What Data Does Your Carrier Have About You?

Through apps and location tracking, our devices collect information about us, which can be used by various third parties. These include law enforcement agencies and marketers.

Both Android and iPhone devices have internal devices that can track your location at any given moment, which is helpful if you want to find nearby hot spots or if you need to use the Find My feature on Google Maps. But, if you turn off location services, your device will likely keep track of where you have been.

You have to turn on location tracking to use services such as Uber, Weather, and Maps. Even if you turn off GPS, certain features of your device will still keep track of your movements.

Besides the Carrier Itself, Others Can Track You Down

While you're asking yourself what your phone knows about you, it might also be useful to learn what it knows about the people around you. For instance, apps such as Find My on the iPhone can help you find your lost phone and keep track of your friends and family. They can be helpful when traveling alone or when you need to share your location with others.

The apps collect various data points about the people you care about and the places they go through the world. This may cause some friction in your relationships, as your loved ones may find it hard to accept that you can check their location whenever you want.

Search History

When you connect to the internet using a phone network, your providers can see your browsing history and other details about the websites you visited. Your phone provider sends requests for online content and other websites when you browse the internet using your device. As an ISP, they can monitor network traffic to collect data about you. Both phone companies and ISPs have measures in place to safeguard your privacy and prevent unauthorized access to your information.

Websites

When you visit a website, it collects information about you, such as your IP address and device information. This data can then be used to improve the services that you provide and make recommendations.

Device and browser cookies are only used to store information that you provide. You can prevent them from being stored on your device by changing your browser settings.

In incognito mode, your cookies and browsing history will not be saved. Other people will not be able to see what you've been doing on the web and your search history won't be saved. Some browsers will automatically block certain tracking technologies.

Incognito mode does not prevent you from accessing third-party services or your ISP. It does, however, allow websites to collect and use certain information about you that you voluntarily provide. This includes your name, email address, and other personal details.

Protections of a VPN

An ISP is a company that provides internet access through a fiber optic or cable network, and can also offer mobile plans. When you connect to the internet using a device, such as a smartphone or tablet, your ISP may collect information about you such as your IP address, the websites you visited, the apps you used, and the content sent through your message.

As part of their customer service offerings, ISPs obtain information about the data that individuals consume on their online activities each month. This data is used by them to customize the experience of their customers and target ads based on their browsing habits.

To keep your privacy protected, you can use a VPN to hide your activities online. This type of secure network will encrypt your traffic and prevent ISPs from accessing it.

Although a VPN will encrypt your data, it will not allow your ISP to see the websites that you visited or the services that you used. A VPN can still be used by law enforcement to access these websites and services.

Another way to limit the access to your location and IP address is through a proxy, which acts as a remote server between your gadget and the web. When you use a proxy, the traffic that you send and receive through the internet is routed through a different server. Although a VPN can help you hide your location and IP address, it does not protect your data as it is still accessible to third parties.

Public Call Records

Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, revealed that the agency was collecting the telephone call details of millions of Americans in order to track terrorist activities. The public was outraged by this program's potential privacy invasion.

According to researchers at Stanford, call detail records could reveal a wide range of sensitive information, like an individual's medical condition or the operation of a marijuana dispensary. They noted that this type of data can be used to identify people without having to listen in on their conversations.

The contents of an encrypted voice call made over the Internet can be revealed in the packet header, which contains information about the call. Even though the call is encrypted, the packet header may contain details about the words that the speaker is using. Image courtesy of WIRED. 

Issues with Modern Technology

Today's smartphones are generally considered to be a privacy disaster. This is partly due to how the companies that control the software that runs most of the world's mobile devices are known to leak information about their users. One of these is Google, which is the creator of Android, the most popular operating system.

Despite its excellent reputation for privacy, Apple is starting to look into how it can make money from its customers' data. It also lacks the necessary safeguards to prevent unauthorized apps from accessing its users' information.

There are already various solutions to the privacy problems that arise with iOS and Android. Some of these include operating systems such as the CalyxOS and GrapheneOS, which are designed to focus on user privacy. However, these platforms can't effectively address the cellular network setup.

When it comes to routing calls and sending and receiving data through your phone, your carrier has to know which cell tower is nearby. This information is used to determine where the traffic is going. Because of this, carriers collect and store this information for marketing and law enforcement purposes.

How Do Major Carriers Deal With Customers’ Data?

Take a look at the top three carriers on the market today and where they stand with privacy protection. 

