2018 is the year that brought cybersecurity concerns to the masses. From long-standing questions over Russian influence in the U.S. elections to the Facebook data scandal, everyday users are increasingly concerned with online data security.
New reports from the Sunday Express are warning users about popular apps that collect a little too much information. The biggest offender? Facebook, of course. Tech expert Andrey Meshkov says installing the Facebook app on your phone lets the tech giant track everything you do in your phone’s browser. The company collects information on which YouTube videos you watch, what online purchases you make and which websites you visit.
Facebook isn’t the only app collecting your private data, though. Another big offender is the Fast and Fast Lite app family. Together, these apps have been downloaded by more than 11 million users. Both programs connect to your Facebook account and offer an alternative to the official app.
Meshkov identified one way to avoid these data-stealing apps: Read their privacy policies before installing. All three apps mention Unimania, a private company that collects user data and sells it to advertising firms, and share how your data is sent to Unimania by the apps.
With Facebook’s extensive efforts to rehabilitate its image, the tech giant might change its data collection policies in the future. Alternative apps like Fast and Fast Lite have less pressure to change.
To keep yourself truly safe, the best option might be to stop using social media sites. However, that’s not realistic, as Facebook, Twitter and other sites have become so important for staying in touch with friends and families.
Meshkov recommends avoiding mobile social media apps, which require extensive permissions, and sticking with the browser version of your favorite sites. It may be less convenient, but it will greatly decrease the data each site can collect, especially if you use a private browsing mode and log off after use.
Read More: https://newatlas.com/data-collection-and-privacy/53959/
