target ships worldwide; the toggles below work on your TV regardless of where you bought it.",[11,95,97],{"id":96},"disable-on-samsung","Disable on Samsung",[16,99,100,101,105],{},"Samsung's ACR toggle is called ",[102,103,104],"strong",{},"Viewing Information Services",". On 2020 and newer Tizen models:",[107,108,109,117,130],"ol",{},[110,111,112,113,116],"li",{},"Press ",[102,114,115],{},"Home"," on the remote",[110,118,119,120,123,124,123,127],{},"Settings → All Settings → ",[102,121,122],{},"General & Privacy"," → ",[102,125,126],{},"Terms & Privacy",[102,128,129],{},"Privacy Choices",[110,131,132,133,135],{},"Switch ",[102,134,104],{}," off",[16,137,138,139,144,145,148],{},"Per ",[33,140,143],{"href":141,"rel":142},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.consumerreports.org\u002Felectronics\u002Fprivacy\u002Fhow-to-turn-off-smart-tv-snooping-features-a4840102036\u002F",[37],"Consumer Reports",", older sets may locate the toggle under Settings → Support → Terms & Policy. On models from before 2018 the same feature was called ",[102,146,147],{},"SyncPlus","; the toggle is still there, just under the older name.",[16,150,151,152,155,156,159],{},"While you are in that menu, also switch off ",[102,153,154],{},"Interest-Based Advertising",", and switch off ",[102,157,158],{},"Voice Recognition Services"," if you do not use Bixby. The Texas settlement specifically targeted the consent screens, so if you set up your TV after February 2026 and you live in Texas, you may already see a redesigned prompt. Outside Texas, the defaults are unchanged.",[11,161,163],{"id":162},"disable-on-lg","Disable on LG",[16,165,166,167,170],{},"LG's ACR feature is called ",[102,168,169],{},"Live Plus",". On current webOS:",[107,172,173,178,190],{},[110,174,112,175,116],{},[102,176,177],{},"Settings",[110,179,180,181,123,184,123,187],{},"All Settings → ",[102,182,183],{},"General",[102,185,186],{},"System",[102,188,189],{},"Additional Settings",[110,191,192,193,135],{},"Toggle ",[102,194,169],{},[16,196,197,198,201],{},"Where Live Plus is missing from that menu (older webOS), look under Settings → All Settings → Support → Privacy & Terms → User Agreements, and uncheck the ",[102,199,200],{},"Viewing Information"," entry.",[16,203,204],{},"Users have reported Live Plus reactivating after some firmware updates. Worth re-checking after every system update.",[11,206,208],{"id":207},"disable-on-roku-sony-vizio-hisense","Disable on Roku, Sony, Vizio, Hisense",[16,210,211],{},"Each has its own settings tree but the principle is identical: find the named toggle and switch it off.",[16,213,214,217,218,221,222,225,226,231],{},[102,215,216],{},"Roku."," Settings → Privacy → ",[102,219,220],{},"Smart TV Experience"," → uncheck ",[102,223,224],{},"Use Info from TV Inputs",". ",[33,227,230],{"href":228,"rel":229},"https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.roku.com\u002Fpublished\u002Facrservicepolicy\u002Fen\u002FCA",[37],"Roku's own ACR service policy"," states that disabling this stops new collection but does not delete data already gathered, which Roku says it may continue to share with third parties. If you want it gone, follow the opt-out with a data deletion request via Roku's privacy portal.",[16,233,234,237,238,241],{},[102,235,236],{},"Sony Bravia (Google TV)."," Sony licenses Samba TV for ACR. Settings → All Settings → ",[102,239,240],{},"Samba Interactive TV"," → off. On older Bravias running pre-Google-TV firmware, look under Settings → Initial Setup or Settings → System Settings → Samba Interactive TV.",[16,243,244,247,248,251,252,257,258,261,262,265,266,268,269,272,273,276],{},[102,245,246],{},"Vizio."," Vizio calls it ",[102,249,250],{},"Viewing Data",". Per ",[33,253,256],{"href":254,"rel":255},"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.vizio.com\u002Fs\u002Farticle\u002FSmart-Interactivity-Broadcast-Interactivity-FAQ-How-to-turn-Smart-Interactivity-Broadcast-Interactivity-on-or-off?language=en_US",[37],"Vizio's official support page",": press ",[102,259,260],{},"Menu"," on the remote, then System → ",[102,263,264],{},"Reset & Admin"," → highlight ",[102,267,250],{}," → press the right arrow to set it ",[102,270,271],{},"Off",". This does not disable ",[102,274,275],{},"Activity Data",", which Vizio collects from app interactions on its SmartCast platform. Vizio's terms state that declining Activity Data prevents SmartCast streaming, so users who want to avoid that collection in full may need to use the TV without SmartCast or choose a non-SmartCast model.",[16,278,279,282,283,286,287,289,290,293,294,299],{},[102,280,281],{},"Hisense (VIDAA)."," Settings → System → ",[102,284,285],{},"Advanced System Settings"," → Privacy → switch off ",[102,288,250],{}," and ",[102,291,292],{},"Ad Tracking",". Hisense's own ",[33,295,298],{"href":296,"rel":297},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hisense-usa.com\u002Fcompliance\u002Fenhanced-viewing-service-privacy-notice-(effective-date:-march-01,-2025)",[37],"Enhanced Viewing Service privacy notice"," describes what is collected. Hisense models running Roku TV or Google TV firmware use those operating systems' privacy menus instead.",[16,301,302,303,305,306,305,308,305,310,305,312,314],{},"If your menu does not match any of these, search for the named feature, ",[102,304,104],{},", ",[102,307,169],{},[102,309,220],{},[102,311,240],{},[102,313,250],{},", rather than memorising a path. Manufacturers reorganise the menus across firmware versions.",[11,316,318],{"id":317},"what-this-wont-fix","What This Won't Fix",[16,320,321],{},"ACR is the most invasive single feature, but it is not the only one. After switching it off, the following still happens:",[323,324,325,343,361,372],"ul",{},[110,326,327,330,331,336,337,342],{},[102,328,329],{},"Streaming apps still log everything."," Each major streaming platform collects its own viewing history per its published privacy policy. ",[33,332,335],{"href":333,"rel":334},"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.netflix.com\u002Fen\u002Fnode\u002F100624",[37],"Netflix's data-disclosure help page"," says Netflix retains \"a history of your viewing activity\"; ",[33,338,341],{"href":339,"rel":340},"https:\u002F\u002Fprivacy.thewaltdisneycompany.com\u002Fen\u002Fcurrent-privacy-policy\u002F",[37],"Disney's privacy policy"," lists \"the content you view\" among the activity information collected; YouTube and Prime Video make similar disclosures in their respective policies. That data is governed by each app's privacy settings, not the TV's.",[110,344,345,348,349,354,355,360],{},[102,346,347],{},"Voice remotes still listen."," Per ",[33,350,353],{"href":351,"rel":352},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tomsguide.com\u002Ftvs\u002Fyes-your-tv-probably-has-a-microphone-in-it-heres-how-to-turn-it-off",[37],"Tom's Guide's overview of smart-TV microphones",", a remote with a microphone for voice search sends audio to the manufacturer (or to Google or Amazon, depending on the platform). The risk is not theoretical: in 2023, the ",[33,356,359],{"href":357,"rel":358},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ftc.