It’s no secret that many apps are able to access your data. Depending on the app, it can gain access to everything from your contacts to your locations. In some cases you may have enabled the app to take many permissions with your data, and there are ways to walk back those permissions through their settings. But several apps are barely giving you an option these days. You may not even be aware of the types of permissions they take when you’re using them.
Despite the benefits you reap from these three apps, they can also be risky and are accessing your information, according to security experts.
1. Health and Fitness Apps
Think about all of the personal information many health and fitness apps collect on their users: sleeping patterns, activity rate, and even in-depth information about your health conditions and medical history. Some of these apps have been shown to share user data with third party advertisers, while also possibly sharing and exposing your geopolitical locations. If you begin receiving ads for running sneakers or supplements, your health and fitness app could be to blame — and that’s a best-case scenario.
2. Social Media Apps
The least surprising app type on this list will be social media apps like Facebook and Instagram. Facebook, for example, was involved in a major data breach in 2019 that exposed data from millions of its accounts. These apps are known for having weak privacy settings, tracking users’ locations, and sharing sensitive data with third parties.
3. Photo Editing Apps
Be very careful before downloading photo and video editing apps. Reading the permissions they request as well as reviews from users can clue you into whether the apps have strong privacy settings. These apps are being given access to your photos and videos, which contain a lot of data and personal information. Knowing which of these apps are safest to download and grant as few permissions as you can to keep your data more secure.
