Every OEM is trying to patch your data, which is why some of the default settings are set to send diagnoses to the company, but it requires just a little effort to stop. Most default settings can easily be opted out of when sending data; here is a quick guide to turning off the default settings.
Disable the Default Settings on Apple iPhones
These settings are enabled during setup, following data sharing (read how Apple shares data) about app use and location.
- Open Tracking, and toggle to turn off “Allow Apps to Request Tracking.”Â
- Now it will promote other apps to stop sharing data with third parties.
- Open Apple Advertising and toggle to turn off “Personalised Ads.”
- Apple will not use your information to show personalised ads on the Apple Store, Apple News, and Stocks.
- Open the Analytics and Improvements Toggle to turn off “Share iPhone Analytics.”Â
- It will avoid sharing data with Apple for use, like Apple to improve the product.
- Open Location Service, Head over to System Service and toggle to turn off “iPhone Analytics and Routing & Traffic.”Â
- This setting will now stop the use of geodata by Apple, and Apple will improve its Apple Maps.
Disable the Default Settings on Android Devices
This includes Google Products, Web Services (Google Search, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Accounts), and Android. It is pretty handy for Google data management. You can control your data on Google My Activity.
- Set auto-delete: This will delete all activity for the last three months. With this, data older than three months is removed, and Google collects new data, which could be more helpful and based on your recent searches.
- Enable approximate location instead of precise location. This will affect every app that uses the location service. Now Google will share the appropriate location instead of the precise location. This way, you can protect your location history by not giving exact location details.
Disable the Default Settings on Meta
One of the most controversial companies in terms of privacy, Meta’s Facebook, has a privacy checkup tool in its settings. You can use this to tweak settings to ensure your privacy.
- Set Only Me for Who Can See What You Share: This setting will control the access of people to your friend list and the page you follow. Choose Friends if you want to share with your friends.
- Set only me for How people can find you on Facebook: By enabling this, you won’t be listed on Facebook with your email or phone number.
- Disable ad preferences: This will disable your profile from being personalised with ads based on your relationship status, employer, job title, and education.
Disable the Default Settings on Amazon
If you use Amazon devices like Alexa and Ring cameras, disabling some settings is highly recommended. Amazon allows you to manage how you control your data. Last year, Amazon announced their Amazon Sidewalk to share their product with other devices nearby. Reportedly, it could be misused when it comes to people’s data.
Disable Amazon Sidewalk on Eco Speaker
- Open the Amazon Alexa app and tap on More on the bottom right side.
- In the settings, tap on Account Settings.
- Next, choose Amazon Sidewalk, and then toggle to switch the Sidewalk.
- That is it!
Disable Amazon Sidewalk on the Amazon Ring Camera.
- Open the Amazon Ring app and head over to the burger menu in the app’s upper-left corner.
- Tap on Control Centre, and then Amazon Sidewalk.
- Choose to toggle to disable the Amazon Sidewalk.
- Done.
Disable your wishlist for the public.
Amazon Wishlist sets public as the default, and to disable it, you can visit your wishlist and set it as private. You have to do this for every wishlist on your Amazon account.
Disable the default settings on Windows
It comes with many settings and is enabled by default on Windows. You can turn those off in Settings by navigating to Privacy and Security from the General menu. One of the things is to disable the Diagnose sent to Microsoft to improve the products.