“We care about privacy” Be extra careful when companies tell you they care about your privacy. Believe me, they don’t. On the contrary, they are font of customers using an app instead of visiting the website. They want to suck your personal data.
Be aware that using an app helps companies to get broad access to your mobile phone and much that’s in it. It is like opening a gateway. Mobile phone companies like Apple, Samsung and Huawei alter settings and install updates without any user consent often less good than the original software and just to manipulate.
A couple of years ago there was the scandal with Apple mobile phones deliberately manipulated with malware to reduce battery life and overall performance.
And again it’s Apple that pays no less than 77 million GBP to halt a lawsuit claiming their devices spy on their users. Millions of customers are eligible for a payout.
Apple had been accused of using its virtual assistant to eavesdrop and record conversations for over a decade. The Apple case is only the top of the iceberg.
It was during COVID that government’s abused mobile phones massively to track and trace people. In Cyprus I had to wear a wristband and every time I left a dedicated area, only for a few meters, a text message warning showed up. I felt like a prisoner not committing any crime.
Today these spying practices are still going on.
How can it happen that -a few years ago- when I traveled by private plane from Sofia to Frankfurt with my phone entirely switched off and no earlier connection to the use of the aircraft or reservation at all, next day ads appeared advertising private plains.
No Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth no location access.
Wi-Fi is poison. Don’t ever use public Wi-Fi and even at home it’s better to use laptops connected through a LAN CAT5 or 6 networks.
Realize that traditional virus scanners are completely unable to detect the most sophisticated spyware.
Avoid installing accounts on you mobile device. You can easily download and install separate APK files without an account.
Be aware for apps asking permission that do not have anything to do with the purpose or service they offer.
Switch off location. But realize that even with location disabled they can trace you via the IP address from the mobile phone company.
And don’t believe fairytales since VPN is no solution to hide your location.
Use for banking and other official business your laptop. Beware for Linux. It is not a safe alternative for Microsoft or Apple. The “good old times” for Linux are history.
With all this in mind, realize that banks and governments, institutions that need to know who you are, already have all details in their files.
However, banking through a mobile app is dangerous since third parties can read your data. Perpetrators can install unwanted applications to send commands to the device such as screenshotting, sending emails, taking a picture or worse.
Wanna go the safe way? Throw away your mobile device. Or at least root your telephone. Realize that banking apps will no longer work. But the rest is pretty safe. You overrule the manufacturer’s software. It’s the only way to really possess your device.
Not able to do this? Check on excessive data use and battery draining.
And remember: When companies like supermarkets urge you to install an app in order to get discounts, use an old phone without the correct personal details. They still can rob your data but to no avail.
Have a safe and secure 2025!