How to Avoid Being Tracked on Your iPhone or Android Phone

Every time you pick up your phone, it’s a window into your daily life. It holds your favorite places, your online habits, and even your personal conversations. But you’re not the only one aware of this. Big companies, advertisers, and even apps you don’t think twice about tracking your activity. The good news? You can take steps to reduce this tracking and protect your privacy.

While you can’t disappear completely, there are practical ways to limit who sees your data. This guide covers 15 simple steps to help you stop unwanted tracking and take back control of your information.

15 Ways to Prevent Tracking on Your iPhone or Android Device

Your phone is likely being tracked every day, even if it’s not always malicious. Apps often need location data to work, and websites monitor your activity to show targeted ads. But beyond these common practices, some companies profit by selling your data to advertisers. And if that data is breached, it could end up in the hands of cybercriminals.

The reality is that while you can’t block every type of tracking, you can make it much harder for others to track you. Here are 15 simple ways to protect your data and reduce your phone’s traceability.

1. Secure Your Phone

It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, and it’s probably one of the most important. Make sure you lock your phone whenever you’re not using it. This will stop unauthorized snoopers from bypassing your lock screen code and getting into your phone. It’ll also prevent them from installing spyware onto your device, which they could then use to track your information and snoop on apps like your camera.

2. Check App Permissions

Apps often ask to track your location and other activities. Some even request access to your microphone and camera, even if you don’t need to use either of these for the app. Unfortunately, that means these apps can track you and see what you’re up to.

Go through your apps and delete any you no longer use. For any remaining apps,  check the permissions, and only share what you really need to. Remember to check the Find My feature too to see who has access to your location.

To alter app permissions on your phone, follow these steps:

Disable App Permissions on iPhone

  1. Open Settings and find the app you’re looking for.
  2. Tap on the app name to see what permissions you allow.
  3. Tap the toggle switch to turn off specific permissions, such as microphone, mobile data, and camera.
  4. Select Location, then Never to disable location tracking.
  5. If you see an option for Allow Tracking, click the toggle to disable all tracking. 

Disable App Permissions on Android

  1. Open Settings and find the app you’re looking for.
  2. Tap Apps, then select the specific app you want to manage.
  3. Click Permissions to see whether they’re allowed.
  4. Disable any app permissions by clicking Deny.

3. Turn Off Location Services

Location Services can show anyone snooping where you are. Your phone keeps tabs on where you go and your frequently visited places – like your home address, work, and the gym. Third parties can then use this information to send you targeted ads and emails. Cybercriminals can also use your Location Services information to track you down, leaving you vulnerable to attacks like doxxing. 

Turning off Location Services stops you from revealing your location. It disables location sharing for all apps. Remember, though, apps that rely on  Location Services (such as Maps) to work might not function correctly. So, if you want those apps to work properly, you should only disable location tracking on specific apps. 

To disable Location Services on your iPhone, go to your iOS Settings and choose Privacy & Security. Then toggle off Location Services. For Android, open Settings, select Location and the turn Locations off. Here you’ll also be able to see which other apps has access to location services. 

Remember that even if you turn off location services, your phone can still be tracked through your IP address. You’ll need to download a VPN to be even more invisible when you go online with your phone. 

4. Use a VPN With An Ad Blocker

Using a VPN with an ad blocker, like CyberGhost VPN, is one of the most effective ways to protect your online activity and reduce tracking. CyberGhost VPN encrypts your internet traffic, routing it through a secure tunnel to keep your data private. This shields you from being tracked by malicious actors, government agencies, ISPs, and other third parties.

By masking your IP address, CyberGhost VPN also hides your real location. When you connect to a VPN server, websites and apps can only see the server’s IP address—not yours—making it harder for them to monitor your activity or link it to you. CyberGhost’s ad blocker further reduces tracking by blocking intrusive ads and trackers, preventing websites from gathering data on your browsing habits.

A premium VPN is a powerful step toward safeguarding your privacy, but it can’t make you invisible. For comprehensive protection, combine it with other privacy settings on your device.

CyberGhost VPN protects up to 7 devices at once, thwarting tracking attempts on your phone, PC, gaming console, and even smart TV. It’s risk-free to try, with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

5. Use a Private Search Engine

Using a privacy-friendly search engine like DuckDuckGo will help protect yourself from search engine tracking. These won’t track, store, or sell your information. They also keep your searches more anonymous. Just be aware that, without a data-analyzing algorithm, your results might not always be as accurate as you’d want. 

6. Use a Private Browser

Private browsers like Brave or Mozilla Firefox can help prevent tracking and data collection, allowing you to browse with more anonymity. Look for browsers that come with essential privacy features like ad-blocking, tracker-blocking, and protections against browser fingerprinting. The best private browsers also offer options for automatically clearing cookies and cache after each session, open-source transparency, and additional tools for securing your browsing data.

