Your Smartphone Is Likely Spying On You - Here's How To Check

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• Your Smartphone Is Likely Spying On You - Here's How To Check

According to a study by NordVPN, there was a 5% increase in the number of monitoring apps installed on users' devices last year. However, some users still suspect that their smartphones are spying on them even if they do not have a monitoring app installed on their devices. This is actually true because virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa listen to smartphone users all the time. In fact, they need to constantly listen in order to hear voice commands and help users. However, some of the things that people say around their smartphones are recorded for the company's own benefit, for example, to improve the quality of its services or for marketing purposes.

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NordVPN digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson explained how virtual assistants work the same way search engines do in a press release: "When you ask the Google Assistant or Siri to find something, that information is used for online advertising. It's not unlike typing something into Google search. If you're looking for car dealerships in your town, the associated ads will start searching the internet for you. In a way, a virtual assistant is just another search engine. search ".

How to check if your smartphone is spying on you

According to NordVPN, the best way to test to see if your smartphone is helping marketers target you online is to set a trap. To do this, you will need to select a topic that cannot be associated with your personality and that involves something you would not normally discuss. From there, you will need to keep this topic in your head and avoid using your phone or other devices to search for information about it. Next, you'll need to make a list of keywords that could trigger search engines and talk about it out loud on your own or with friends. Now that the trap has been set, you'll soon be able to see if any new ads have started targeting you on social media or sites you frequently visit online. To prevent unwanted tracking by your smartphone and virtual assistants, Markuson recommends that users review their app permissions and turn off their device's audio recording feature. Finally, you can install a VPN on your smartphone to further protect your privacy online.