YOUR iPhone has a hidden list of apps that are tracking you.
The creepy page shows apps that can follow your activity on the web.
1
Every app on your iPhone can give you a unique advertising ID.
This lets the app follow you across the internet, including your movements in other apps.
The idea is that by following your online movements, apps can give you more relevant ads.
But it means you’re giving up privacy – especially if every app is tracking you.
Apple has already rolled out a feature for the Safari web browser that stops websites doing this.
But you need to check your hidden iPhone list now to uncover any apps that might be following you.
“Apps that have asked for permission to track your activity with an identifier will appear here,”
“Tracking activity is blocked by apps you’ve denied access to.”
Most read in Tech
How to turn off ad-tracking on iPhone
The new system is very simple.
When you load up an app for the first time after the update, you’ll see a pop-up.
This notification will appear if the app you’re using wants to track your activity across other apps and websites.
In the pop-up, the app-maker has a chance to explain why it wants to track you.
And then you can either allow the tracking, or ask the app not to virtually follow you around.
If you change your mind later on, you can edit your choice.
Simply go into your iPhone settings, then tap Privacy and then choose Tracking at the top.
You’ll find a huge list of apps that you can allow or disallow tracking for.
And you can even turn off the ability for all apps to request to track, effectively blocking them all from following you.
It means a major advertiser like Facebook will no longer be able to “virtually” follow you around the web, to build up a picture of your lifestyle, spending habits and more.
“We believe users should have the choice over the data that is being collected about them and how it’s used,” said Apple chief Tim Cook in a tweet late last year.
“Facebook can continue to track users across apps and websites as before.
“App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 will just require that they ask for your permission first.”
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered…
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
