In today’s digital world, connectivity is our norm. Phones have become an extension of us. But with this convenience comes a significant concern: phone tracking.
Corporations, government agencies, and malicious individuals can monitor our location, browsing history, and personal messages.
This ongoing surveillance is a serious threat to both our privacy and our security. Online privacy and safety are vital; protecting personal information is crucial.
Want to know how to prevent phone tracking in Kenya? Let’s get started!
What is phone tracking?
Phone tracking involves monitoring and collecting data from mobile devices. It happens through various means, including GPS, Wi-Fi, malicious apps, and SIM cards.
While location tracking has valid applications (like finding lost devices or for navigation), unauthorized tracking poses substantial privacy threats. These include the possible disclosure of private information, financial details, and current location.
How does it work?
Phone tracking uses various technologies to locate mobile devices:
- GPS (Global Positioning System): The system uses satellites to triangulate a device’s location, providing the most accurate tracking for navigation and location-based services.
- Cellular Triangulation: SIM cards link devices to mobile networks, allowing identification and communication. Signal triangulation between cell towers enables device tracking by network operators or malicious actors.
- Wi-Fi Positioning: Devices constantly scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, emitting identifiers like MAC addresses that can track location and movement. Unsecured public Wi-Fi networks pose an added risk of data interception and tracking software injection.
Phone tracking can occur in various scenarios, each with its implications:
- Hackers and Spyware: Hackers install spyware on phones via phishing, malicious apps, or software vulnerabilities to track location and access data.
- Advertisers and Data Collection: Advertisers personalize ads using location data collected through apps and websites, which raises privacy concerns despite privacy policy disclosures.
- Unauthorized Individuals and Stalkerware: These individuals can install stalkerware on phones to track the victim’s location without their knowledge or consent.
- Law Enforcement and Warrant-Based Tracking: Law enforcement agencies can use phone tracking to investigate crimes and locate suspects. However, this usually requires a warrant and is subject to legal restrictions.
- Employers and Work-Related Tracking: Some employers track employees’ phone locations for work reasons that may raise privacy and surveillance concerns.
7 Risks of phone tracking in Kenya:
- Loss of privacy: Phone tracking allows unauthorized parties to monitor your location, activities, and interactions. This invasion of privacy can lead to discomfort, loss of control over personal information, and exposure to unwanted surveillance.
- Potential for identity theft or fraud: Location data combined with other personal information is exploitable for identity theft. Movement tracking can reveal patterns and make individuals targets for scams, phishing, or robberies.
- Stalking and harassment: Stalkerware apps increase the risk of harm to domestic abuse victims by enabling tracking and monitoring. It includes using location data for both online and offline stalking and harassment, creating constant fear and anxiety.
- Discrimination and bias: Location data may enable discriminatory profiling, resulting in unfairness, especially in housing, employment, and insurance. Furthermore, tracking can disproportionately target and exacerbate existing inequalities among marginalized communities, leading to further discrimination.
- Security risks: Real-time location tracking can endanger individuals, particularly during civil unrest or political instability. If tracking data is misused, it can lead to blackmail, extortion, or physical harm.
- Manipulation and exploitation: Collected data is used to manipulate decisions (for example, influencing purchases, voting choices, or opinions) through targeted misinformation. This exploitation undermines autonomy and critical decision-making.
- Compromised confidentiality: Intercepted communications pose a risk to professionals handling sensitive data, such as lawyers, journalists, and healthcare providers. It can lead to breaches of client confidentiality and legal repercussions.
9 Ways on how to prevent phone tracking in Kenya:
1. Embrace Secure Communication:
For safer communication, use encrypted messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp. These use end-to-end encryption so only the sender and recipient can read the messages.
Unencrypted communication channels, like standard SMS, are vulnerable to interception by malicious actors who can read texts and listen to calls.
For greater security, especially when using apps in Kenya, it’s best to use Kenyan phone numbers with these apps and avoid transmitting sensitive data through unencrypted means such as regular SMS.
2. Turn Off Location Services:
GPS tracking is a common way for apps to monitor your physical movements. This data is often collected and shared for advertising.
