Apple is known for its beefed-up security measures and for being the number one platform for NOT allowing practices like jailbreaking and other acts of “creativity” when it comes to accessing apps. If an app is offered on Apple’s App Store, the assumption is that it has been heavily vetted and is deemed pretty safe. That may be the case for many apps, or even for most — but accidents happen sometimes.
Even if you’re using the same app everyone else is using, if it’s collecting a ton of private data and your phone just so happens to get hacked, these apps can be the ones that lead hackers straight to your most intimate and personal information. Be extra careful when using these four apps (or delete them if you’re ready to take the next big step in keeping yourself secure).
Facebook is the most hacked app in the world, which makes sense when you consider this app has collected 70 percent of your data on its app — things like your contacts, online activity, political preferences, and information about your phone.
Instagram
Second only to Facebook, Instagram (owned by Meta, the same company) has collected 67 percent of your data. Hackers can easily access your contacts and use this information to impersonate you when sending messages and DMs to them. If one of your contacts clicks on a link that they send, they can be led to a dangerous site that installs malware on their device — this is called phishing.
We know how much folks live WhatsApp for offering a free and fast way to communicate with family and friends around the world. But be careful about the information that you provide and adjust your settings so that that the app is allowed to collect very little on you.
Snapchat
Perhaps you’re sensing a theme here. Social media apps are easiest to hack and most tempting because they serve up a smorgasbord of your data. Snapchat collects 59 percent of data on their users and makes it clear they may share your data with third parties like service providers. If you can live without Snapchat, great — delete it. If not, be careful about what you share.
With all apps, make sure you set up complex passwords and use two-factor authentication whenever possible.
