Apps you install on Android often collect data about you and your activity for the app developers and their affiliates. With a tool developed at the University of Oxford, you can see those trackers and even stop them in their tracks.
I'm Being Tracked?
At the very least, most Android apps are collecting data on crashes and bugs for the app developers to review, according HowtoGeek.
Apps may also use trackers in order to function, especially if the app has a social aspect, like to fetch content from external domains.
The developers may also want to understand how people use their app so they can fine-tune the user experience.
Trackers that report directly to the app's owner are usually referred to as "first-party" trackers and are, in theory, the safer kind.
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"Third-party" trackers, however, send data to external services the company uses, or to the company's business partners. These are often advertisers wanting to sell stuff to you.
They're likely using your data to do things like learning what your interests are, or judging what time of day you're likely to tap on ads.
You can limit trackers' knowledge of you by opting out of personalized ads, but that doesn't stop them from learning what they can, according to Android Authority.
Take Control of Your Privacy
If all of this has you concerned, then meet TrackerControl, a free and open-source app capable of identifying those trackers and blocking them as well. It works by piping your network data through an on-device VPN server and checking the traffic against a database of known trackers.
If you're worried by the privacy concerns associated with VPNs, don't be; it's not a true VPN and is located on your device, not a remote server. Unfortunately, this does mean you can't use a regular VPN while TrackerControl is working, according XDA Developers.
With the traffic analyzed, you can then see the websites that your data is bound for, and, with the full version, even the country where they're located. The app relies on IP addresses to do this, however, which aren't necessarily accurate.
TrackerControl is also capable of blocking these trackers, but that feature comes with two caveats. First, the only version available in the Play Store is the "Slim" version that abides by Google's rules by stripping out the blocking feature.
To get real power over trackers, you'll need to sideload the full app after downloading the APK from the TrackerControl website. Alternatively, you can install it using the third-party app store F-Droid (which itself you'll have to sideload).
The second caveat is that blocking trackers can and often does prevent apps from working properly. Typically, this looks like loading screens that never complete. In our testing, web browsers and social media apps almost always have this issue, since they're often fetching media to serve you from outside domains.
You can solve the problem by allowing trackers necessary for function while still blocking others, although this involves some trial and error.
Setting Up Tracker Control
The first time you launch TrackerControl, tap the toggle switch in the top-left corner of the app to begin monitoring.
You'll be prompted to allow the app permission to set up its VPN server. Tap "Ok."
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Written by Sophie Webster