5G refers to the fifth generation of wireless technology. Nevertheless, users will know it as a…
Apps that Collect the Most Personal Data
Despite stating that they respect your privacy, many apps continue to collect your personal information. Are some types of apps more hungry than others? As a result, we compiled an extensive list of apps in different categories to discover what the most popular apps are. Surfshark studies were used to support this claim.
Surfshark compared the data collection activities of 200 apps to determine which collect the most data in a given group and which don’t. According to the study, the more popular an app is, the more personal data it accumulates.
The most data-hungry Applications Collected
Would you like to know how much data your apps collect? To see what data each app collects from users, Surfshark compares the Privacy Details section with Apple App Store data. On the left are the data-hungry apps, whose length represents the number of segments they require and their color represents the type of data they require. See below.
Social Media App
In terms of privacy, social media doesn’t always have the best reputation when it comes to ensuring your data is private. However, which apps collect the most personal information about you?
Each of Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger is owned by the same company, Meta, which collects all 32 segments of personal data that Apple flags in its app store. A less-invasive choice is the audio-first Clubhouse social media app. WebEx Meetings and Dust, which disappear messages, are great alternatives for personal and business use.
Messaging & Video Calls App
Almost all of us use messaging and video calling apps on a daily basis. The question is, which of these companies respects our privacy, and which of them are collecting tons of personal information about us?
Our most complex and helpful data about who we are and what we want may be shared through messaging apps. Several types of data are collected by messaging apps. Among the 32 possible data categories, Facebook Messenger tracks 32 of them. Nevertheless, Cisco Webex, Dust, and Signal were designed with privacy in mind.
Streaming App
Today, most people get their content from streaming services, which is the method we use to access it. However, which streaming applications actually respect your privacy when it comes to your personal information?
You can’t get through a week without landing on YouTube, Google’s video player. A low-intrusion experience is offered by art and independent film streaming apps such as Mubi and Kanopy. There are 11-13 data types for Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, which are all mid-range services.
Are you looking for financial apps? A simple eight personal data points are all PayPal requires compared to 26 for MoneyGram. In addition, Mint destroys 21 points of data, while Mvelopes accumulates none. Cryptominers should avoid Coinbase and its 18 data points: Use Crypto Pro instead, which collects only personal information.
DoorDash and Caviar, both food delivery apps, can collect up to 24 points of data, while Postmates and ChowNow only collect 13. Try Etsy or Poshmark instead of Amazon, which collects 26 points of data.
You can see which apps are the most (and least) data-hungry with Surfshark’s interactive privacy tool. Switch to a more privacy-focused app based on where your favorite apps are ranked.
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