Privacy Settings in Location Apps

In the article Location Apps: 4 Privacy Settings You Need toKnow, Kate Brodock explains how location apps are becoming more and more popular and that some apps have locating properties that we are not aware of. To some, this isn’t very relevant, but other may care more about their privacy or are more concerned with not sharing all of their information.

The author recommends that we check a few points to at least be aware of which information we are sharing and to whom

1- Minimum Personal Data shared: check the privacy settings and choose who you want to be able to see your profile information. Whether it is your closer group of friends, or everyone using the app.

2- Home/work/frequent location: if you don’t want others to know where you live, work, or frequent, go to the privacy settings of the app and look for “hide” or “hidden” options to set the radius that you don’t want to be located at.

3- Preloaded App settings: make sure that you check the settings that are active when you download the app. Usually apps come set so that they can collect your behavior or habits. By turning these off , you could block the app makers to collect your data.

4 – Automatic check-in: If you don’t want the app to know where you are and when you get there, check the app AND your phone settings for “geo-locator” or similar terms and decide whether you want them on or off.  

Some people are more aware than others about turning the location devices on or off in certain apps. What is important is to take control and know that you have the option. It is also important to know that most of the time you like these apps to find good and fun things and to know where your friends are. The scary part begins when wrongdoers are using the apps to locate you. I don't mean to freak anyone out or disencourage the use of location based apps. On the contrary, I find them useful, entertaining, and practical. I just believe that as a user, we must be aware of the cons of all location based tools and how to gain control to be protected from what we don't want or what information we do not wish to share.