Strengthen Your Privacy: Reviewing Phone Settings This Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Sameer Ahirrao -

Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds us that protecting our digital lives begins with the devices we use every day, our smartphones. From storing personal photos to handling financial transactions, our phones are treasure troves of sensitive data. Yet, many of us overlook one of the simplest yet most powerful defenses against privacy risks, our phone’s privacy settings.

Let’s explore how reviewing and updating these settings can make a big difference.

Why Privacy Settings Matter

Your smartphone constantly interacts with apps, networks, and sensors. Each of these interactions can expose data about who you are, where you are, and what you do. Malicious actors, data brokers, and even legitimate apps can misuse this data if you’re not careful.

Fine-tuning your privacy settings helps you:

  • Limit data shared with apps and advertisers
  • Reduce tracking and profiling
  • Prevent unauthorized access
  • Strengthen overall device security

Key Privacy Settings to Review

1. App Permissions

Check which apps have access to your camera, microphone, location, and contacts.

  • On iOS: Settings -> Privacy & Security -> App Permissions
  • On Android: Settings -> Privacy -> Permission Manager

Best Practice: Allow permissions only when needed. For example, give camera access to your banking app only when verifying your ID, not permanently.

2. Location Tracking

Location data is one of the most sensitive types of information.

  • Turn off “Always Allow” permissions and switch to “While Using the App.”
  • Disable background location tracking for social media apps.

Bonus Tip: Review your device’s location history and clear it periodically.

3. Ad Tracking & Analytics

Both Android and iOS allow you to limit ad tracking.

  • On iPhone: Settings -> Privacy & Security ->Apple Advertising ->Turn Off Personalized Ads
  • On Android: Settings -> Privacy -> Ads -> Delete Advertising ID

Best Practice: Opt out of personalized ads and disable app tracking where possible.

4. Lock Screen & Biometric Security

Your lock screen is your first line of defense.

  • Set a strong passcode (avoid birthdays or simple patterns).
  • Use fingerprint or face recognition if available.
  • Turn off lock screen notifications for sensitive apps like messages or emails.

Pro Tip: Enable automatic screen lock after a short period of inactivity.

5. Backup & Cloud Storage

While backups are essential, they can also expose your data if not encrypted.

  • Ensure end-to-end encryption is enabled for cloud backups.
  • Regularly review what’s being backed up and delete old or unnecessary files.

6. Software Updates

  • Security patches often close vulnerabilities that hackers exploit.
  • Always keep your OS and apps updated, turn on automatic updates wherever possible.

Awareness Is Your Strongest Defense

Technology evolves quickly, and so do privacy risks. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect reminder to make “Privacy Checkups” part of your routine, just like updating passwords or reviewing financial statements.

Final Thought

By taking a few minutes to adjust your smartphone’s privacy settings, you’re not just protecting your device, you’re safeguarding your identity, data, and digital wellbeing.

In a connected world, small actions lead to big protection.

About Ardent Privacy

Ardent’s mission is to help enterprises implement meaningful security and privacy programs aligned to their business mission, building trust and protecting data assets. Ardent’s technology “TurtleShield” is a holistic software platform that empowers enterprise security, legal, and data teams to implement and manage data privacy within the organizations with rapid data asset visibility and actions to enable privacy compliance, govern AI risk, meaningful data protection, and reduce cost of compliance and data breaches. Our unique and patented ML/AI-powered technology helps organizations comply with evolving privacy and AI regulations and accelerates adoption of AI technologies. Ardent offers a low code platform to automate Privacy & AI governance, rapid data discovery of data assets and consent management with regional focus for global regulations.