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fnews\u002Fpress-releases\u002F2023\u002F05\u002Fftc-doj-charge-amazon-violating-childrens-privacy-law-keeping-kids-alexa-voice-recordings-forever",[37],"FTC fined Amazon $25 million"," for retaining children's Alexa voice recordings indefinitely after parents requested deletion. Each TV manufacturer has a separate setting for voice data; check the same privacy menu where you found the ACR toggle.",[110,362,363,366,367,371],{},[102,364,365],{},"HDMI fingerprinting may continue on some firmware."," The ",[33,368,370],{"href":87,"rel":369},[37],"original FTC complaint against Vizio"," described tracking that ran regardless of input source. There is no consumer-facing setting that reliably catches this; it requires either a firmware update from the manufacturer or network-level blocking.",[110,373,374,377,378,289,382,386],{},[102,375,376],{},"Smart-speaker microphones in the same room"," are a separate problem. They are not part of the TV but they share your living room. See our ",[33,379,381],{"href":380},"\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-google-tracking-you","Google tracking guide",[33,383,385],{"href":384},"\u002Fguides\u002Fdelete-your-digital-footprint","digital footprint guide"," for adjacent steps.",[16,388,389],{},"The TV setting is the easy 80 percent. The remaining 20 percent is platform-by-platform.",[11,391,393],{"id":392},"network-level-blocking-advanced","Network-Level Blocking (Advanced)",[16,395,396],{},"If you want a single switch that catches what the on-TV toggle misses, including telemetry that ignores the toggle on misbehaving firmware, block the telemetry endpoints at the network level.",[16,398,399,400,403,404,407,408,413],{},"The simplest option is to point your home router or your TV at a DNS resolver that filters smart-TV beacons. ",[102,401,402],{},"NextDNS"," has a free tier and can apply a community blocklist with one toggle. ",[102,405,406],{},"Pi-hole"," is a self-hosted alternative that runs on a Raspberry Pi or any always-on Linux box, with the same blocklist available as an upstream feed from ",[33,409,412],{"href":410,"rel":411},"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002FPerflyst\u002FPiHoleBlocklist",[37],"Perflyst's PiHoleBlocklist repository on GitHub",".",[16,415,416,417,421],{},"The trade-off is real. Blocking telemetry endpoints can break legitimate features. Pi-hole community reports describe Samsung apps and Samsung TV Plus failing when the broader ",[418,419,420],"code",{},"samsungcloudsolution.net"," family is blocked, and similar interference has been reported for LG firmware updates and Roku channels. The blocklist's documentation lists which entries to whitelist if you hit these problems.",[16,423,424],{},"Short of disconnecting the TV from the internet entirely, this is the most reliable approach against firmware that ignores the on-screen toggle, and against a manufacturer silently re-enabling ACR in a future update.",[11,426,428],{"id":427},"where-to-go-from-here","Where to Go From Here",[16,430,431],{},"The on-TV toggle is enough for most people. Five minutes per device, and the most invasive single feature is off. The Texas and Kentucky actions mean the consent prompts in front of you should keep getting clearer over the next year or two; until then the burden is on you to find the toggle.",[16,433,434,435,439,440,442],{},"For a quick scan of what else on your devices is leaking, run our ",[33,436,438],{"href":437},"\u002Ftools\u002Fprivacy-checkup","privacy checkup tool",". If you are ready to go further, our ",[33,441,381],{"href":380}," covers the second-largest data pipeline in most households.",[11,444,446],{"id":445},"sources","Sources",[107,448,449,456,463,470,477,484,491,498,505,512,519,526,533,540],{},[110,450,451,455],{},[33,452,454],{"href":35,"rel":453},[37],"Texas Attorney General: Paxton Secures Major Agreement with Samsung"," - primary source for the February 2026 Samsung settlement, including the 500ms screenshot allegation and \"express consent\" \u002F \"clear and conspicuous\" language",[110,457,458,462],{},[33,459,461],{"href":63,"rel":460},[37],"Malwarebytes: Samsung TVs stop spying on viewers in Texas"," - secondary coverage of the settlement and per-brand disable paths",[110,464,465,469],{},[33,466,468],{"href":72,"rel":467},[37],"Kentucky HB 692 (2026 Regular Session)"," - bill page and full text",[110,471,472,476],{},[33,473,475],{"href":78,"rel":474},[37],"Hunton Andrews Kurth: Kentucky Classifies Smart TV Data as Sensitive"," - legal analysis of the enacted HB 692",[110,478,479,483],{},[33,480,482],{"href":87,"rel":481},[37],"FTC v. Vizio (2017)"," - $2.2M settlement for ACR without consent",[110,485,486,490],{},[33,487,489],{"href":141,"rel":488},[37],"Consumer Reports: How to Turn Off Smart TV Snooping Features"," - per-brand settings paths",[110,492,493,497],{},[33,494,496],{"href":228,"rel":495},[37],"Roku ACR Service Policy"," - Roku's own statement that opting out does not delete already-collected data",[110,499,500,504],{},[33,501,503],{"href":254,"rel":502},[37],"Vizio Smart Interactivity \u002F Viewing Data FAQ"," - official Vizio settings path",[110,506,507,511],{},[33,508,510],{"href":296,"rel":509},[37],"Hisense Enhanced Viewing Service Privacy Notice"," - what Hisense collects via VIDAA",[110,513,514,518],{},[33,515,517],{"href":410,"rel":516},[37],"Perflyst PiHoleBlocklist (GitHub)"," - community-maintained smart-TV telemetry blocklist for Pi-hole, AdGuard Home and NextDNS",[110,520,521,525],{},[33,522,524],{"href":333,"rel":523},[37],"Netflix: What personal information Netflix holds about you"," - Netflix's own description of viewing-activity retention",[110,527,528,532],{},[33,529,531],{"href":339,"rel":530},[37],"The Walt Disney Company Privacy Policy"," - Disney's own disclosure of content-viewing data collection",[110,534,535,539],{},[33,536,538],{"href":351,"rel":537},[37],"Tom's Guide: Yes, your TV probably has a microphone in it"," - per-brand voice-data controls",[110,541,542,546],{},[33,543,545],{"href":357,"rel":544},[37],"FTC and DOJ Charge Amazon with Violating Children's Privacy Law (Alexa, 2023)"," - $25M settlement for retaining voice recordings after deletion requests",{"title":548,"searchDepth":549,"depth":549,"links":550},"",2,[551,552,553,554,555,556,557,558,559,560],{"id":13,"depth":549,"text":14},{"id":27,"depth":549,"text":28},{"id":48,"depth":549,"text":49},{"id":96,"depth":549,"text":97},{"id":162,"depth":549,"text":163},{"id":207,"depth":549,"text":208},{"id":317,"depth":549,"text":318},{"id":392,"depth":549,"text":393},{"id":427,"depth":549,"text":428},{"id":445,"depth":549,"text":446},"Guide","2026-04-25","Smart TVs use ACR to log everything you watch. Here's how to disable it on Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku and Vizio, and what it won't fix.","md","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-smart-tv-spying.jpg",{},true,"\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-smart-tv-spying",7,{"title":5,"description":563},"guides\u002Fstop-smart-tv-spying","ZdqJskrO5oAnVB2ed8OzmfAC60HN2UWvceoSYUjWucw",[574,915,1285,1603,2053],{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":575,"category":561,"date":562,"description":563,"extension":564,"image":565,"meta":913,"navigation":567,"path":568,"readTime":569,"seo":914,"stem":571,"__hash__":572},{"type":8,"value":576,"toc":901},[577,579,581,583,585,587,592,594,596,598,600,608,616,621,623,625,629,647,654,660,662,666,684,688,690,692,694,705,711,730,743,755,757,759,796,798,800,802,811,815,817,819,821,827,829],[11,578,14],{"id":13},[16,580,18],{},[16,582,21],{},[16,584,24],{},[11,586,28],{"id":27},[16,588,31,589,39],{},[33,590,38],{"href":35,"rel":591},[37],[16,593,42],{},[16,595,45],{},[11,597,49],{"id":48},[16,599,52],{},[16,601,55,602,60,605,66],{},[33,603,59],{"href":35,"rel":604},[37],[33,606,65],{"href":63,"rel":607},[37],[16,609,69,610,75,613,81],{},[33,611,74],{"href":72,"rel":612},[37],[33,614,80],{"href":78,"rel":615},[37],[16,617,84,618,90],{},[33,619,89],{"href":87,"rel":620},[37],[16,622,93],{},[11,624,97],{"id":96},[16,626,100,627,105],{},[102,628,104],{},[107,630,631,635,643],{},[110,632,112,633,116],{},[102,634,115],{},[110,636,119,637,123,639,123,641],{},[102,638,122],{},[102,640,126],{},[102,642,129],{},[110,644,132,645,135],{},[102,646,104],{},[16,648,138,649,144,652,148],{},[33,650,143],{"href":141,"rel":651},[37],[102,653,147],{},[16,655,151,656,155,658,159],{},[102,657,154],{},[102,659,158],{},[11,661,163],{"id":162},[16,663,166,664,170],{},[102,665,169],{},[107,667,668,672,680],{},[110,669,112,670,116],{},[102,671,177],{},[110,673,180,674,123,676,123,678],{},[102,675,183],{},[102,677,186],{},[102,679,189],{},[110,681,192,682,135],{},[102,683,169],{},[16,685,197,686,201],{},[102,687,200],{},[16,689,204],{},[11,691,208],{"id":207},[16,693,211],{},[16,695,696,217,698,221,700,225,702,231],{},[102,697,216],{},[102,699,220],{},[102,701,224],{},[33,703,230],{"href":228,"rel":704},[37],[16,706,707,237,709,241],{},[102,708,236],{},[102,710,240],{},[16,712,713,247,715,251,717,257,720,261,722,265,724,268,726,272,728,276],{},[102,714,246],{},[102,716,250],{},[33,718,256],{"href":254,"rel":719},[37],[102,721,260],{},[102,723,264],{},[102,725,250],{},[102,727,271],{},[102,729,275],{},[16,731,732,282,734,286,736,289,738,293,740,