Unwanted Data Sharing: How Your Phone Spills Your Secrets and How to Stop It

Unexpected Nighttime Activity

It might seem that your smartphone is dormant and unused while you sleep, but it’s actually busy. During these inactive periods, your device transmits various pieces of data back to the manufacturer and possibly others, a process which offers both advantages and drawbacks.

Necessary Data Transfers

For your smartphone to stay updated and operate correctly, it must relay certain information. This data ensures your system’s health, checks for any new operating system updates, manages network connections, and synchronizes your emails and messages.

These data exchanges are vital according to Marijus Briedis, the Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN. They fulfill functions such as system health oversight, operating system updates inquiry, network and connectivity oversight, along with content synchronization for messages and emails.

Intrusive Data Sharing

However, there is other information that is not essential but still shared, potentially infringing on your privacy. This includes data sent to third parties such as advertisers, forming profiles of your habits and activities to fine-tune their marketing, often invading your personal space.

Briedis also emphasizes the cybersecurity implications: "Excessive background data transmission goes beyond privacy—it escalates risk. Each piece of data contributes to a larger picture, combining to disclose sensitive behavioral patterns, leaving users vulnerable to tracking and profiling without their consent."

Strategies to Safeguard Your Privacy

Total data protection isn't feasible, nor is it advisable considering the essential nature of some information. However, limiting the dissemination of more private data is possible. Briedis recommends several steps to help you shield your privacy.