So many apps to download, so little time. But when you’re picking and choosing which apps to keep and which to delete, it becomes important to consider a few realities. Is the app in question killing your battery? And is the app forcing you to compromise when it comes to security? If you’ve answered yes to either or both of these questions, it may time to re-examine whether you need this app in your life.
There are quite a few resource-intensive apps that are draining on your battery, no question. But if you want to start cleaning up your phone, start with these four iPhone apps that security experts say you should never download because they waste so much battery.
Consider Facebook one of the original battery-draining apps — it’s also a drain on your data and can compromise your security. Facebook not only tracks you across other apps and websites, but it requires a number of permissions that include your camera and microphone, internal storage, Wi-Fi, location, and contacts.
That’s a lot to ask.
Not only is Facebook collecting your data to send you targeted ads, but it’s not your imagination: the apps is also wearing your battery down fast. Deleting it or changing up your settings is the only way to mitigate this damage.
Messenger
Facebook Messenger does not use end-to-end encryption, which means your messages aren’t completely secure and it could be storing them on a private server. Although Facebook claims it does this to scan messages for suspicious text, it’s not easy to feel good about this practice.
One thing you can do is use an app like WhatsApp instead and minimize the amount of time you spend on Messenger.
Weather Apps
Thought they can be convenient, many weather apps prey upon your data and sell it to third-party advertisers. And that’s because, in order to provide you their services, these weather apps need to know your location. This means they can learn your habits and where you roam. One thing you can do to help combat this loss of privacy is to select your location on a weather but not give the app permission to track you.
Games
Here’s a tricky one: there are a number of games that are safe to play. But some, like Words With Friends, have been found to track your data — your contacts, emails, approximate physical location, chats between players. Before you download any game app, check its permission to see what, exactly, you are giving it permission to do. And remember: if an app is free, you are the product and it is making money off of you somehow — very likely by selling your data.