299],{},[102,733,281],{},[102,735,285],{},[102,737,250],{},[102,739,292],{},[33,741,298],{"href":296,"rel":742},[37],[16,744,302,745,305,747,305,749,305,751,305,753,314],{},[102,746,104],{},[102,748,169],{},[102,750,220],{},[102,752,240],{},[102,754,250],{},[11,756,318],{"id":317},[16,758,321],{},[323,760,761,771,781,788],{},[110,762,763,330,765,336,768,342],{},[102,764,329],{},[33,766,335],{"href":333,"rel":767},[37],[33,769,341],{"href":339,"rel":770},[37],[110,772,773,348,775,354,778,360],{},[102,774,347],{},[33,776,353],{"href":351,"rel":777},[37],[33,779,359],{"href":357,"rel":780},[37],[110,782,783,366,785,371],{},[102,784,365],{},[33,786,370],{"href":87,"rel":787},[37],[110,789,790,377,792,289,794,386],{},[102,791,376],{},[33,793,381],{"href":380},[33,795,385],{"href":384},[16,797,389],{},[11,799,393],{"id":392},[16,801,396],{},[16,803,399,804,403,806,407,808,413],{},[102,805,402],{},[102,807,406],{},[33,809,412],{"href":410,"rel":810},[37],[16,812,416,813,421],{},[418,814,420],{},[16,816,424],{},[11,818,428],{"id":427},[16,820,431],{},[16,822,434,823,439,825,442],{},[33,824,438],{"href":437},[33,826,381],{"href":380},[11,828,446],{"id":445},[107,830,831,836,841,846,851,856,861,866,871,876,881,886,891,896],{},[110,832,833,455],{},[33,834,454],{"href":35,"rel":835},[37],[110,837,838,462],{},[33,839,461],{"href":63,"rel":840},[37],[110,842,843,469],{},[33,844,468],{"href":72,"rel":845},[37],[110,847,848,476],{},[33,849,475],{"href":78,"rel":850},[37],[110,852,853,483],{},[33,854,482],{"href":87,"rel":855},[37],[110,857,858,490],{},[33,859,489],{"href":141,"rel":860},[37],[110,862,863,497],{},[33,864,496],{"href":228,"rel":865},[37],[110,867,868,504],{},[33,869,503],{"href":254,"rel":870},[37],[110,872,873,511],{},[33,874,510],{"href":296,"rel":875},[37],[110,877,878,518],{},[33,879,517],{"href":410,"rel":880},[37],[110,882,883,525],{},[33,884,524],{"href":333,"rel":885},[37],[110,887,888,532],{},[33,889,531],{"href":339,"rel":890},[37],[110,892,893,539],{},[33,894,538],{"href":351,"rel":895},[37],[110,897,898,546],{},[33,899,545],{"href":357,"rel":900},[37],{"title":548,"searchDepth":549,"depth":549,"links":902},[903,904,905,906,907,908,909,910,911,912],{"id":13,"depth":549,"text":14},{"id":27,"depth":549,"text":28},{"id":48,"depth":549,"text":49},{"id":96,"depth":549,"text":97},{"id":162,"depth":549,"text":163},{"id":207,"depth":549,"text":208},{"id":317,"depth":549,"text":318},{"id":392,"depth":549,"text":393},{"id":427,"depth":549,"text":428},{"id":445,"depth":549,"text":446},{},{"title":5,"description":563},{"id":916,"title":917,"author":6,"body":918,"category":1275,"date":1276,"description":1277,"extension":564,"image":1278,"meta":1279,"navigation":567,"path":1280,"readTime":1281,"seo":1282,"stem":1283,"__hash__":1284},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fis-your-phone-listening-to-you.md","Is Your Phone Listening to You?",{"type":8,"value":919,"toc":1258},[920,924,927,930,933,937,940,972,979,983,992,995,1014,1018,1021,1026,1035,1044,1047,1051,1060,1063,1067,1082,1090,1094,1097,1101,1130,1137,1141,1168,1175,1179,1186,1200,1202,1205,1243,1246],[11,921,923],{"id":922},"the-short-answer","The Short Answer",[16,925,926],{},"Probably not. But what's actually happening is arguably worse.",[16,928,929],{},"You mention dog food in conversation. An hour later, dog food ads. You talk about flights to Portugal, and suddenly every banner on the internet is selling you Lisbon. It feels like proof. Millions of people are convinced their phone is listening.",[16,931,932],{},"But security researchers, independent studies, and leaked internal documents consistently point to the same conclusion: your phone almost certainly isn't recording your conversations to serve you ads. It doesn't need to. The data it already collects is so comprehensive that it can predict what you want before you say it out loud.",[11,934,936],{"id":935},"why-it-feels-like-your-phone-is-listening","Why It Feels Like Your Phone Is Listening",[16,938,939],{},"The real explanation is less dramatic but more invasive. Advertisers don't need your microphone because they already have:",[323,941,942,948,954,960,966],{},[110,943,944,947],{},[102,945,946],{},"Your location history",". Your phone knows you walked into a pet store, visited a travel agency, or spent 20 minutes in a mattress showroom. GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth beacons track this continuously.",[110,949,950,953],{},[102,951,952],{},"Your search and browsing history",". Google and Meta know every search you've made, every link you've clicked, and every product page you've lingered on.",[110,955,956,959],{},[102,957,958],{},"Your purchase data",". Credit card transactions, loyalty cards, and online receipts are bought and sold by data brokers. If your friend bought dog food and you were at their house, the ad network may have linked your devices by shared location.",[110,961,962,965],{},[102,963,964],{},"Your social graph",". If your partner searched for a holiday destination, and you share a Wi-Fi network or are connected on social media, their interests can influence your ads. This is why you see ads for things people near you are interested in.",[110,967,968,971],{},[102,969,970],{},"Your advertising ID",". Both iOS and Android assign your phone a unique tracking identifier that lets ad networks follow your activity across every app. This single ID ties together everything you do.",[16,973,974,975,978],{},"This combination is so powerful that it creates uncanny coincidences constantly. You notice the hits (the ad that matched your conversation) and forget the thousands that didn't. This is ",[102,976,977],{},"confirmation bias",", and it's the primary engine behind the \"my phone is listening\" belief.",[11,980,982],{"id":981},"the-evidence-against-listening","The Evidence Against Listening",[16,984,985,986,991],{},"A ",[33,987,990],{"href":988,"rel":989},"https:\u002F\u002Fgizmodo.com\u002Fthese-academics-spent-the-last-year-testing-whether-you-1826961188",[37],"2018 study by researchers at Northeastern University"," tested over 17,000 Android apps and found no evidence of any app secretly activating the microphone for ad targeting. (They did find something else unsettling: some apps were silently recording the screen and sending screenshots to third parties.)",[16,993,994],{},"The data usage alone makes it implausible. If apps were secretly recording and uploading audio, the bandwidth consumption would be enormous and easily detectable. In controlled tests, voice assistants during active listening consumed orders of magnitude more data than any of the tested apps at rest.",[16,996,997,305,1002,1007,1008,1013],{},[33,998,1001],{"href":999,"rel":1000},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fprivacy\u002F",[37],"Apple",[33,1003,1006],{"href":1004,"rel":1005},"https:\u002F\u002Fsafety.google\u002Fprivacy\u002Fads-and-data\u002F",[37],"Google",", and Meta have all denied using microphone data for ad targeting. Instagram head Adam Mosseri ",[33,1009,1012],{"href":1010,"rel":1011},"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2025\u002F10\u002F01\u002Finstagram-head-says-company-is-not-using-your-microphone-to-listen-to-you-with-ai-data-it-wont-need-to\u002F",[37],"stated in 2025"," that the company does not use microphones for ads, noting that AI-driven data analysis makes eavesdropping unnecessary. In other words: they don't need to listen. They already know.",[11,1015,1017],{"id":1016},"but-its-not-completely-made-up","But It's Not Completely Made Up",[16,1019,1020],{},"There are documented cases that keep this concern grounded in reality.",[1022,1023,1025],"h3",{"id":1024},"the-cox-media-group-active-listening-pitch","The Cox Media Group \"Active Listening\" Pitch",[16,1027,1028,1029,1034],{},"In 2024, ",[33,1030,1033],{"href":1031,"rel":1032},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.404media.co\u002Fheres-the-pitch-deck-for-active-listening-ad-targeting\u002F",[37],"404 Media obtained a leaked pitch deck"," from Cox Media Group revealing a program called \"Active Listening\" that claimed to use smart device microphones to capture \"real-time intent data\" for ad targeting. CMG listed Google, Meta, and Amazon as partners.",[16,1036,1037,1038,1043],{},"All