Reclaim your privacy by disabling your cellphone carrier’s data tracking

We’ve all heard that cell phones can hear us and monitor our every move. Although this has been debunked (or at least explained) as false, the fact is that data tracking is standard practice by most popular mobile carriers these days. .

And in 2024, despite user complaints, new tracking methods continue to emerge, making it even harder for users to take back control of their data.

So what exactly do you need to know about how your carrier tracks your data? How can you take back your privacy without saying goodbye to your carrier completely?

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What is data tracking? What do mobile carriers collect?

First, let’s talk about what “data tracking” actually means. Data tracking is when companies collect information about your online activities. This includes, but is not limited to, your browsing history, location data, messaging information, and app usage.

This data can be used directly by the companies that collect it or shared with third-party companies to ultimately personalize advertising to you. (There are other good reasons for this, such as “better service,” but targeted advertising is the main reason these days, and users often feel like their phones are eavesdropping on their actions.) )

Data tracking may vary by company. If you’re a mobile phone carrier, you can collect a lot of information about your users. This is not surprising since for most people their cell phone is an extension of themselves. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of these practices and proactively manage your privacy settings to maintain control over your personal information.

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Different ways mobile carriers collect data

Mobile carriers employ various techniques to collect certain data from users.

T-Mobile

• User behavior profiling: T-Mobile may analyze your personal data to predict your behavior and preferences, which may influence future services and marketing strategies.
• Research Support: Carriers share data to support public and scientific research efforts and ensure that personally identifying information is removed.
• App usage analysis: Track how often and for how long you use the app, and gather insights about your preferences and habits.
• Personalized ads: This process collects information about app usage and demographic details to tailor advertising to your interests.

verizon

• Insights into network usage: Verizon uses data such as your web browsing and app usage to provide you with additional services and upgrades.
• Aggregate consumer insights: Combine user data with external data to generate insights about consumer behavior and trends.
• Customized User Experience: Verizon analyzes the websites and apps you engage with in order to create a more personalized service experience.
• Marketing optimization: We use detailed user data to tailor and personalize our marketing efforts and service offerings.

AT&T

• Browsing and location tracking: AT&T collects detailed records of your web browsing and location to customize ads and offers.
• Automated decision-making: We employ algorithms that use the data collected to make automated decisions that influence the advertising and content that you see.
• Demographics and viewing data: Collect demographic information along with viewing habits to better understand and segment your user base.
• Identity Verification Service: AT&T shares certain data with third parties to facilitate identity verification and fraud prevention measures.

Are you a little surprised by all this? Yes, we are too.

person with a mobile phone (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)

Details: AT&T data leaked from 73 million customers.What to do next

How to turn off data tracking on your device based on your mobile carrier

If you don’t want your mobile phone company to have widespread access to your data, there are ways to prevent it. The problem is that most carriers don’t try to broadcast this information because it’s beneficial to maintain this access.

But that’s why we’re here to help. Managing data privacy includes understanding the settings available on your mobile device. Below are steps to disable data tracking on devices from major U.S. carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T), as well as a general guide for other carriers.

T-mobile

To adjust the privacy settings on your T-Mobile device:

Log in to your T-Mobile account.

• invite my accountClick , then profile.
• Scroll to the bottom and select Privacy and noticeafter that Privacy Dashboard.
• Here you can toggle off various options.Share data for public and scientific research: Prevent your data from being used for outside research projects.Analysis and reporting: Stops aggregating usage data for business reports.Advertising options: Limit personalized ads based on app usage and other collected data.Profiling and Automated Decision-Making: Opt out of the use of your data for profiling purposes.Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information: Make sure your data is not sold or shared with outside parties.
• Share data for public and scientific research: Prevent your data from being used for outside research projects.
• Analytics and reporting: Stops aggregating usage data for business reports.
• Advertising options: Limit personalized ads based on app usage and other collected data.
• Profiling and automated decision making: Opt out of the use of your data for profiling purposes.
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information: Make sure your data is not sold or shared with outside parties.

Additionally, T-Mobile offers a separate app to limit the data shared with third-party advertisers through the Magenta Advertising Platform.

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verizon

To manage your privacy settings on your Verizon device:

• Log in to your Verizon account.
• go to accountafter that account[アカウント]situation and select Edit your profile and settings.
• choose Manage your privacy settings.
• You can adjust the following:Customer-specific network information: Opt-out to stop Verizon from using your data to market additional services.Business and marketing insights: Disable this if you don’t want your data to be used to create consumer insights.Custom Experience and Custom Experience Plus: Opt-out to stop receiving personalized marketing based on your web and app usage.
• Customer-specific network information: Opting out prevents Verizon from using your data to sell additional services.
• Business and marketing insights: Disable this if you don’t want your data to be used to create consumer insights.
• Custom Experience and Custom Experience Plus: To opt out of personalized marketing based on your web and app usage, please opt out.

When you reset your custom experience settings, Verizon will also stop using previously collected browsing and location data.

AT&T

To disable data tracking on your AT&T device:

• Log in to your AT&T account.
• invite profileafter that Your Privacy Choices.
• AT&T offers four main toggles that you can turn off.Personalize Plus: Opt out of use of location and browsing data for personalized ads.personalized: Disable automated decision-making using your data.Share or sell my personal information: This prevents AT&T from sharing your data for advertising purposes.
• Personalized Plus: Opt out of using location and browsing data for personalized ads.
• personalized: Disable automated decision-making using your data.
• Share or sell my personal information: This prevents AT&T from sharing your data for advertising purposes.

For security reasons, it is recommended that you keep identity verification active.

More information: Most affordable cell phone plans

Other carriers

If you don’t use one of the mobile carriers mentioned above, the steps will probably be pretty much the same. However, if you have any doubts, talk to your mobile carrier directly by visiting a store or searching online for instructions for your particular carrier.

• Log in to your account from your carrier’s website or app.
• Find your privacy settings or preferences. These may be found under sections labeled: privacy, safetyor data management.
• Review and adjust the settings to limit data tracking according to your preferences.

woman making a phone call (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)

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Enhance your privacy with a VPN

Disabling career tracking is an important step, but Virtual Private Network (VPN) Add an extra layer of protection for your mobile data. A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through secure servers, protecting your online activity from prying eyes, including your carrier.

With a reliable VPN service, your carrier won’t be able to know what websites you visit, what you search for, or what you communicate. Your IP address and location are also masked. Setting up a VPN on your smartphone is easy and affordable, and many top providers offer mobile apps. Be sure to choose a no-logs VPN with robust encryption that doesn’t sell your data to third parties. VPN protection combined with carrier tracking disablement maximizes your privacy on the go. For the best VPN software, read my expert review of the best VPNs to browse the web privately. Windows, Mac, Android, iOS devices.

Cart important points

Despite users expressing concerns about their data, carriers are still finding creative arguments to justify what they receive data from and why. It’s more important than ever to take control of your data ourselves and use these tips to keep it as private as possible. Please note that if your data falls into the wrong hands, you are very likely to become a victim of cybercrime.

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