Are Your iPhone Apps Spying on You? Here’s How to Stay Safe from This Digital Threat
If you believe that the iPhone is the world’s most secure smartphone and that your data is completely safe, think again. New reports from 2025 reveal that a large number of iOS apps are still actively tracking users and collecting personal data. Through access to your location, microphone, and camera, many apps could be posing a direct threat to your privacy.
Apple has always projected its iPhones as the “most secure phones,” but experts say that this security only works when users themselves stay alert and manage their privacy settings correctly.
How Apps Can Steal Your Data
According to recent investigations by cybersecurity firms, nearly 75% of iOS apps have permissions to access sensitive data — permissions often misused for advertising and tracking instead of legitimate functions. These apps not only use your location and camera but can also monitor other activities running on your phone.
Sometimes, the apps you use track your online activity across other apps and websites, potentially exposing your digital identity, shopping preferences, or location data to third parties. Although Apple has added several advanced security features in recent iPhone versions to counter these risks, user awareness remains the most crucial factor.
New Security Features in iPhone 17 and iOS 26
Apple’s latest iPhone 17 and iOS 26 update introduce a new feature called “Memory Integrity Enforcement.” This system prevents any unauthorised changes or code injections within the phone’s memory, significantly reducing the risk of spyware and malware attacks.
It is specifically designed to block attacks that access your data in the background without directly hacking your device. In addition, Apple has further strengthened its App Tracking Transparency policy, ensuring that apps cannot share data without explicit user permission.
How to Identify If an App Is Spying on Your Phone
1. Watch for Location Tracking
Your iPhone has a built-in indicator system to show which app is accessing your location. A purple arrow at the top right of your screen means the app has recently accessed your location. A grey arrow indicates that an app used your location within the last 24 hours.
You can check and control this here:
Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services
From here, set each app’s permission to Never, While Using the App, or Always. If you don’t want any app to know your exact location, turn off the “Precise Location” feature.
2. Monitor Microphone and Camera Access
Apple provides a visual alert system for this. An orange dot on the screen means a microphone is in use, while a green dot means the camera is active. These signals indicate that an app is currently accessing your audio or video.
To check permissions:
Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone / Camera
If an app doesn’t require these permissions or you don’t trust it, revoke its access immediately.
3. Disable Cross-App Tracking
Some apps attempt to track your behaviour across other apps. To stop this, go to:
Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking
Here, you’ll see which apps have requested tracking permission. Turn off the option “Allow Apps to Request to Track” at the top so that no app can even ask for tracking permission in the future.
Make the Most of the App Privacy Report Feature
Apple’s recent updates include a valuable tool called “App Privacy Report.” It shows a seven-day summary of how often and when each app accessed your location, camera, microphone, or network.
This helps you clearly see which apps are frequently using your data and when. If you notice any suspicious activity, limit that app’s access or uninstall it altogether.
Important Tips for iPhone Users
- Never Ignore Updates:
Always keep your device updated to the latest iOS version. Each update patches vulnerabilities and strengthens security layers. - Download Only Trusted Apps:
Not every app on the App Store is safe. Before downloading, check the developer’s credentials, ratings, and user reviews. - Limit Permissions:
Grant apps only the permissions they genuinely need. For instance, a photo-editing app doesn’t need microphone access — disable unnecessary permissions immediately. - Use VPN and Security Tools:
A trusted VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it harder for anyone to track your online activities. - Watch for Unusual Behaviour:
If your phone overheats, drains battery quickly, or shows abnormal data usage, it could indicate that an app is running in the background without your knowledge.
In the Age of Technology, Awareness Is the Real Security
As digital technology evolves, cyber threats are growing just as rapidly. With multiple sensors, cameras, microphones, and network access, smartphones have become more like personal “data centres” than just communication tools.
Therefore, don’t rely solely on Apple for your security. Regularly review which apps have access to your information, what permissions are granted, and whether your phone remains protected. Your privacy is in your own hands — with a little awareness and the right settings, you can keep your digital world truly secure.
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