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Think your online data is safe? Think again. Companies, advertisers, hackers, and even nosy acquaintances can access more of your personal information than you probably realize. From tracking your location to listening in on your conversations, many default privacy settings are designed to collect as much data as possible. If you haven’t checked your settings recently, you could be exposing sensitive details without even knowing it. Here are eight privacy settings you should change right now to keep your personal information secure.
1. Stop Apps from Tracking Your Location
Many apps track your location even when you’re not using them, collecting data on your daily routines and movements. This information is often shared with advertisers or, in some cases, even sold to third parties. To take back control, go to your phone’s settings and check which apps have location access. Change permissions to “While Using the App” or “Never” for anything that doesn’t absolutely need your location. If you’re on iPhone, enable “Precise Location” only for necessary apps to prevent detailed tracking.
2. Limit Who Can See Your Social Media Posts
If your social media profiles are public, you’re giving complete strangers access to your personal life. Photos, locations, and even details about your family can be easily found and used against you. Adjust your privacy settings so only friends or approved followers can see your posts. On Facebook, go to Settings > Privacy and change “Who can see your future posts?” to “Friends” or “Only Me” for maximum control. For Instagram and Twitter, switch your account to private.
3. Disable Ad Tracking on Your Devices
Ever wonder why you see ads for something you just talked about? That’s because your devices collect data on your browsing and conversations to deliver targeted ads. To reduce this, disable ad tracking on your phone. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” On Android, go to Settings > Google > Ads and enable “Opt out of Ads Personalization.” You can also adjust ad settings on Google and Facebook to limit personalized tracking.
4. Turn Off Voice Assistant Recordings
Smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are constantly listening for their wake words—but they also record snippets of your conversations. These recordings can be stored and analyzed, sometimes even by human employees. If you’re concerned about privacy, disable voice recording storage. On Alexa, go to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data and turn off “Use Voice Recordings to Improve Amazon Services.” For Google Assistant, go to Google Account > Data & Personalization > Web & App Activity and uncheck “Include voice and audio recordings.”
5. Restrict App Permissions on Your Phone
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Many phone apps request unnecessary permissions that invade your privacy. For example, a flashlight app shouldn’t need access to your contacts or camera, yet some request it anyway. Go to your phone’s settings and check which apps have access to your microphone, camera, contacts, and messages. Revoke permissions for anything that seems unnecessary. If an app refuses to work without excessive permissions, consider deleting it and finding a safer alternative.
6. Change Your Google Privacy Settings
Google collects an enormous amount of data about your searches, location, and activity across devices. If you haven’t adjusted your privacy settings, Google likely has a detailed history of everywhere you’ve been and everything you’ve searched for. Go to myactivity.google.com and delete your search, location, and web activity history. Then, navigate to Google Account > Data & Personalization > Activity Controls and turn off tracking for Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History.
7. Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network
Your home Wi-Fi router is the gateway to all your devices, yet many people leave it completely exposed. If you’re still using the default password that came with your router, you’re making it easy for hackers to access your network. Change your Wi-Fi password to something strong and unique. Also, disable remote access and change the default admin login credentials, as these are often publicly available. Enabling WPA3 encryption (or WPA2 if WPA3 isn’t available) will add an extra layer of security.
8. Block Third-Party Cookies in Your Browser
Websites use cookies to track your online activity, collecting data on your browsing habits and preferences. While some cookies are useful, third-party cookies allow advertisers to follow you across different sites, building detailed profiles of your behavior. To stop this, go to your browser settings and block third-party cookies. In Chrome, navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Other Site Data, then select “Block third-party cookies.” Firefox and Safari also offer enhanced tracking protection to limit this data collection.
Take Control of Your Privacy Before It’s Too Late
Companies and hackers are constantly looking for ways to access your data—but you don’t have to make it easy for them. Changing these privacy settings takes just a few minutes but can protect your personal information from being exploited. The internet isn’t going to get any less invasive, so taking proactive steps now can save you from major privacy headaches in the future.
Have you checked your privacy settings lately? What’s one change you’ve made to improve your online security? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Latrice is a dedicated professional with a rich background in social work, complemented by an Associate Degree in the field. Her journey has been uniquely shaped by the rewarding experience of being a stay-at-home mom to her two children, aged 13 and 5. This role has not only been a testament to her commitment to family but has also provided her with invaluable life lessons and insights.
As a mother, Latrice has embraced the opportunity to educate her children on essential life skills, with a special focus on financial literacy, the nuances of life, and the importance of inner peace.
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