Digital Smarts - What Apps Have Access to Your Personal Information?
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There are a large number of digital apps that allow the developer access to the phone or tablet's photos, GPS location, microphone, contacts and more. While some apps do need to be granted specific access, many don't. That means a simple flashlight or wallpaper app might be sending your personal data back to the developer. Once your data is there, it can end up anywhere. Fortunately, there are tools available that can easily scan major apps to tell you which have access to your personal information. The MyPermissions - Online Privacy Shield app (available for iOS and Android) is an example of a tool that scans major apps like Facebook, Twitter, and games to tell you not only which apps have access to personal information on your device, but also shows you what they are sharing on your behalf. You can then use tools that are part of the app to shut off or neutralize access.