These days it can feel like we are constantly being tracked by our apps. It's as though they are listening to every conversation we have. We could be talking to a friend one day about a new product and before you know it you are getting flooded with adverts about that very product. It can't just be a coincidence, right?
It’s no secret that some applications are a little too interested in us and what we’re doing. We've never had much control over what information our apps gather about us, until recently. Android and iOS were the first to step up to the app spying problem and gave us more power over our online privacy. We were able to control exactly what apps took our data and if they were allowed to access things like our microphones and cameras. Scarily, it's not only phones that are the issue, but laptops also have the same problem.
Thankfully, Microsoft has a new feature in the works within Windows 11. They want to give us the power to choose whether to allow these apps to have access to our data and sensitive hardware like webcams and microphones. It is currently in its testing phase and is called Privacy Auditing.
Microsoft also wants you to be able to see if your screenshots, messages, contacts and even your location data have been accessed. When this brand-new feature is finally launched it will be available in your Privacy & Security menu, all under App Permissions. There you will be able to see what apps are currently accessing what data and you will be able to change the privacy settings to what you are comfortable with. This is a big step in having the power given back to us in being able to choose how we want our data to be accessed. It will also be a great tool to check periodically to help avoid malicious activity and make sure sensitive data remains in the right hands.
In the meantime, if you’d like someone to look over the data permissions on your business’s devices, get in touch.
Until next time, keep fit and have fun!
(TYYV) The Yada Yada Version:
It can feel like our apps are tracking our every move, like when adverts pop up showing something that we have spoken to a friend about. Microsoft is launching a new feature and yada yada yada we will soon have the power back in our hands.
