TechTipADay

By task · 8 tips

How to check what your phone is sharing

A short privacy pass, one screen at a time: precise location, tracking prompts, lock-screen content, saved passwords and the iPhone privacy report. None of it makes a phone anonymous. It does close the obvious gaps.

  1. How to hide notifications on the Android lock screen

    Go to Settings > Notifications > Notifications on lock screen and choose Don't show notifications, or the option that hides sensitive content until the phone is unlocked.

    Use it when: A locked phone on a table stops displaying message previews to the room.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 1 min · Full steps

  2. How to see which apps use your camera and microphone on iPhone

    Turn on App Privacy Report in Settings > Privacy & Security. A day later it shows which apps used the camera, microphone and location, and which domains they contacted.

    Use it when: You see the behavior of the apps you already installed, instead of guessing from their permission screens.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 1 min · Full steps

  3. How to stop apps asking to track you on iPhone

    Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track. Every app is then told no without asking you.

    Use it when: The prompt goes away, and apps do not get the advertising identifier.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 1 min · Full steps

  4. How to turn off Precise Location on iPhone

    Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, tap the app and turn off Precise Location. The app then only gets your rough area.

    Use it when: A weather app or a shop app can work with a neighborhood instead of the building you are standing in.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 2 min · Full steps

  5. How to use Hide My Email on iPhone

    Go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud > Hide My Email, and create an address. Mail sent to it forwards to your real inbox, and you can turn it off later.

    Use it when: A shop gets an address that works, and you can shut that address off without changing your real one.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 2 min · Full steps

  6. How to change the Auto-Lock time on iPhone

    Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and pick a time. 30 seconds saves the most battery. Pick longer if you read on the phone.

    Use it when: A phone left face-up on a table stops showing whatever was open.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 1 min · Full steps

  7. How to check if your saved passwords were leaked in Chrome

    Open Chrome Settings > Autofill and passwords > Google Password Manager and run Checkup. It lists compromised, reused and weak passwords. Change those on each website.

    Use it when: You find out which saved password is already in a known breach, and you can change that one.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 3 min · Full steps

  8. How to stop website notifications in Chrome

    In Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications, choose Don't allow sites to send notifications. Then block any site in the Allowed list that you don't want.

    Use it when: The prompt is how random sites get a permanent channel onto your desktop.

    Privacy & Security · Easy · 2 min · Full steps

Questions people ask

Can I hide just the message text?

Yes. Pick the option that hides sensitive content. You still see which app notified you.

Is a long list of domains a bad sign?

Not by itself. A flashlight app talking to lots of ad domains is the kind of thing to look for.

Does this stop all tracking?

It blocks Apple's tracking request and the advertising ID. An app you're signed into can still link what you do inside it to your account.

Which apps actually need precise location?

Maps while you navigate, ride apps and food delivery. Shopping and social apps rarely do.

Compare the options

Related tasks