Ensure Your Privacy: Stop Your Smartphone from Eavesdropping on You

November 19, 2023 Matt Mills How to 0

In today’s digital age, concerns about your smartphone listening to your conversations can be unsettling. However, safeguarding your privacy is within your control, and it’s easier than you might think. By disabling microphone permissions in your phone’s applications, you can ensure that no one is secretly listening to your conversations or audio without your consent. Here’s how you can enhance the security and privacy of your phone:

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Disabling Microphone Permissions on Your Android Device:

  1. Open your phone’s settings.
  2. Scroll down to the privacy settings.
  3. Tap on “Permissions Manager.”
  4. Select the “Microphone” section.
  5. Review the list of apps with microphone permissions.
  6. For each app, tap on it and choose “Disallow.”
  7. Repeat this process for all apps with microphone permissions.

If you encounter any unfamiliar apps or apps that shouldn’t have these permissions, consider uninstalling them for added security.

Alternatively, if you can’t find the “Permissions Manager” option or wish to remove permissions from specific apps, follow these steps:

  1. Go to your phone’s settings.
  2. Navigate to “Applications” or “Manage Applications.”
  3. Select the Google apps or any apps you suspect of listening.
  4. Check the app’s permissions.
  5. Under “Microphone,” change the setting to “Do not allow.”

This approach allows you to identify and modify microphone permissions for individual apps, ensuring greater control over your phone’s security. Keep in mind that some apps may require microphone permissions for specific features, so you may need to re-enable them when needed.

Disabling Microphone Permissions on Your iPhone:

  1. Open your phone’s settings.
  2. Tap on “Privacy.”
  3. Select “Microphone.”
  4. Review the list of apps with microphone permissions.
  5. For each app you want to remove permissions from, toggle off the switch next to its name.

By following these steps, you can revoke microphone permissions for any apps that you do not want to listen to you.

Disabling Voice Assistants:

To further enhance your privacy and prevent your smartphone from constantly listening to you through voice assistants, follow these steps:

Disabling Google Voice Assistant:

  1. Open your phone’s settings.
  2. Select “Google.”
  3. Navigate to “Google App Settings.”
  4. Go to “Finder,” “Assistant,” and “Voice.”
  5. Choose “Hey Google” and “Voice Match.”
  6. Disable the “Hey Google” option.

Disabling Siri on iPhone:

  1. Open your phone’s settings.
  2. Tap on “Siri & Search.”
  3. Toggle off the “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” option.

By disabling voice assistants, you can ensure that your smartphone is not actively listening for voice commands or potentially recording your conversations.

By following these simple steps, you can take control of your smartphone’s privacy and protect your personal conversations from unwanted eavesdropping.