AT&T

Critics of AT&T claim that the company doesn't always take privacy seriously and doesn't completely disclose how it collects and uses personal information. This issue should be considered when it comes to protecting the privacy of its users.

Despite the company's efforts to protect the privacy of its customers, some people claim that it still collects a lot of personal data. This is not considered good enough by the standards of the industry, and users should be aware of their privacy policies and carefully manage their settings.

New Privacy Steps

In December of 2023, AT&T released a new version of its Privacy Notice, which made it easier for consumers to understand how the company collects and uses their personal information. The new version also added several new privacy options for consumers in certain states.

ActiveArmor Mobile App

The company also launched a new app that was designed to help consumers easily manage their various security and privacy resources. The free app, which is called ActiveArmor, can help users block spam calls and protect their personal data. In July 2023 alone, the company was able to block more than a billion spam messages.

T-Mobile

When it comes to privacy protection history, T-Mobile doesn't necessarily have the best track record:

• In August 2021, T-Mobile suffered a major data breach that affected over 50 million of its customers. The breach involved the personal information of customers such as their names, social security numbers, and license information. The company then made available free identity protection plans to the affected individuals.
• In January 2023, a major telecommunications company revealed that hackers were able to steal the personal information of millions of its customers. A month later, the company revealed that the data of hundreds of its customers was exposed to unknown attackers.

Protecting Your SIM

Your phone's SIM card stores your phone numbers, messages, and other personal information. Although most mobile devices use a removable card, some have electronic SIM chips that are permanent. These are known as eSIMs, and they can be used to protect both your phone and yourself from fraud.

The free feature known as SIM Protection is offered by various mobile service providers, such as T-Mobile, Metro, and T-Mobile for Business. It allows you to prevent unauthorized changes to your phone by locking your SIM card. It can also be used to prevent people from using your device if it's stolen or lost.

Beware of Fraud & Scam Attempts

You should never provide your account information or personal data to any unsolicited call, text, or email message. T-Mobile will never ask you for this information, and it will never ask you to provide it over the phone. You should also only provide this information to a reliable contact number or address after you have initiated contact with a known entity. T-Mobile is trying to do  everything in their power to stop unauthorized access to your account details.

Customers of Metro or T-Mobile can report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to 7726. They can also opt out of receiving them or block the sender. If they receive an email that looks suspicious, they should forward it to their provider.

It's also best to direct calls to voicemail if you're not sure who's calling. With the free Scam Shield app, you can monitor who's calling, block calls that appear to be scams, report unwanted calls, and more.

A "fraudster" will typically trick an individual into visiting a supposedly legitimate website or downloading a file or app. Once installed, the malware will then collect personal data. The fraudsters then demand a ransom in order to release the data.

Regardless of whether you have a T-Mobile account or not, there are simple steps that you can take to protect yourself online. One of the best ways to keep yourself safe is to regularly monitor your credit reports, bank statements, and online accounts.

You should also learn how your accounts work and manage their security settings. For instance, you should understand how you can use various online platforms and applications to secure your identity.

Verizon

Although Verizon has a good reputation for its privacy protection, it's not always clear how it collects and uses the data it collects. This is why it's important for users to carefully review the company's privacy policies.

According to the company, it uses technology to protect its customers' privacy and keep its systems up-to-date. Its privacy policy provides a comprehensive overview of how it collects, uses, and discloses customer information. It also offers a variety of options for users to control how their data is used.

Although it doesn't sell customer data, Verizon may still use it for targeted advertising. The company may be required to share this information with government agencies.

Digital Secure

For Verizon users, Digital Secure is a tool that increases their device's security. It includes a device scanner, online monitoring, and a VPN to help them avoid malicious websites and other harmful content while surfing the internet. Although it mainly works for Verizon customers, non-Verizon users can also benefit from its Safe Browsing and Wi-Fi features.

Besides digital security, Verizon users can also enjoy other features such as identity protection, antivirus, and protection for multiple devices. Although the app is free for download from the Google or Apple stores, those who are Verizon customers can opt to pay for the monthly subscription.

Due to the rise of cybercrime and data breaches, it's important that people use software that can protect their devices from various threats. Digital Secure is great for Verizon customers that comes with other features such as identity theft protection and a VPN. Image courtesy of Slashgear. 

With REALLY, you can feel guaranteed that your privacy will be protected due to the encryption technology used. The advanced encryption technology will also make sure your calls stay completely confidential and prevent any unauthorized access from hackers or other outside sources.