three companies denied involvement. ",[33,1039,1042],{"href":1040,"rel":1041},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.techdirt.com\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F29\u002Fcox-caught-again-bragging-it-spies-on-users-with-embedded-device-microphones-to-sell-ads\u002F",[37],"Google removed CMG from its Partners Program",". Meta said it was investigating potential terms-of-service violations. CMG later claimed the program used only \"third-party aggregated, anonymized data\" and not actual microphone recordings.",[16,1045,1046],{},"Whether CMG was overselling to attract clients or running a real program remains unclear. Either way, the incident revealed that at least some companies were, at a minimum, pitching the concept to potential clients.",[1022,1048,1050],{"id":1049},"the-apple-siri-settlement","The Apple Siri Settlement",[16,1052,1053,1054,1059],{},"In January 2025, Apple ",[33,1055,1058],{"href":1056,"rel":1057},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.npr.org\u002F2025\u002F01\u002F03\u002Fg-s1-40940\u002Fapple-settle-lawsuit-siri-privacy",[37],"agreed to a $95 million class-action settlement"," over allegations that Siri sometimes activated without a wake command and recorded conversations that were then reviewed by human contractors.",[16,1061,1062],{},"Apple did not admit wrongdoing but paid up to $20 per device to affected users. The case established that accidental voice assistant activations are a real and documented problem, even if the recordings weren't proven to be used for ad targeting.",[1022,1064,1066],{"id":1065},"ultrasonic-cross-device-tracking","Ultrasonic Cross-Device Tracking",[16,1068,1069,1070,1075,1076,1081],{},"This one is real and ",[33,1071,1074],{"href":1072,"rel":1073},"https:\u002F\u002Fieeexplore.ieee.org\u002Fdocument\u002F7961950",[37],"verified by academic researchers",". Some apps and TV advertisements emit inaudible ultrasonic tones that your phone's microphone can pick up. These tones link your devices together: your TV plays a tone during a commercial, your phone detects it, and the advertiser now knows you watched that ad. ",[33,1077,1080],{"href":1078,"rel":1079},"https:\u002F\u002Fthehackernews.com\u002F2017\u002F05\u002Fultrasonic-tracking-signals-apps.html",[37],"Researchers found over 200 apps"," using this technique.",[16,1083,1084,1085,1089],{},"This technology doesn't record your speech, but it does use your microphone without making it obvious. So your phone isn't listening to ",[1086,1087,1088],"em",{},"you",". It's listening to your TV.",[11,1091,1093],{"id":1092},"how-to-lock-down-your-microphone","How to Lock Down Your Microphone",[16,1095,1096],{},"Even if mass ad surveillance via microphone is unlikely, there's no reason to leave permissions open that you don't need.",[1022,1098,1100],{"id":1099},"on-iphone","On iPhone",[107,1102,1103,1110,1117,1124],{},[110,1104,1105,1106,1109],{},"Go to ",[102,1107,1108],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone",". Review every app on the list. Turn off any app that doesn't need mic access.",[110,1111,1112,1113,1116],{},"Watch for the ",[102,1114,1115],{},"orange dot",". When any app uses your microphone, iOS displays an orange dot in the top-right corner of your screen. If you see it when you're not on a call or recording, investigate.",[110,1118,1119,1120,1123],{},"Check ",[102,1121,1122],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report",". This shows which apps accessed your microphone in the last seven days and how often.",[110,1125,1105,1126,1129],{},[102,1127,1128],{},"Settings > Siri & Search",". If you don't use Siri, turn off \"Listen for 'Hey Siri'\" and \"Press Side Button for Siri.\" This eliminates the most common source of accidental activations.",[16,1131,1132,1133,413],{},"For a full walkthrough of iOS privacy settings, see our ",[33,1134,1136],{"href":1135},"\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-iphone","iPhone privacy guide",[1022,1138,1140],{"id":1139},"on-android","On Android",[107,1142,1143,1149,1155,1161],{},[110,1144,1105,1145,1148],{},[102,1146,1147],{},"Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager > Microphone",". Review and revoke access for apps that don't need it. Set the rest to \"Allow only while using the app.\"",[110,1150,1112,1151,1154],{},[102,1152,1153],{},"green indicator",". On Android 12 and later, a green dot appears in the top-right corner when the microphone or camera is active. Tap it to see which app is responsible.",[110,1156,1119,1157,1160],{},[102,1158,1159],{},"Settings > Privacy > Privacy Dashboard"," (Android 12+). This shows a timeline of which apps accessed your microphone in the last 24 hours.",[110,1162,1163,1164,1167],{},"Disable Google Assistant's always-listening mode if you don't use it: ",[102,1165,1166],{},"Settings > Google > Settings for Google apps > Search, Assistant & Voice > Google Assistant > Hey Google & Voice Match"," and turn off \"Hey Google.\"",[16,1169,1170,1171,413],{},"For a full walkthrough of Android privacy settings, see our ",[33,1172,1174],{"href":1173},"\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-android","Android privacy guide",[11,1176,1178],{"id":1177},"the-step-that-actually-matters-most","The Step That Actually Matters Most",[16,1180,1181,1182,1185],{},"Revoking microphone permissions is worth doing, but the single most effective step is ",[102,1183,1184],{},"disabling your advertising ID",". This is the identifier that lets ad networks build a profile across every app on your phone. Remove it and the \"eerily accurate\" ads get noticeably less precise.",[323,1187,1188,1194],{},[110,1189,1190,1193],{},[102,1191,1192],{},"iPhone",": Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking > turn off \"Allow Apps to Request to Track\"",[110,1195,1196,1199],{},[102,1197,1198],{},"Android",": Settings > Privacy > Ads > \"Delete advertising ID\"",[11,1201,318],{"id":317},[16,1203,1204],{},"Locking down your microphone won't stop the ads that feel like eavesdropping. That's because those ads were never based on your microphone. They're based on:",[323,1206,1207,1213,1224,1233],{},[110,1208,1209,1212],{},[102,1210,1211],{},"Location tracking"," (disabling this breaks maps and weather apps)",[110,1214,1215,1218,1219,1223],{},[102,1216,1217],{},"Cross-site tracking"," (use a privacy-focused browser; see our ",[33,1220,1222],{"href":1221},"\u002Fcompare\u002Fbrowsers","browser comparison",")",[110,1225,1226,1229,1230,1223],{},[102,1227,1228],{},"Data broker profiles"," (see our guide to ",[33,1231,1232],{"href":384},"deleting your digital footprint",[110,1234,1235,1238,1239,1223],{},[102,1236,1237],{},"Your IP address"," (a VPN hides this; see our ",[33,1240,1242],{"href":1241},"\u002Fcompare\u002Fvpns","VPN comparison",[16,1244,1245],{},"The uncomfortable truth is that modern ad targeting is so sophisticated that listening to you would be redundant. Your digital behaviour already tells advertisers what you want before you say it. Revoking microphone permissions is easy and worth doing, but the real privacy gains come from reducing the data trail you leave everywhere else.",[16,1247,1248,1249,1253,1254,1257],{},"Check what your browser reveals about you with our ",[33,1250,1252],{"href":1251},"\u002Ftools\u002Fbrowser-fingerprint","Fingerprint Test",", or run our ",[33,1255,1256],{"href":437},"Privacy Checkup"," to see where you stand.",{"title":548,"searchDepth":549,"depth":549,"links":1259},[1260,1261,1262,1263,1269,1273,1274],{"id":922,"depth":549,"text":923},{"id":935,"depth":549,"text":936},{"id":981,"depth":549,"text":982},{"id":1016,"depth":549,"text":1017,"children":1264},[1265,1267,1268],{"id":1024,"depth":1266,"text":1025},3,{"id":1049,"depth":1266,"text":1050},{"id":1065,"depth":1266,"text":1066},{"id":1092,"depth":549,"text":1093,"children":1270},[1271,1272],{"id":1099,"depth":1266,"text":1100},{"id":1139,"depth":1266,"text":1140},{"id":1177,"depth":549,"text":1178},{"id":317,"depth":549,"text":318},"Explainer","2026-04-21","Your phone probably isn't recording your conversations for ads. The reality is more unsettling. Here's what's actually