To limit this, follow these steps:
- Turn off GPS when not using it: Disable GPS on your device when not actively navigating. It stops apps from constantly tracking you.
- Adjust location permissions: Review and modify each app’s location permissions. Only grant necessary access (e.g., “While Using the App” instead of “Always”).
How to do this:
- Android: Go to Settings > Location and turn it off.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
3. Be Wary of Public Wi-Fi:
Avoid using public Wi-Fi if possible, as these networks are often unsecured and vulnerable to hacking. If you must use public Wi-Fi, choose secure hotspots that need a password or connect with a VPN.
Public Wi-Fi networks can allow attackers to intercept data or inject malware, exposing your device to risks like unauthorized tracking.
Prioritize mobile data over public Wi-Fi. If you must connect to public Wi-Fi, use a VPN to secure your traffic.
4. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network):
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic, hiding your IP address and location. It prevents your internet service provider (ISP) and others from tracking your online activity.
In other words, a VPN encrypts your data and masks your IP address, making it more difficult to trace your online actions. It is crucial because it stops third parties, including ISPs, from monitoring your browsing history.
Use established VPN services with servers in Kenya, such as ProtonVPN or ExpressVPN. These provide optimal speeds and effectiveness. Avoid free VPNs because they could jeopardize your data.
5. Software Updates are Crucial:
This is another way on how to prevent phone tracking in Kenya. Keeping your devices updated is crucial for security.
Regularly updating your phone’s operating system and all installed apps with the latest security patches helps protect against vulnerabilities exploited by trackers.
Outdated software is an easy target for hackers, who can use known exploits to track or compromise your device. Enabling automatic updates ensures your devices have the latest patches for Android, iOS, and all installed apps.
This practice keeps your operating system and apps updated. It also provides secure patches and the latest fixed security vulnerabilities.
6. Leverage Anti-Tracking Tools:
To enhance online privacy, consider using privacy-focused browsers like Brave or Firefox. These browsers offer enhanced tracking protection and ad-blocking features. Privacy-respecting search engines like DuckDuckGo, which don’t track search history, are also recommended.
Installing browser extensions like Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin can further protect against tracking and advertising, thus reducing data collection. Maintaining online privacy requires constant vigilance and the adoption of proactive measures.
7. Monitor App Permissions:
Regularly review and restrict app permissions. Many apps request unnecessary permissions, using this data for tracking or selling to third parties.
How to do this:
- Android: Manage these permissions in Settings > Apps > Permissions.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy.
It is important because excessive permissions, such as access to contacts, call logs, and the camera, may be unnecessary for the app’s functionality.
8. Secure Physical Access:
Implement robust security using phone safeguards, including strong passwords, biometric authentication, and anti-theft/device location applications.
Physical device protection is paramount, as unauthorized access enables the installation of tracking software and manipulation of system settings.
Maintain up-to-date software, refrain from using public Wi-Fi for sensitive operations, practice situational awareness, and perform regular data backups.
These measures will preserve your digital security during travel.
9. Remove or Limit SIM Card Use:
Mobile devices with SIM cards can be tracked because they connect to mobile networks and generate location data.
Each connection to a cell tower logs its approximate location, accessible to network providers and potentially third parties.
Multiple SIMs increase cloning risk, where duplicates are made for malicious use. SIMs store personal data, so limiting their use reduces exposure.
It is recommended that you use one primary SIM, limit its sharing, disable inactive SIMs, consider eSIMs, and secure SIM access with a PIN. Reducing active SIM card usage lowers this tracking risk.
Wrapping up: How to prevent phone tracking in Kenya:
Digital tracking is getting everywhere, so it’s super important to know the risks and how it works. Whether it’s through GPS, Wi-Fi, your SIM card, or dodgy apps, there’s a real chance someone could be snooping on you.
But, you can do stuff to protect yourself! Like turning off your location, using secure messaging apps, and checking what your apps can actually do. Spreading the word is also key. By talking about this with friends, family, and even coworkers, we can all get better at spotting the dangers of phone tracking and taking charge of our online privacy.
Let’s team up to make the digital world a safer place, where our privacy is respected and we can be free online.