019 - Search Before Installing Apps

“Before downloading a new app, spend thirty seconds searching for reviews or privacy concerns. Some apps collect excessive personal information or contain hidden advertising and tracking software.”

Look Before You Leap into the App Store

Imagine walking down the street and seeing a store handing out free watches. It looks great, it tells the time, and it costs absolutely nothing. But as you walk away, you realize the watch is secretly recording your conversations and tracking everywhere you walk.

That is exactly how a lot of "free" smartphone apps work.

When we need to edit a photo, track a habit, or play a quick game, our instinct is to open the app store, find a highly-rated icon, and hit "Install." But beneath the surface, some apps are digital Trojan horses designed to hoard your personal data.

The Hidden Price of "Free"

If you aren't paying for an app with your wallet, you are usually paying for it with your privacy. Many apps demand access to things they have no business looking at—like your precise location, your contacts list, or your microphone. They bundle this data up and sell it to advertising companies, or worse, clutter your phone with hidden background tracking software that drains your battery.

Your 30-Second Pre-Download Routine

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to filter out the bad apps. You just need to build a quick habits check before tapping download:

• Do a Quick Search: Before you install, open your browser and search the app's name alongside words like "privacy concerns" or "reviews." If the app is a known data-harvester, other users or tech reporters have likely flagged it.

• Check the "Privacy Nutrition Label": Both Apple and Google stores now have a section on every app's page detailing exactly what data they collect. Scroll down and look at it. If a simple flashlight or calculator app wants to track your location and search history, walk away.

• Audit Your Permissions: Once an app is installed, it will ask for permissions. Be stingy! If a game asks to access your photos, just say no. If the app breaks because you denied an unnecessary permission, delete it.

Thirty seconds of research today can save your personal data from being sold tomorrow.

What Now

If you discover that you have installed a sketchy, data-harvesting, or malicious app on your device, immediate action is necessary to limit the exposure of your personal information. Grounded in mobile safety recommendations from leading digital privacy and consumer advocacy non-profits like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the National Cybersecurity Alliance, follow this recovery checklist:

1. Delete the App and its Cache: Do not just remove the icon from your home screen. Navigate to your device's core system settings, find the specific app's storage management menu, clear all cached data and local files, and then formally select "Uninstall" or "Delete" to scrub it from your hardware.

2. Revoke Background System Permissions: Check your device’s global privacy settings to see what features the app may have accessed while active. Ensure that any sweeping permissions you granted—such as permanent location tracking, contacts access, or microphone usage—are completely disabled for that app profile.

3. Change Compromised Account Passwords: If you logged into the suspicious app using an existing account (like your Google, Apple, or Facebook profile), or if you used a password that you share with other services, change those passwords immediately from a secure web browser. Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to lock out unauthorized access.

4. Audit Financial Accounts for Anomalies: Some malicious apps secretly sign users up for hidden, premium monthly subscriptions or scrape financial details stored on your phone. Closely review your mobile carrier bill, credit card statements, and app store purchase history for any unrecognized charges.

5. Run a Comprehensive Device Scan: Use your smartphone's built-in security platform (such as Google Play Protect) or a trusted, highly rated mobile security application from a known privacy developer to scan your entire file system for residual tracking software, adware, or hidden spyware left behind by the app.

Local Resources

1. Technoactivism
   Website: Technoactivism
   Phone: Contact through website
   Provides digital literacy education, privacy guidance, and practical technology assistance. Technoactivism helps people evaluate apps, understand privacy risks, and make safer technology decisions before installing software.

2. The Arc of Southwest Washington
   Website: The Arc of Southwest Washington
   Phone: (360) 254-0706
   Supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by promoting self-advocacy, informed decision-making, and independence in an increasingly digital world.

3. Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington
   Website: AAADSW
   Phone: (360) 694-8144
   Assists older adults and people with disabilities as they navigate technology-dependent services, helping them remain informed, safe, and connected.

4. Free Geek
   Website: Free Geek
   Phone: (503) 232-9350
   Provides technology education and promotes understanding of how computers and software work, empowering people to make informed choices about the technology they use.

5. Council for the Homeless
   Website: Council for the Homeless
   Phone: (360) 695-9677
   Helps vulnerable individuals and families access critical services that increasingly rely on mobile apps, websites, and online accounts, making digital literacy an important life skill.