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February 16, 2025
Smartphones have become almost indispensable in modern life. They accompany us through our daily routines, simplify many tasks, and offer access to a wealth of information and entertainment. However, these advantages come with a downside: Our smartphones collect an enormous amount of data about us, often without our awareness. This article sheds light on what information our digital companions store about us and what conclusions can be drawn from it.
Modern smartphones have a variety of sensors that continuously collect data about our activities. Even the mere use of the device – or its non-use – provides valuable information. Based on usage times, charging cycles, and the time of day, for example, it can be deduced when we sleep. Motion sensors register whether we are moving, and in combination with location data, even the route to work or home can be identified. This creates a detailed picture of our daily routine.
GPS data allows precise tracking of our smartphone's location. Navigation apps not only record our current locations but also store past routes, places visited, and even deviations from the planned route. This information can reveal our home address, workplace, doctor visits, and much more. In addition, both Android and iOS offer features for location sharing with other users, which generates further data and stores it on the servers of the respective services.
Every search query we enter into search engines like Google or Bing is stored and linked to our profile. The browser history, i.e., the list of visited websites, is also recorded. This data allows advertisers to display personalized ads based on our interests. While incognito mode offers some protection against local storage, it does not prevent the data from ending up on the providers' servers.
Information about our sexual orientation and religious beliefs can also be collected by smartphones and apps. Dating apps, for example, require information about desired partners. Search queries and visited websites can also reveal sexual preferences. Religious beliefs can be inferred from location data (regular visits to places of worship) or through online activities (searching for religious texts, participating in online communities).
Our interest in certain products and our purchasing behavior are recorded through a variety of online activities: product searches, viewing product videos, using price comparison portals – all this data flows into our digital profile. This information is used by advertisers to display targeted advertising for products that match our interests.
Voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant record our voice commands to improve their performance and optimize speech recognition. AI tools also store our inputs to train future models. Although some providers offer the option to object to the use of data for AI training, the conversations are usually stored at least temporarily on the servers.
Biometric data such as fingerprints or facial recognition are used for authentication and stored on the smartphone. Manufacturers use security mechanisms such as Secure Enclave (iOS) or Trusted Execution Environment (TEE, Android) to protect this sensitive data. Stored passwords, which are automatically inserted by browsers, can also pose a security risk if the device falls into the wrong hands.
Smartwatches and fitness trackers collect a variety of health data such as steps, heart rate, sleep data, and training activities. This information is synchronized with the smartphone and stored in corresponding apps. Health apps, in which users enter information such as weight, diet, or blood pressure, also collect sensitive data. It is important to pay attention to the data protection guidelines of the app providers.
Mental health apps or diary apps store personal thoughts, feelings, and moods. In combination with other collected data, a comprehensive profile of our personality and our life is created. Therefore, it is advisable to resort to analog alternatives for very private information.
Sources: - https://www.threads.net/@pdr2002/post/DF7T240sLpS - https://t3n.de/news/dinge-die-euer-smartphone-und-apps-ueber-euch-weiss-1672185/ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0CAfXaN_fs - https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/de/privacyhub/wird-mein-handy-ausspioniert/ - https://www.computerwoche.de/article/2796492/wie-ihre-handydaten-sicher-bleiben.html - https://www.mobilezone.ch/de/apps-auf-dem-handy-verstecken - https://www.kaspersky.de/blog/kids-first-gadget-checklist/30679/ - https://www.derstandard.de/story/3000000252677/wie-viel-privatsphaere-sollten-kinder-haben - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZS3ASD76u8 - https://www.tiktok.com/@yoragitech/video/7277490937834523936 ```