The ‘dangerous’ iPhone settings that share your data… and how to disable them
iPhone users have been warned about two settings that allow third-party apps and websites to secretly access your data.
These settings allow your iPhone to share data that allows third parties to target ads to you and measure ad engagement.
Chip Hallett, author of The Ultimate Privacy Playbook, explained how to disable these “dangerous” settings to ensure your data always remains private.
To disable them, start by opening the Settings app.
Then scroll down and tap ‘Safari’. Then scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen, where it says “Advanced.”
Tap this tab and you should see an on/off button next to ‘Privacy-Preserving Ad Measurement’.
When this setting is enabled, Safari sends websites information about what ads you view and click on, without attributing this information specifically to you.
Although Apple says these reports “contain no personal information” and technically “preserve your privacy,” you should disable this setting if you don’t want your data sent to third-party websites.
A TikTok user who goes by ‘Chip’ (@hustleswithchips) explained how to disable two settings that allow third parties to secretly access your data
Disable that setting to “stop sharing more information when you use Safari with third-party apps and other websites,” Chip said.
“This is a very important one to make sure you switch off,” he added.
Then go back to the main Settings menu, scroll down and tap ‘Privacy & Security’, then tap ‘Tracking’.
“Tracking occurs when information that identifies you or your device collected through an app is linked to information that identifies you or your device collected on apps, websites, and other locations owned by third parties,” Apple said.
This is done “for the purposes of targeted advertising or ad measurement, or when the collected information is shared with data brokers.”
At the top of the screen, you should see another power button next to “Allow apps to request tracking.”
“You always want that turned off,” Chip said.
To check if none of your apps are already tracking you, scroll down for a full list of all your apps and their tracking status. Make sure that each power button next to it is in the off position.
Open Settings, scroll down and tap ‘Safari’. Then scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen, where it says “Advanced.”
You should see an on/off button next to ‘Privacy-Preserving Ad Measurement’. Disable this to prevent Safari from sharing information with third-party apps and other websites
Hallett recently shared these tips in an article TikTok. He uses his account to create educational content about protecting your personal information from third parties.
In an earlier video, he warned iPhone users about the data security risks of Apple’s new AI integration.
Apple Intelligence, released in October, is integrated into the operating system, allowing it to extract information from apps and perform actions within them.
This also means that the AI has access to some of your private data.
But there are ways to prevent the technology from accessing sensitive information stored on your smartphone.
Hallett explained that there is a hidden ‘disable’ feature in Settings, which is located under the ‘Apple Intelligence & Siri’ tab.
Most likely, you’ll see “Learn from this app” automatically enabled, which Hallett has recommended users disable, along with the “Suggest App” and “Suggest Notifications” toggles.
Other tech experts have suggested doing the same for health and fitness apps. Otherwise, Apple Intelligence will have access to your health data.
Apple Intelligence’s privacy page assures users that their data is not stored, but also states that the AI ”identifies the data needed to provide to a generative model to best help you.”
Then go back to the main Settings menu, scroll down and tap ‘Privacy & Security’, then tap ‘Tracking’
At the top of the screen, you should see another power button next to “Allow apps to request tracking.” Disable that and make sure all buttons next to your apps are also disabled
“Apple Intelligence is designed to deliver personalized intelligence without Apple collecting your personal data,” according to the tech giant’s website.
“To provide a customized experience, Apple Intelligence uses information on your device, including in your apps.”
Apple Intelligence is only available on the iPhone 15 and the recently released iPhone 16.
Apple Intelligence focuses largely on generative AI models, which allow users to create text or images using prompts.
But generative AI models analyze data by learning patterns and structures within large data sets, which can be found in iPhone apps.
“Apple Intelligence is going to learn how you use your banking apps, your financial apps, your location maps,” Hallett claimed in a TikTok video.
He urged users to open their Settings app, then select ‘Apple Intelligence & Siri’, scroll down and select ‘Apps’.
“Scroll all the way down to where your banking information is,” Hallett said, using his Wells Fargo app as an example.
He then urged users to disable the options.
“I also don’t want Google Maps to know my location and learn from my location,” he said.
But Apple Intelligence can still access other personal information, such as written messages, photos, videos, and calendar events. CNN reported.
However, Apple has said that Apple Intelligence data is encrypted through Apple’s ‘Private Cloud Compute’ system.
It ensures that when data is sent to Apple’s servers for processing, it is only used to fulfill the user’s request and is never stored or made accessible to Apple itself.