Using a private browser enhances your privacy by limiting the data collected about your online activity, making it harder for third parties to track your movements online.

7. Disable Cross-Site Tracking

Cross-site tracking lets companies monitor your activity across multiple websites and apps, even when you’re not directly using their services. Websites and advertising networks share information about you, greatly reducing your online privacy. Every site you visit collects data and shares it with third parties, making it easier for others to track your movements on the web. 

If you disable cross-site tracking in your browser, you block third-party cookies and help prevent companies from following you as you browse different websites. Using a private browser can further help prevent cross-site tracking. 

Disabling cross-site tracking in your browser and pairing it with a reliable VPN like CyberGhost adds additional security. CyberGhost VPN encrypts your data, making it unreadable to anyone who might intercept it. This shields your internet traffic from snoops and enhances your privacy.

8. Turn Bluetooth Off

Bluetooth lets your devices connect wirelessly, like pairing your phone with headphones or a car system. When Bluetooth is on and not in use, it continues to search for connections, which can expose your phone to tracking.

If someone syncs with your Bluetooth without your knowledge, they can monitor your location. In public places, Bluetooth beacons – small devices that send out signals – can detect nearby phones with Bluetooth enabled, gathering data about your movements.

The easiest way to prevent this kind of tracking is to turn off Bluetooth when you’re not using it. Here’s how to do it on your phone:

Disable Bluetooth on iPhone

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Bluetooth.
  3. Toggle the Bluetooth switch to Off.

Disable Bluetooth on Android

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Connected Devices or Connections (this may vary by device).
  3. Tap Bluetooth and toggle the Bluetooth switch to Off.

9. Use Antivirus Software

Spyware and other malicious software can hide on your device, monitoring your activities and stealing your data without your knowledge. These threats often masquerade as regular apps, making them difficult to spot.

By installing reputable antivirus software, you can scan your device for known spyware and malware. The antivirus program will detect and remove these hidden dangers, keeping your information safe. It can also block malicious apps and prevent you from downloading them in the future.

Antivirus software not only protects you from malware that can track you but also warns you about potential phishing links or dangerous websites. This helps prevent snoops from gaining access to your personal information.

Want to know if someone is spying on your phone? Here are the telltale signs

10. Clear Your Browser History and Cookies

Cookies are small blocks of data websites use to store and retrieve information locally on your device. Cookies usually pertain to your browsing sessions, and are responsible for customizing your experience and remembering your preferences. They contain information such as your personal information, location, email addresses, IP address, browser or device language, and time spent on the site.

Browsers on mobile aren’t compatible with extensions, so you’ll have to delete your cookies manually. The exact steps depend on your browser, but you should generally look under Settings and History for a Clear Cookies or Clear Cache option. If you’re on a PC, you can use the CyberGhost Cookie Cleaner to clear your browsing history and cache with just a few clicks.

11. Avoid Public Wi-Fi

Free internet is nice, but it’s the not-password-protected part you should worry about. Since they often lack strong security settings to make it easier for everyone to connect, public Wi-Fi networks aren’t safe. Cybercriminals use them to track your traffic or secretly install malware on your device.

The most logical advice would be to avoid public networks completely, but we know it’s not feasible in this day and age. What you can do, though, is encrypt your connection with a VPN to protect yourself. 

CyberGhost VPN to encrypt your traffic and keep snoopers away from your data on public Wi-Fi hotspots. Our strong VPN encryption protects your connection before it leaves your device, making it impossible for anyone else on the network to see what you’re doing.

12. Switch On Airplane Mode

Airplane Mode has more uses than you might think. Turning it on disables Bluetooth, Location Services, Wi-Fi, and cellular data. All of these can be used to track you and your whereabouts. 

The downside is, enabling Airplane Mode means you can’t make calls, send messages, or browse online (unless you connect to Wi-Fi). That means it’s not a great option most of the time, but when you’re not using your phone it’s worth it to protect your privacy. To turn it on, simply head to your Settings and turn on the toggle to activate Airplane Mode. 

13. Keep Your Phone Updated

Regularly updating your phone helps keep it secure and strengthens your defence against tracking. Updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit. Installing these updates closes security gaps and protects your device from malicious attacks.

Updates can also bring new privacy features and fix bugs, giving you more control over your data and helping to prevent common threats. If you don’t have automatic updates turned on, make sure to check for software updates regularly. You can do this by going into your phone’s settings and looking for the software update option. Keeping your apps up to date is just as important as app updates often include security improvements.

14. Disable Personalized Ads

Turning off personalized ads won’t stop all forms of tracking, but it can help protect your privacy. You’ll still see ads, but they won’t be based on your activity. If you want to block ads completely, consider using a reputable ad blocker.