happening.","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fis-your-phone-listening-to-you.jpg",{},"\u002Fguides\u002Fis-your-phone-listening-to-you",5,{"title":917,"description":1277},"guides\u002Fis-your-phone-listening-to-you","MV3QyVcLhvPXS-endTDUX9m3C6i7E0qo1m61zru9k9A",{"id":1286,"title":1287,"author":6,"body":1288,"category":561,"date":1595,"description":1596,"extension":564,"image":1597,"meta":1598,"navigation":567,"path":380,"readTime":1599,"seo":1600,"stem":1601,"__hash__":1602},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-google-tracking-you.md","How to Stop Google Tracking You",{"type":8,"value":1289,"toc":1583},[1290,1292,1295,1298,1302,1310,1319,1323,1331,1357,1360,1364,1367,1384,1393,1397,1400,1432,1436,1439,1456,1460,1463,1468,1492,1495,1499,1502,1522,1526,1529,1552,1555,1557,1560,1580],[11,1291,14],{"id":13},[16,1293,1294],{},"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.",[16,1296,1297],{},"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.",[11,1299,1301],{"id":1300},"step-1-check-what-google-already-has-on-you","Step 1: Check What Google Already Has on You",[16,1303,1105,1304,1309],{},[33,1305,1308],{"href":1306,"rel":1307},"https:\u002F\u002Fmyactivity.google.com",[37],"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.",[16,1311,1312,1313,1318],{},"Now go to ",[33,1314,1317],{"href":1315,"rel":1316},"https:\u002F\u002Fadssettings.google.com",[37],"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. This profile data is used for targeted advertising.",[11,1320,1322],{"id":1321},"step-2-nuke-your-activity-controls","Step 2: Nuke Your Activity Controls",[16,1324,1105,1325,1330],{},[33,1326,1329],{"href":1327,"rel":1328},"https:\u002F\u002Fmyaccount.google.com\u002Factivitycontrols",[37],"myaccount.google.com\u002Factivitycontrols"," and turn off:",[323,1332,1333,1339,1345,1351],{},[110,1334,1335,1338],{},[102,1336,1337],{},"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.\"",[110,1340,1341,1344],{},[102,1342,1343],{},"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.",[110,1346,1347,1350],{},[102,1348,1349],{},"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.",[110,1352,1353,1356],{},[102,1354,1355],{},"Ad Personalization",": Turn it off. Your ads will become generic instead of eerily specific. This is a win.",[16,1358,1359],{},"After turning these off, click \"Delete activity\" on each one and choose \"All time.\"",[11,1361,1363],{"id":1362},"step-3-fix-chrome-or-better-yet-ditch-it","Step 3: Fix Chrome (or Better Yet, Ditch It)",[16,1365,1366],{},"Chrome is a Google product. It's fast, but it sends a significant amount of data back to Google by default. If you insist on using it:",[107,1368,1369,1372,1375,1378,1381],{},[110,1370,1371],{},"Go to Settings > Privacy and Security",[110,1373,1374],{},"Turn off \"Help improve Chrome's features and performance\" (sends usage data to Google)",[110,1376,1377],{},"Turn off \"Make searches and browsing better\" (sends URLs to Google)",[110,1379,1380],{},"Set third-party cookies to \"Block third-party cookies\"",[110,1382,1383],{},"Turn off \"Improve search suggestions\" (sends everything you type in the address bar to Google in real time)",[16,1385,1386,1389,1390,1392],{},[102,1387,1388],{},"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 ",[33,1391,1222],{"href":1221}," for a detailed breakdown.",[11,1394,1396],{"id":1395},"step-4-lock-down-android","Step 4: Lock Down Android",[16,1398,1399],{},"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:",[107,1401,1402,1408,1414,1420,1426],{},[110,1403,1404,1407],{},[102,1405,1406],{},"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.",[110,1409,1410,1413],{},[102,1411,1412],{},"Settings > Privacy > Ads",": Delete your advertising ID and opt out of ad personalisation.",[110,1415,1416,1419],{},[102,1417,1418],{},"Settings > Location",": Turn off location for any app that doesn't need it. Set the rest to \"Only while using the app\" instead of \"Always.\"",[110,1421,1422,1425],{},[102,1423,1424],{},"Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account",": This takes you to the same activity controls from Step 2. Make sure they're off here too.",[110,1427,1428,1431],{},[102,1429,1430],{},"Google Play Store > Settings",": Review data sharing and personalisation options and opt out where available.",[11,1433,1435],{"id":1434},"step-5-handle-google-maps","Step 5: Handle Google Maps",[16,1437,1438],{},"Google Maps is hard to replace because no alternative matches it for coverage and accuracy. But you can use it without feeding Google your entire travel history.",[107,1440,1441,1450,1453],{},[110,1442,1443,1444,1449],{},"Open Maps > tap your profile picture > Your Timeline > review and manage your location data. Google ",[33,1445,1448],{"href":1446,"rel":1447},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.google\u002Fproducts\u002Fmaps\u002Fupdates-to-location-history-and-new-controls-coming-soon-to-maps\u002F",[37],"renamed Location History to Timeline"," and moved it to on-device storage in 2024.",[110,1451,1452],{},"Use Maps without signing in (you can still search and navigate)",[110,1454,1455],{},"For walking directions and simple lookups, try OpenStreetMap-based alternatives like OsmAnd or Organic Maps",[11,1457,1459],{"id":1458},"step-6-search-without-google","Step 6: Search Without Google",[16,1461,1462],{},"This is the easiest switch with the biggest impact. Your search history is one of the most revealing datasets about you.",[16,1464,1465],{},[102,1466,1467],{},"Alternatives that actually work:",[323,1469,1470,1480,1486],{},[110,1471,1472,1475,1476,1479],{},[102,1473,1474],{},"DuckDuckGo",": Doesn't track searches, good enough for 90% of queries. Add ",[418,1477,1478],{},"!g"," to any search to fall back to Google when you need it.",[110,1481,1482,1485],{},[102,1483,1484],{},"Startpage",": Uses Google's results but strips out the tracking. Best of both worlds.",[110,1487,1488,1491],{},[102,1489,1490],{},"Brave Search",": Fully independent index, no Google dependency.",[16,1493,1494],{},"Set your default search engine in your browser settings. You'll forget you switched within a week.",[11,1496,1498],{"id":1497},"step-7-limit-youtube-tracking","Step 7: Limit YouTube Tracking",[16,1500,1501],{},"If you still use YouTube (and let's be honest, you do):",[107,1503,1504,1507,1516,1519],{},[110,1505,1506],{},"Watch in a private\u002Fincognito window when you don't want something in your history",[110,1508,1509,1510,1515],{},"Use ",[33,1511,1514],{"href":1512,"rel":1513},"https:\u002F\u002Ffreetubeapp.io\u002F",[37],"FreeTube"," on desktop for a privacy-respecting YouTube client",[110,1517,1518],{},"On mobile, NewPipe (Android) lets you watch without a Google account",[110,1520,1521],{},"If you must use the official app: Settings > History & privacy > Pause watch history and Pause search history",[11,1523,1525],{"id":1524},"the-nuclear-option","The Nuclear Option",[16,1527,1528],{},"If you want to go all the way:",[107,1530,1531,1539,1546,1549],{},[110,1532,1533,1534],{},"Download all your data from ",[33,1535,1538],{"href":1536,"rel":1537},"https:\u002F\u002Ftakeout.google.com",[37],"takeout.google.com",[110,1540,1541,1542,1223],{},"Switch to a privacy-respecting email provider (see our ",[33,1543,1545],{"href":1544},"\u002Fcompare\u002Femail-providers","email comparison",[110,1547,1548],{},"Move your files from Google Drive to a local or encrypted cloud solution",[110,1550,1551],{},"Delete your Google account entirely",[16,1553,1554],{},"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.",[11,1556,318],{"id":317},[16,1558,1559],{},"Even with all of this done, some things are still out of your hands:",[323,1561,1562,1571,1574],{},[110,1563,1564,1565,1570],{},"If you use Gmail, Google scans your emails for spam filtering and, unless you opt out, for ",[33,1566,1569],{"href":1567,"rel":1568},"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fmail\u002Fanswer\u002F10079371",[37],"smart features like Smart Reply and AI assistance",". Google stopped scanning emails for ad personalisation in 2017.",[110,1572,1573],{},"Websites using Google Analytics and Google Ads still report your visits back to Google, even if you opted out of personalisation. Use an ad blocker like uBlock Origin to stop this.",[110,1575,1576,1577,1579],{},"Google can