In a society where more than 68% of adults now own smartphones and 45% have tablets according to the Pew Research Center, the demand for mobile applications is on the rise. As we do more and more banking, navigating, posting on social media, and purchasing using mobile apps, privacy concerns are increasing, too.
Pew research confirms that Americans are concerned about
- How much personal information is required to access and/or use mobile apps
- The lack of clarity about how that personal information will be used
- Giving carte blanche to app developers to access their device’s hard drive even for stated actions like controlling the camera flash, determining geo-location, keeping the device awake, or viewing contacts
- Letting apps have “full network access” and the ability to “view network connections” especially when that seems superfluous
How can you protect your privacy and improve your security?
- Take the time to read Privacy policies and Permission For Use statements before you agree to terms
- Check reviews by other users before you download an app
- Consult “best apps” lists from your favorite bloggers
- Compare the privacy you are required to give up for a free app versus that for a paid app and make your decision accordingly
- Use strong passwords
- Add a second layer of authentication whenever possible
- Encrypt information that will be stored in the cloud using apps like Dropbox and Evernote
- Do your online banking at home on your own Internet connection instead of in a public hot spot
- Delete cookies and history
- Periodically check your Privacy and Security settings on social media sites and update them to your desired level of privacy
- Delete any app that makes you uncomfortable with its invasiveness and then disable its connections to your networks and remove its location tracking
Here at Tate Design, we know prospective customers are overcoming their concerns about privacy issues and using mobile apps and their mobile devices to search for what they need, especially nearby. Contact us at 610.725.0702 or e-mail [email protected] to begin optimizing your website, making it user-friendly for mobile devices and search engines, giving you a strong online presence.
