A recent
report has highlighted privacy concerns surrounding some of the most popular
apps and games on our smartphones. These findings, revealed by 404 Media on
January 9, indicate that apps like Candy Crush Saga and Tinder
may be collecting and sharing sensitive location data without users' consent.
A
Troubling Data Breach
The breach
revolves around Gravy Analytics, a location data broker, which has come under
scrutiny after a hacker accessed terabytes of consumer data. This data
reportedly included information sourced from popular apps, raising questions
about how these apps are tracking users covertly.
This
revelation follows a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruling that banned Gravy
Analytics and its subsidiary, Venntel, from selling consumer location data
without obtaining proper consent.
What Was
Exposed?
The leaked
database reportedly includes over 30 million location data points. Alarmingly,
some of these data points involve devices tracked in high-security locations,
such as the White House, Kremlin, Vatican City, and military bases.
Gravy
Analytics does not directly collect data from apps but partners with
advertising agencies that gain access to user data on Android and iOS devices.
Protecting
Your Data
While
there’s little you can do to reclaim your data after a breach, you can take
steps to protect your information moving forward.
- Limit Permissions: Revoke unnecessary app
permissions, especially those involving location, contacts, or personal
data.
- Use Privacy Features: iOS users can utilize the
"Ask App Not to Track" feature to restrict data sharing with
third parties. Android users should regularly review app permissions and
disable those that aren’t essential.
- Be Vigilant: Regularly monitor which apps
have access to sensitive data and uninstall apps that seem overly
invasive.
By staying
proactive about your digital privacy, you can reduce the risks of unauthorized
data collection and safeguard your personal information.