still link your activity through your IP address even without cookies. A VPN helps here. Check our ",[33,1578,1242],{"href":1241}," if you're shopping for one.",[16,1581,1582],{},"Privacy isn't all-or-nothing. Every setting you change is one less data point in their profile.",{"title":548,"searchDepth":549,"depth":549,"links":1584},[1585,1586,1587,1588,1589,1590,1591,1592,1593,1594],{"id":13,"depth":549,"text":14},{"id":1300,"depth":549,"text":1301},{"id":1321,"depth":549,"text":1322},{"id":1362,"depth":549,"text":1363},{"id":1395,"depth":549,"text":1396},{"id":1434,"depth":549,"text":1435},{"id":1458,"depth":549,"text":1459},{"id":1497,"depth":549,"text":1498},{"id":1524,"depth":549,"text":1525},{"id":317,"depth":549,"text":318},"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.","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fstop-google-tracking-you.jpg",{},10,{"title":1287,"description":1596},"guides\u002Fstop-google-tracking-you","GLDfebkLo5uD3RByqemGt0krKzpaWO0fcUCiNo6O798",{"id":1604,"title":1605,"author":6,"body":1606,"category":561,"date":2045,"description":2046,"extension":564,"image":2047,"meta":2048,"navigation":567,"path":1135,"readTime":2049,"seo":2050,"stem":2051,"__hash__":2052},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-iphone.md","Best Privacy Settings for iPhone",{"type":8,"value":1607,"toc":2029},[1608,1612,1615,1618,1622,1627,1632,1637,1642,1646,1651,1654,1694,1700,1704,1709,1712,1750,1754,1757,1762,1776,1781,1789,1793,1798,1806,1811,1816,1819,1823,1828,1868,1873,1878,1882,1892,1909,1915,1919,1924,1929,1933,1938,1943,1947,1952,1960,1964,1969,1986,1989,1993,1996,2000,2003,2026],[11,1609,1611],{"id":1610},"why-this-matters","Why This Matters",[16,1613,1614],{},"Apple markets the iPhone as the privacy phone, and it is generally regarded as more privacy-respecting 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.",[16,1616,1617],{},"This guide covers every privacy setting worth changing. It takes about 10 minutes.",[11,1619,1621],{"id":1620},"tracking-and-advertising","Tracking and Advertising",[16,1623,1624],{},[102,1625,1626],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking",[323,1628,1629],{},[110,1630,1631],{},"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).",[16,1633,1634],{},[102,1635,1636],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising",[323,1638,1639],{},[110,1640,1641],{},"Turn off \"Personalized Ads.\" Apple operates an advertising platform within the App Store and Apple News. This opts you out.",[11,1643,1645],{"id":1644},"location-services","Location Services",[16,1647,1648],{},[102,1649,1650],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services",[16,1652,1653],{},"Don't turn location off entirely (Maps and Find My need it). Instead, go through each app individually:",[323,1655,1656,1659,1662,1691],{},[110,1657,1658],{},"Set most apps to \"While Using\" instead of \"Always.\" Almost nothing needs your location 24\u002F7.",[110,1660,1661],{},"For apps that don't need location at all (games, calculators, social media you don't geopost on), set to \"Never.\"",[110,1663,1664,1665],{},"Scroll to the bottom and tap \"System Services.\" Turn off:\n",[323,1666,1667,1673,1679,1685],{},[110,1668,1669,1672],{},[102,1670,1671],{},"Significant Locations",": Apple tracks places you visit frequently. Turn it off and clear the history.",[110,1674,1675,1678],{},[102,1676,1677],{},"iPhone Analytics",": Sends location data to Apple for \"improving\" products.",[110,1680,1681,1684],{},[102,1682,1683],{},"Routing & Traffic",": Sends your driving data to Apple.",[110,1686,1687,1690],{},[102,1688,1689],{},"Improve Maps",": Sends places you visit to Apple.",[110,1692,1693],{},"Keep \"Find My iPhone\" and \"Emergency SOS\" on. Those are actually useful.",[16,1695,1696,1699],{},[102,1697,1698],{},"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.",[11,1701,1703],{"id":1702},"app-permissions-audit","App Permissions Audit",[16,1705,1706],{},[102,1707,1708],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security",[16,1710,1711],{},"Go through each category and revoke access for apps that don't need it:",[323,1713,1714,1720,1726,1732,1738,1744],{},[110,1715,1716,1719],{},[102,1717,1718],{},"Camera",": Only apps that actually take photos\u002Fvideos",[110,1721,1722,1725],{},[102,1723,1724],{},"Microphone",": Only calling apps and voice recorders",[110,1727,1728,1731],{},[102,1729,1730],{},"Contacts",": Almost nothing needs this. Messaging apps, sure. That random game? No.",[110,1733,1734,1737],{},[102,1735,1736],{},"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.",[110,1739,1740,1743],{},[102,1741,1742],{},"Bluetooth",": Some apps request Bluetooth access to detect location via beacons rather than to connect to devices. If the app doesn't pair with hardware, deny it.",[110,1745,1746,1749],{},[102,1747,1748],{},"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.",[11,1751,1753],{"id":1752},"safari-privacy","Safari Privacy",[16,1755,1756],{},"If you use Safari (and on iPhone, you should since all browsers use Safari's WebKit engine in most regions):",[16,1758,1759],{},[102,1760,1761],{},"Settings > Apps > Safari",[323,1763,1764,1767,1770,1773],{},[110,1765,1766],{},"Turn on \"Prevent Cross-Site Tracking\"",[110,1768,1769],{},"Turn on \"Hide IP Address\" (set to \"Trackers and Websites\" for maximum privacy, or \"Trackers Only\" if some sites break)",[110,1771,1772],{},"Turn off \"Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement\" (Apple's alternative to tracking, but it still sends data)",[110,1774,1775],{},"Set \"Clear History and Website Data\" periodically",[16,1777,1778],{},[102,1779,1780],{},"Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced",[323,1782,1783,1786],{},[110,1784,1785],{},"Turn on \"Block All Cookies\" if you're willing to log in more often. This breaks some sites but massively reduces tracking.",[110,1787,1788],{},"Check \"Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection\" is set to \"All Browsing\"",[11,1790,1792],{"id":1791},"siri-and-dictation","Siri and Dictation",[16,1794,1795],{},[102,1796,1797],{},"Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri",[323,1799,1800,1803],{},[110,1801,1802],{},"Turn off \"Improve Siri & Dictation.\" This stops Apple from reviewing your Siri audio recordings.",[110,1804,1805],{},"Delete your Siri & Dictation History",[16,1807,1808],{},[102,1809,1810],{},"Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements",[323,1812,1813],{},[110,1814,1815],{},"Turn off \"Improve Siri & Dictation\" here too (yes, it's in two places)",[16,1817,1818],{},"If you don't use Siri, consider disabling it entirely. It's one less thing listening.",[11,1820,1822],{"id":1821},"lock-screen-security","Lock Screen Security",[16,1824,1825],{},[102,1826,1827],{},"Settings > Face ID & Passcode",[323,1829,1830,1833],{},[110,1831,1832],{},"Use a 6-digit or alphanumeric passcode, not 4 digits",[110,1834,1835,1836],{},"Scroll down to \"Allow Access When Locked\" and turn off:\n",[323,1837,1838,1844,1850,1856,1862],{},[110,1839,1840,1843],{},[102,1841,1842],{},"Notification Center",": Prevents strangers from reading your notifications",[110,1845,1846,1849],{},[102,1847,1848],{},"Control Center",": Prevents someone from turning on Airplane Mode (which disables Find My)",[110,1851,1852,1855],{},[102,1853,1854],{},"Wallet",": Prevents unauthorised payments",[110,1857,1858,1861],{},[102,1859,1860],{},"Reply with Message",": Prevents reading and replying to messages",[110,1863,1864,1867],{},[102,1865,1866],{},"USB Accessories",": Prevents data extraction tools from connecting when locked",[16,1869,1870],{},[102,1871,1872],{},"Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection",[323,1874,1875],{},[110,1876,1877],{},"Turn this on. It requires biometric authentication for sensitive actions when you're away from familiar locations.",[11,1879,1881],{"id":1880},"icloud-and-data","iCloud and Data",[16,1883,1884],{},[102,1885,1886,1887,1891],{},"Settings > ",[1888,1889,1890],"span",{},"Your Name"," > iCloud",[323,1893,1894,1897],{},[110,1895,1896],{},"Review what's syncing. Do you need Safari bookmarks, Siri data, and Game Center in the cloud?",[110,1898,1899,1902,1903,1908],{},[102,1900,1901],{},"Advanced