How to identify and stop app tracking on Android devices

Learn how to block app tracking on your Android device and protect your privacy from third-party trackers.

Mobile apps routinely track user activity and share data with third parties, often without explicit consent. However, Android users can take steps to understand app tracking behavior and limit unwanted surveillance. This guide outlines four methods to control app tracking.

App tracking is a common practice that allows app developers and advertisers to collect data about your online behavior, preferences, and interests. App tracking can help provide personalized services and recommendations, but it can also compromise your privacy and security. If you want to block app tracking on your Android device, you have several options to choose from. In this article, we will show you how to identify and block app tracking on Android using different methods.

What is App Tracking and Why Should You Block It?

App tracking is the process of collecting and sharing information about your app usage, device identifiers, location, and other personal data. App tracking can be done by the app itself or by third-party services that the app integrates with, such as analytics, advertising, or social media platforms.

App tracking can have some benefits, such as:

• Improving the app performance and functionality
• Providing relevant and personalized content and ads
• Enhancing the user experience and satisfaction

However, app tracking can also have some drawbacks, such as:

• Violating your privacy and consent
• Exposing your data to potential breaches and leaks
• Reducing your device battery life and performance
• Increasing your data usage and costs

Therefore, if you want to block app tracking on your Android device, you should consider the following reasons:

• You value your privacy and want to control what data is collected and shared about you
• You want to avoid unwanted and intrusive ads and notifications
• You want to prevent potential identity theft and fraud
• You want to save your device resources and data plan

Identify App Tracking on Android

Before you block app tracking on your Android device, you need to identify which apps are tracking you and what data they are collecting. There are several ways to do this, such as:

Checking the app permissions

You can see what permissions an app has requested and granted by going to Settings > Apps & notifications > App info > [app name] > Permissions. You can also revoke or change the permissions for each app if you want to limit its access to your data.

Checking the app privacy policy

You can read the app privacy policy to find out what data the app collects, how it uses it, and with whom it shares it. You can usually find the app privacy policy on the app store page, the app settings, or the app website.

Using a privacy scanner app

You can use a privacy scanner app, such as [Exodus Privacy] or [AppCensus], to scan your installed apps and see what trackers they use and what data they collect. You can also see the app privacy ratings and reviews from other users.

Block App Tracking on Android

Once you have identified the app tracking on your Android device, you can block it using different methods, such as:

Understanding App Permissions

The first step is educating yourself on what data apps access. All Play Store apps must disclose the information they collect and whether it gets shared externally. You’ll find these disclosures in the “Data safety” section on an app’s store page. Review this before installing apps to gauge tracking risk. However, Play Store permissions only reveal so much. Third-party tools can provide deeper insights.

Using Aurora Store for Enhanced Visibility

Aurora Store grants anonymous Play Store access without a Google account. Beyond obscuring your app habits, Aurora also displays expanded privacy and permission details. The “Privacy” section lists known third-party trackers inside apps. The “Permissions” section shows the precise system access requested. Use Aurora’s transparency to avoid shady apps and focus blocking efforts.

Blocking Connections with NetGuard

NetGuard puts you in control of app network access without needing root privileges. Enable its default firewall to selectively block internet connectivity for specific apps or system services. For example, you could allow apps internet use only while actively in foreground. NetGuard’s advanced options even let you block connections to individual tracker domains. This surgical approach maximizes utility while ending background tracking.

Enabling Browser Tracking Protection

If NetGuard feels too complicated, DuckDuckGo’s mobile browsers have an easy-to-use App Tracking Protection feature. One toggle blocks common mobile trackers during web use without additional configuration. It’s not as robust as NetGuard’s firewall but still meaningful privacy enhancement. Using the DuckDuckGo browser also blocks various web tracking techniques.

Disabling the app tracking option

Some apps may have an option to disable or opt out of app tracking in their settings. You can look for this option and turn it off if you don’t want the app to track you.

Using a firewall app

You can use a firewall app, such as [NetGuard] or [NoRoot Firewall], to block the internet access for specific apps or domains. This can prevent the app from sending or receiving data to or from third-party trackers.

Using a VPN app

You can use a VPN app, such as [ProtonVPN] or [NordVPN], to encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address and location. This can prevent the app from tracking your online activity and location.

Using a browser app

You can use a browser app, such as [Firefox] or [Brave], to access web-based apps and services. These browsers have built-in features to block app tracking, such as tracking protection, ad blocking, and private browsing.

Uninstalling the app

If you don’t trust the app or don’t need it, you can uninstall it from your device. This can remove the app and its data from your device and stop the app tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How do I know if an app is tracking me?

Answer: You can use the methods mentioned above to identify app tracking on your Android device. You can also look for signs such as:

• The app requests unnecessary or excessive permissions
• The app sends you targeted or personalized ads or notifications
• The app consumes a lot of battery, data, or storage
• The app behaves strangely or crashes frequently

Question: How do I stop Google from tracking me?

Answer: Google is one of the biggest app tracking companies that collects and uses your data for various purposes. If you want to stop Google from tracking you, you can:

• Turn off the Google activity controls: You can go to [Google Account] > Data & personalization > Activity controls and turn off the options for Web & App Activity, Location History, Device Information, Voice & Audio Activity, YouTube History, and Ad Personalization.
• Delete your Google data: You can go to [Google Account] > Data & personalization > Manage your data & personalization and delete your data for various Google services, such as Search, Maps, Photos, Gmail, etc.
• Use alternative Google services: You can use alternative Google services that respect your privacy, such as [DuckDuckGo] for search, [OpenStreetMap] for maps, [ProtonMail] for email, etc.

Question: How do I block app tracking on iOS devices?

Answer: iOS devices have a feature called App Tracking Transparency (ATT) that allows you to control app tracking on your device. You can enable this feature by going to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and turning on the option for Ask App Not to Track. This will prompt you to allow or deny app tracking for each app that requests it. You can also see and change your app tracking preferences for each app in the same settings.

Summary

App tracking can feel inevitable on modern mobile platforms. However, informed users have tools to deny access to their data. Follow these steps to identify risky apps, understand their tracking behaviors, and ultimately prevent unwanted surveillance through permissions management and network-based blocking.

App tracking is a common practice that can have both benefits and drawbacks for your online experience. If you want to block app tracking on your Android device, you can use various methods, such as checking the app permissions and privacy policy, using a privacy scanner, firewall, VPN, or browser app, or uninstalling the app. You can also stop Google from tracking you by turning off the Google activity controls, deleting your Google data, or using alternative Google services. You can also block app tracking on iOS devices by enabling the App Tracking Transparency feature.