Sofia Spatola
Posted by Computer Solutions on November 18, 2024
Have you ever been chatting about a product or service, only to later see an ad for it on your phone? It’s not just a coincidence—your phone is listening. But that’s not the only way your phone is tracking you. From location services to browsing habits, there are multiple ways your phone can collect data about your daily activities, and this can be a significant concern for both your personal privacy and the security of your veterinary practice.
In this article, we’ll explore how your phone tracks you, why it’s dangerous, and most importantly, how you can take control to protect your privacy and safeguard your business.
Why Is Phone Tracking Dangerous?
Phone tracking is not just about marketing and ads. While advertisers use the data to target you with products you might like, the risks extend far beyond that. Cybercriminals, hackers, and even competitors are increasingly interested in collecting and exploiting this data. Here’s why phone tracking poses such a big security risk to you and your veterinary practice:
- Privacy Invasion: Apps and websites collect extensive data about your habits, location, and behaviors, often without you even realizing it. This data can be used to create detailed profiles about you—profiles that can be sold or exploited for malicious purposes.
- Identity Theft & Fraud: If your phone’s tracking data gets into the wrong hands, it could be used to steal your identity or gain access to sensitive accounts. For veterinary practices, this could mean unauthorized access to client records, payment information, or even your business’s banking details.
- Physical Security Risks: By sharing your real-time location, you’re unknowingly exposing yourself to security threats. If someone gains access to your movements—whether a stalker or a criminal—they can track your routines and potentially use this data to compromise your physical safety.
For veterinary practices, the consequences of allowing unchecked tracking could include not only personal security risks but also the potential for cyber-attacks or data breaches that impact your clients, employees, and reputation.
How Your Phone Is Tracking You
Here are six common ways your phone collects data about you, and steps you can take to limit the amount of personal information being shared.
- Location Services
Your phone’s GPS and location services constantly track your whereabouts. While this feature can be useful for navigation or finding local businesses, it also collects a lot of personal data. Apps like Google Maps or your weather app may be recording your exact location and when you visit specific places, including your veterinary practice.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, and either toggle off location services or manage permissions for individual apps. You can also clear your location history.
- Android: Go to Settings > Location and disable location tracking for individual apps or toggle off Use Location entirely.
- App Permissions
Many apps request access to your phone’s camera, microphone, contacts, and photos—even when you’re not actively using the app. This means they can continue to track your activities in the background and collect sensitive information.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security and check categories like Camera, Microphone, and Contacts to manage which apps have access to this data.
- Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Permissions, and adjust app permissions for sensitive data.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connections
Your phone constantly scans for nearby Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. This can be used by third parties to track your movements and infer your habits based on where you’ve connected.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner to toggle off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. For more control, go to Settings > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth and disable scanning.
- Android: Go to Settings > Location and disable Wi-Fi & Bluetooth scanning.
- Browsing Activity
Every time you browse the internet, your phone tracks your activity. This includes your search history and the websites you visit. Advertisers use this data to target you with personalized ads, but it can also be used to create detailed profiles of your interests.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone & Android: Use Private or Incognito Mode in your browser to minimize tracking. In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and turn off Web & App Activity. Be sure to clear your browsing history regularly to further limit data collection.
- Ad Tracking
Your phone assigns a unique advertising ID to track your behavior across apps and websites. This ID follows you around, gathering data on your preferences and behaviors for targeted advertising.
How to turn it off:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking, and toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track. You can also disable personalized ads by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising.
- Android: Go to Settings > Privacy > Ads, and opt out of Ads Personalization.
- Social Media and Search Engines
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google track your interactions, searches, and location data. This helps them create highly personalized content and ads, but it also contributes to the growing surveillance of your online activity.
How to turn it off:
- Social Media: Go to each platform’s settings (e.g., Facebook > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts) to manage what data is being collected.
- Google: Go to Google Account > Data & Privacy > Web & App Activity to manage your activity history and adjust ad settings.
By adjusting these settings, you can take control of the data being collected by your phone, reducing the risk of privacy invasion and potential security threats to your business.
Why This Matters for Veterinary Practices
For business owners, protecting your personal privacy is just as crucial as safeguarding your practice’s sensitive information. The same tracking methods that follow your every move can expose your business to risks, including:
- Data breaches of patient or client records.
- Cyber-attacks targeting your practice’s network and sensitive business information.
- Unauthorized access to your veterinary practice management system or financial accounts.
By proactively managing your phone’s privacy settings, you not only protect your personal data but also safeguard the data and security of your business. The risks posed by cybercriminals and other malicious actors are growing, and staying informed is your first line of defense.
Protect Your Business with Comprehensive Cybersecurity Solutions
If you’re concerned about your practice’s overall security or unsure whether your current systems are protected from cyber threats, Computer Solutions is here to help. We offer tailored cybersecurity solutions for veterinary practices to ensure your data, systems, and networks are fully protected from evolving threats.
Our FREE Discovery Call can help identify vulnerabilities and recommend specific measures to secure your practice. From network monitoring to cybersecurity awareness training for your team, we provide the tools and expertise you need to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call Today!
Contact us at +1 609 514 0100 or click here to schedule your consultation and ensure your veterinary practice is protected from the inside out.