Data Protection",": Turn this ON. This enables end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, Photos, Notes, and more. Without this, Apple retains the encryption keys and can, according to ",[33,1904,1907],{"href":1905,"rel":1906},"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.apple.com\u002Fen-gb\u002Fguide\u002Fsecurity\u002Fsec973254c5f\u002Fweb",[37],"their documentation",", provide data to law enforcement when legally required. With it on, only your devices hold the keys.",[16,1910,1911,1914],{},[102,1912,1913],{},"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.",[11,1916,1918],{"id":1917},"mail-privacy","Mail Privacy",[16,1920,1921],{},[102,1922,1923],{},"Settings > Apps > Mail > Privacy Protection",[323,1925,1926],{},[110,1927,1928],{},"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 loading remote content through Apple's proxy servers rather than directly from the sender.",[11,1930,1932],{"id":1931},"notifications","Notifications",[16,1934,1935],{},[102,1936,1937],{},"Settings > Notifications",[323,1939,1940],{},[110,1941,1942],{},"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.",[11,1944,1946],{"id":1945},"network-privacy","Network Privacy",[16,1948,1949],{},[102,1950,1951],{},"Settings > Wi-Fi",[323,1953,1954,1957],{},[110,1955,1956],{},"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.",[110,1958,1959],{},"Also turn on \"Limit IP Address Tracking\" which routes some traffic through Apple's relay servers.",[11,1961,1963],{"id":1962},"analytics","Analytics",[16,1965,1966,1968],{},[102,1967,1810],{},"\nTurn everything off:",[323,1970,1971,1974,1977,1980,1983],{},[110,1972,1973],{},"Share iPhone Analytics",[110,1975,1976],{},"Share iCloud Analytics",[110,1978,1979],{},"Improve Safety",[110,1981,1982],{},"Improve Siri & Dictation",[110,1984,1985],{},"Share with App Developers",[16,1987,1988],{},"This stuff sends usage data to Apple and third-party developers. There's no benefit to you.",[11,1990,1992],{"id":1991},"app-store-privacy","App Store Privacy",[16,1994,1995],{},"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.",[11,1997,1999],{"id":1998},"what-you-cant-control","What You Can't Control",[16,2001,2002],{},"Even with every setting changed:",[323,2004,2005,2008,2015,2023],{},[110,2006,2007],{},"Your carrier knows your location (any cell tower your phone connects to records it)",[110,2009,2010,2011,2014],{},"Apps can still fingerprint your device using screen size, system configuration, and other signals. Check our ",[33,2012,2013],{"href":1251},"browser fingerprint tool"," to see how this works.",[110,2016,2017,2018],{},"Apple still collects some telemetry even with analytics off, according to ",[33,2019,2022],{"href":2020,"rel":2021},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scss.tcd.ie\u002Fdoug.leith\u002Fapple_google.pdf",[37],"independent research",[110,2024,2025],{},"Your ISP sees your DNS queries and traffic volume unless you use a VPN",[16,2027,2028],{},"No phone is perfectly private. But an iPhone with these settings changed is dramatically better than one running defaults.",{"title":548,"searchDepth":549,"depth":549,"links":2030},[2031,2032,2033,2034,2035,2036,2037,2038,2039,2040,2041,2042,2043,2044],{"id":1610,"depth":549,"text":1611},{"id":1620,"depth":549,"text":1621},{"id":1644,"depth":549,"text":1645},{"id":1702,"depth":549,"text":1703},{"id":1752,"depth":549,"text":1753},{"id":1791,"depth":549,"text":1792},{"id":1821,"depth":549,"text":1822},{"id":1880,"depth":549,"text":1881},{"id":1917,"depth":549,"text":1918},{"id":1931,"depth":549,"text":1932},{"id":1945,"depth":549,"text":1946},{"id":1962,"depth":549,"text":1963},{"id":1991,"depth":549,"text":1992},{"id":1998,"depth":549,"text":1999},"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\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-iphone.jpg",{},12,{"title":1605,"description":2046},"guides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-iphone","LJsSqbpwm9W4S3IlS6IQ4QTFR3X4s7mGe6AFMqyRClM",{"id":2054,"title":2055,"author":6,"body":2056,"category":561,"date":2536,"description":2537,"extension":564,"image":2538,"meta":2539,"navigation":567,"path":1173,"readTime":2049,"seo":2540,"stem":2541,"__hash__":2542},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-android.md","Best Privacy Settings for Android",{"type":8,"value":2057,"toc":2520},[2058,2062,2065,2068,2072,2075,2081,2104,2110,2114,2118,2121,2164,2173,2177,2181,2189,2193,2197,2222,2226,2231,2256,2261,2269,2273,2276,2281,2301,2308,2312,2315,2341,2345,2350,2373,2378,2386,2390,2395,2400,2405,2419,2421,2433,2437,2442,2447,2452,2457,2461,2464,2496,2500,2503,2517],[11,2059,2061],{"id":2060},"the-reality","The Reality",[16,2063,2064],{},"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. Most toggles that are on by default serve Google's data collection interests rather than yours.",[16,2066,2067],{},"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.",[11,2069,2071],{"id":2070},"google-account-settings","Google Account Settings",[16,2073,2074],{},"Before touching your phone settings, lock down your Google account. This is where the most invasive tracking lives.",[16,2076,2077,2078,1330],{},"Open ",[102,2079,2080],{},"Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & Privacy",[323,2082,2083,2088,2094,2099],{},[110,2084,2085,2087],{},[102,2086,1337],{},": Tracks every Google search, Maps lookup, Assistant command, and website you visit through Chrome. Turn it off. Tap \"Delete activity\" and select \"All time.\"",[110,2089,2090,2093],{},[102,2091,2092],{},"Location History (Timeline)",": Records everywhere your phone goes with GPS precision. Turn it off and delete all history.",[110,2095,2096,2098],{},[102,2097,1349],{},": Logs every video you watch and search for. Turn it off.",[110,2100,2101,2103],{},[102,2102,1355],{},": Builds an advertising profile from everything above. Turn it off.",[16,2105,2106,2107,2109],{},"This is the same stuff from our ",[33,2108,381],{"href":380},", but it's worth repeating because it's the single highest-impact change.",[11,2111,2113],{"id":2112},"permissions-audit","Permissions Audit",[16,2115,2116],{},[102,2117,1406],{},[16,2119,2120],{},"Go through each permission category:",[323,2122,2123,2129,2135,2140,2146,2152,2158],{},[110,2124,2125,2128],{},[102,2126,2127],{},"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.",[110,2130,2131,2134],{},[102,2132,2133],{},"Camera & Microphone",": Only messaging, video calling, and camera apps. Revoke everything else.",[110,2136,2137,2139],{},[102,2138,1730],{},": Messaging apps and your phone dialer. That's it.",[110,2141,2142,2145],{},[102,2143,2144],{},"Phone",": Some apps request this to read your phone number or call state. Most don't need it.",[110,2147,2148,2151],{},[102,2149,2150],{},"Files and Media",": Only file managers, photo editors, and media players. If a game wants access to your files, that's a red flag.",[110,2153,2154,2157],{},[102,2155,2156],{},"Nearby Devices",": Used for Bluetooth and local connections. Deny for anything that doesn't connect to hardware.",[110,2159,2160,2163],{},[102,2161,2162],{},"Body Sensors",": Only fitness apps.",[16,2165,2166,2169,2170,2172],{},[102,2167,2168],{},"Pro tip",": On Android 12+, go to ",[102,2171,1159],{},". 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.",[11,2174,2176],{"id":2175},"advertising-id","Advertising ID",[16,2178,2179],{},[102,2180,1412],{},[323,2182,2183,2186],{},[110,2184,2185],{},"Tap \"Delete advertising ID.\" This removes the unique identifier that apps use to track you across different services and build advertising profiles.",[110,2187,2188],{},"On older Android versions, this might say \"Opt out of Ads Personalization\" and \"Reset advertising ID.