Here’s how to disable personalized ads on your phone: 

On Android:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap on Google.
  3. Select Ads.
  4. Toggle on Opt out of Ads Personalization.

On iOS:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Scroll down and tap Privacy.
  3. Select Advertising.
  4. Toggle on Limit Ad Tracking.

15. Check Your Google Account

Google collects a lot of your data in various ways. If you download your Google data, you might be surprised by what’s there – a detailed list of every website you’ve visited in the past 24 hours is just the beginning. You can reduce how much Google collects by adjusting some settings in your Google account.

Here’s how to stop Google from tracking you and saving a history of your web activity:

  1. Sign in to your Google account on any device.
  2. Go to myaccount.google.com.
  3. Tap the Data & Privacy tab (on desktop, this is called Privacy & Personalization). Scroll down to History settings and select Web & App Activity.
  4. In the Web & App Activity section, tap Turn Off. You can choose Turn Off and Delete activity to remove your history at the same time.
  5. Tap Got It to confirm.

Can a SIM Card Be Tracked?

When you’re aiming to avoid tracking on your iPhone or Android device, don’t overlook the role of your SIM card. While a SIM card itself doesn’t have GPS or tracking tech, it connects your phone to cell towers that network providers use to estimate your general location. This isn’t precise tracking, but it’s still enough for others to get a sense of where you are.

There’s also a privacy risk from SIM swapping. This is when a hacker tricks your network provider into transferring your number to a new SIM card they control. Once they have your number, they can intercept your calls and texts, including two-factor authentication codes for your accounts.

To protect your SIM card from tracking and fraud:

  • ✅ Limit how often you share your phone number publicly to reduce your risk of SIM swaps.
  • ✅ Use strong, unique passwords on accounts tied to your phone number. 
  • ✅ Ask your carrier about adding a PIN or passcode for account changes, so only you can make adjustments to your SIM.

FAQ

How do I block my phone from being tracked?

It’s impossible to completely stop phone tracking, but you can take steps to mitigate the data you’re generating. Your IP address, GPS coordinates, SIM card data, and Location Services are all gateways to your data and your location. You can use CyberGhost VPN to encrypt your online traffic and stop others from tracking your activity. You should also clear your browsing history and cookies, and avoid services collecting lots of data.

Can you make your phone impossible to track?

No. There’s no way to make your phone completely impossible to track. Unfortunately, owning and using a phone means you’re going to be tracked in some way, somehow. 

Just turning your phone on is enough to track you. You have some control, such as within apps and choosing whether to share your location, but this isn’t enough to disable tracking completely. You can’t turn off website trackers, carrier tracking, phone manufacturer monitoring, Wi-Fi network trackers, or GPS functions. You also can’t stop your SIM card from pinging a cell tower. That’s impossible. What you can do, though, is take steps to limit tracking and protect your data. 

Can a SIM card be tracked?

The SIM card itself can’t be tracked because it lacks GPS or any tracking hardware. However, because it connects your phone to cell towers, the phone its in can be tracked and network providers can estimate your location. This information is typically only available to them and law enforcement.

Can a phone be tracked without a SIM card?

Yes, a phone can still be tracked without a SIM card. Features like Find My Phone still work without a SIM card, and these can reveal your whereabouts. If you use the phone to connect to Wi-Fi, you can surf the web as normal, regardless of whether you have a SIM card or not. That means you can still be tracked by on-site trackers, cookies, and everything else.

Can I prevent the police from tracking my phone?

While absolute privacy is challenging, you can take steps to make tracking your phone more difficult. Disabling location services, using a VPN to conceal your IP address and encrypt your traffic, and utilizing airplane mode are some options. No method is foolproof, though, and determined law enforcement agencies may still be able to track your phone if they have a warrant or other legal authorization.

How do I know if someone is tracking my location?

You can see which apps are tracking your location by opening your phone’s settings. You can usually alter these permissions yourself. If someone is tracking your location for malicious purposes using spyware or malware, it can be harder to identify. Tell-tale signs include battery drain, high data usage, overheating devices, and unexpected restarts. Cybercriminals using spyware or malware are often tracking much more than your location though. They can spy on your entire device, snooping on your sensitive information including messages, emails, and bank accounts.

Can my phone be tracked without me knowing?

Yes. Someone can track you on your mobile phone without ever touching it. Spyware and stalkerware can be installed on your device without your knowledge, allowing a cybercriminal to steal information, track your activities, and more.

Leave a comment

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Hi Geminid, thanks for reading!

You show how to lock your SIM card… but only for Android.
For the other devices… you don’t tell anything about “lock”.

Reply

Hi Caroll. Scroll below the Android settings and you’ll find steps for iPhones and iPads too. Hope this helps!

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For more information pertaining to your exact setup, contact our 24/7 Customer Support team.

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No problem, Tiya. 🙂

I’m glad you found it helpful!

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