8 of 10 Americans are worried about their digital privacy, says survey
However, only 5 percent of device users read privacy statements
However, only 5 percent of device users read privacy statements
However, only 5 percent of device users read privacy statements
Eight of 10 Americans don't like that they're being digitally tracked by third parties, according to , a technology and forensic engineering firm. Seventy-one percent of people are more concerned about online privacy then they were a decade ago.
Twenty-seven percent of people say they don't use applications like Apple Maps to avoid being tracked, while 16 percent of people say they're mainly concerned with companies selling their information to third parties.
Thirty-three percent of people believe they're most vulnerable to tracking while using smartphones.
The data, collected from a survey of more than 1,000 people nationwide, found that only five percent of people actually read digital privacy agreements.
"At this point, the idea of sharing your personal information with a company is no longer novelty but the norm—it’s a given to use the phone, the app, the social media platform, the streaming service, the latest game," Envista Forensics said. "However, as we discovered in our recent survey, the kind of data being collected and what it’s being used for is far from what the average person assumes when they click 'YES' to the fine print."
Google Maps tracks a person's location and speed at all times, while Uber has access to one's location, credit card information and phone number while the app is in use. It also tracks passengers for an additional five minutes after their ride has ended. "Pokemon Go" can identify a player's location and access his contacts, which can be sold to third parties.
Before downloading an app, make sure to read its digital agreement carefully. You can also turn off the tracking feature in certain apps like Google Maps or Twitter by disabling their "Location Reporting" feature in your device's settings.