\" Do both.",[11,2190,2192],{"id":2191},"location-settings","Location Settings",[16,2194,2195],{},[102,2196,1418],{},[323,2198,2199,2209,2215],{},[110,2200,2201,2202,289,2205,2208],{},"Turn off ",[102,2203,2204],{},"Wi-Fi scanning",[102,2206,2207],{},"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.",[110,2210,2201,2211,2214],{},[102,2212,2213],{},"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.",[110,2216,2217,2218,2221],{},"Review ",[102,2219,2220],{},"Recent location requests"," to see which apps are actively using your location.",[11,2223,2225],{"id":2224},"network-and-connectivity","Network and Connectivity",[16,2227,2228],{},[102,2229,2230],{},"Settings > Network & Internet",[323,2232,2233,2247],{},[110,2234,2235,2238,2239,2242,2243,2246],{},[102,2236,2237],{},"Private DNS",": Set to a privacy-respecting DNS provider. Tap \"Private DNS provider hostname\" and enter ",[418,2240,2241],{},"dns.quad9.net"," or ",[418,2244,2245],{},"one.one.one.one",". This encrypts your DNS queries so your ISP can't see which websites you visit.",[110,2248,2249,2252,2253,2255],{},[102,2250,2251],{},"VPN",": If you use a VPN, turn on \"Always-on VPN\" and \"Block connections without VPN\" (kill switch). Check our ",[33,2254,1242],{"href":1241}," for recommendations.",[16,2257,2258],{},[102,2259,2260],{},"Wi-Fi settings:",[323,2262,2263,2266],{},[110,2264,2265],{},"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.",[110,2267,2268],{},"Turn off \"Wi-Fi auto-connect\" for open networks. Your phone shouldn't auto-join random coffee shop Wi-Fi.",[11,2270,2272],{"id":2271},"google-chrome-or-why-you-should-switch","Google Chrome (or Why You Should Switch)",[16,2274,2275],{},"Chrome on Android sends a lot of data back to Google. If you must use it:",[16,2277,2278],{},[102,2279,2280],{},"Chrome > Settings > Privacy and Security:",[323,2282,2283,2286,2289,2292,2295,2298],{},[110,2284,2285],{},"Turn off \"Help improve Chrome\" (sends usage data)",[110,2287,2288],{},"Turn off \"Make searches and browsing better\" (sends URLs in real-time)",[110,2290,2291],{},"Turn off \"Access payment methods\" (shares with websites)",[110,2293,2294],{},"Block third-party cookies",[110,2296,2297],{},"Turn on \"Send a 'Do Not Track' request\"",[110,2299,2300],{},"Turn on \"Always use secure connections\" (forces HTTPS)",[16,2302,2303,2305,2306,413],{},[102,2304,1388],{},": Switch to Firefox or Brave. Unlike iOS, Android lets you use actual different browser engines. Firefox with uBlock Origin is one of the strongest privacy setups on mobile. Check our ",[33,2307,1222],{"href":1221},[11,2309,2311],{"id":2310},"samsung-specific-settings","Samsung-Specific Settings",[16,2313,2314],{},"If you're on a Samsung phone, there's extra tracking to disable:",[323,2316,2317,2329,2335],{},[110,2318,2319,2322,2323,2328],{},[102,2320,2321],{},"Settings > Privacy > Customization Service",": Turn this off. According to Samsung's ",[33,2324,2327],{"href":2325,"rel":2326},"https:\u002F\u002Faccount.samsung.com\u002Fmembership\u002Fterms\u002Fprivacypolicy",[37],"privacy policy",", this service collects usage data across Samsung apps to personalise their services.",[110,2330,2331,2334],{},[102,2332,2333],{},"Settings > Privacy > Samsung Analytics",": Turn off sending diagnostic data.",[110,2336,2337,2340],{},[102,2338,2339],{},"Galaxy Store > Menu > Settings",": Turn off \"Personalized recommendations.\"",[11,2342,2344],{"id":2343},"lock-screen-and-security","Lock Screen and Security",[16,2346,2347],{},[102,2348,2349],{},"Settings > Security",[323,2351,2352,2355,2370],{},[110,2353,2354],{},"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).",[110,2356,2357,2358,2363,2364,2369],{},"Turn on biometric unlock (fingerprint or face) for convenience, but know that a PIN\u002Fpassword may offer stronger legal protection. The legal treatment of biometrics vs. passwords ",[33,2359,2362],{"href":2360,"rel":2361},"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FKey_disclosure_law",[37],"varies by jurisdiction"," and is still evolving. In the US, some courts have ruled that biometrics can be compelled while passwords may have Fifth Amendment protection; UK law under ",[33,2365,2368],{"href":2366,"rel":2367},"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRegulation_of_Investigatory_Powers_Act_2000",[37],"RIPA"," can require disclosure of encryption keys.",[110,2371,2372],{},"Set auto-lock to 30 seconds or 1 minute.",[16,2374,2375],{},[102,2376,2377],{},"Settings > Lock Screen",[323,2379,2380,2383],{},[110,2381,2382],{},"Set notifications to \"Hide content\" or \"Show alerting notifications only.\" This prevents your messages from being readable when your phone is on a table.",[110,2384,2385],{},"Turn off lock screen widgets and shortcuts that show personal info.",[11,2387,2389],{"id":2388},"app-installation","App Installation",[16,2391,2392],{},[102,2393,2394],{},"Settings > Apps > Special Access > Install Unknown Apps",[323,2396,2397],{},[110,2398,2399],{},"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.",[16,2401,2402],{},[102,2403,2404],{},"Google Play Store",[323,2406,2407,2413],{},[110,2408,2409,2412],{},[102,2410,2411],{},"Settings > General > App install optimization",": Turn this off. It shares data with Google about your app installations.",[110,2414,2415,2418],{},[102,2416,2417],{},"Play Protect",": Keep this on. It scans for malware. This is one Google feature worth keeping enabled.",[11,2420,1932],{"id":1931},[323,2422,2423],{},[110,2424,2425,2426,2432],{},"For sensitive apps (banking, messaging, health), go to ",[102,2427,2428,2429],{},"Settings > Notifications > ",[1888,2430,2431],{},"App"," and turn off lock screen previews. Set to \"Show silently\" or \"Alerting\" without content.",[11,2434,2436],{"id":2435},"analytics-and-diagnostics","Analytics and Diagnostics",[16,2438,2439],{},[102,2440,2441],{},"Settings > Privacy > Usage & Diagnostics",[323,2443,2444],{},[110,2445,2446],{},"Turn this off. It sends detailed device usage data to Google.",[16,2448,2449],{},[102,2450,2451],{},"Settings > Google > Ads",[323,2453,2454],{},[110,2455,2456],{},"We covered this above, but double-check it's done.",[11,2458,2460],{"id":2459},"the-nuclear-options","The Nuclear Options",[16,2462,2463],{},"If you want to go further:",[323,2465,2466,2472,2484,2490],{},[110,2467,2468,2471],{},[102,2469,2470],{},"Use F-Droid"," instead of the Play Store for open-source apps. No tracking, no Google account needed.",[110,2473,2474,2477,2478,2483],{},[102,2475,2476],{},"Install a custom ROM"," like GrapheneOS (Pixel phones only) or LineageOS. These strip out Google entirely. GrapheneOS in particular has been ",[33,2479,2482],{"href":2480,"rel":2481},"https:\u002F\u002Fgrapheneos.org\u002Ffaq#security-and-privacy-focused",[37],"recommended by security researchers"," for its hardened security model.",[110,2485,2486,2489],{},[102,2487,2488],{},"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.",[110,2491,2492,2495],{},[102,2493,2494],{},"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.",[11,2497,2499],{"id":2498},"what-you-cant-fully-escape","What You Can't Fully Escape",[16,2501,2502],{},"Even with perfect settings:",[323,2504,2505,2508,2511,2514],{},[110,2506,2507],{},"Your mobile carrier tracks your location through cell towers. There's no way around this while your phone has service.",[110,2509,2510],{},"Google Play Services runs in the background and communicates with Google periodically even with most settings off.",[110,2512,2513],{},"Many apps include Google's Firebase SDK, which sends analytics regardless of your phone settings. An ad blocker or Pi-hole can help here.",[110,2515,2516],{},"Your phone's IMEI is a permanent hardware identifier that carriers log.",[16,2518,2519],{},"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":548,"searchDepth":549,"depth":549,"links":2521},[2522,2523,2524,2525,2526,2527,2528,2529,2530,2531,2532,2533,2534,2535],{"id":2060,"depth":549,"text":2061},{"id":2070,"depth":549,"text":2071},{"id":2112,"depth":549,"text":2113},{"id":2175,"depth":549,"text":2176},{"id":2191,"depth":549,"text":2192},{"id":2224,"depth":549,"text":2225},{"id":2271,"depth":549,"text":2272},{"id":2310,"depth":549,"text":2311},{"id":2343,"depth":549,"text":2344},{"id":2388,"depth":549,"text":2389},{"id":1931,"depth":549,"text":1932},{"id":2435,"depth":549,"text":2436},{"id":2459,"depth":549,"text":2460},{"id":2498,"depth":549,"text":2499},"2026-04-17","Android phones are Google's biggest data pipeline. Here's how to tighten every setting without breaking anything.","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-android.jpg",{},{"title":2055,"description":2537},"guides\u002Fbest-privacy-settings-android","6v13fFG0qUNRE2JDte4ljA0H_JpBTlx9Zr4hCcsGE4Y",1777130729277]