52% of apps share your data – See the biggest offenders

Your personal information is one of the most valuable assets you have. Give away too much information, and someone could use it to steal your identity. Most of us are aware of the pitfalls and take steps to prevent abuse.

But sometimes your information can be leaked or collected in a way you don’t know. Have you ever taken the time to read the terms and conditions of an online service like Facebook?

You may be surprised to learn that many apps share your data with other third parties. Do you know which apps share your data the most? We’re going to tell you.

Here’s the backstory

Apple needs all apps in the App Store to get your permission to share data between applications. If the app doesn’t, it will be kicked out of the App Store.

With Apple’s updated privacy policy in mind, pCloud did some digging to determine how different apps use your data and where the information goes. While you can revoke access to an app, often all of your device’s requested features are required to work.

Which apps need the most access and what happens to the information that is collected? Unsurprisingly, 52% of apps tested shared your information with third parties for targeted advertising.

Apps that share the most data with third parties

It should come as no surprise that social media apps like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube collect most of your information. However, it should be explained that in most cases you will be happy to provide the services with your information. Here’s a list of apps that share the most data.

Top 10 Apps That Share The Most Of Your Information:

1. Instagram (79% of personal data collected)
2. facebook (57% of collected personal data)
3. LinkedIn (50% of collected personal data)
4. Uber Eats (50% of collected personal data)
5. train line (43% of collected personal data)
6. YouTube (43% of collected personal data)
7. YouTube Music (43% of collected personal data)
8. Deliveroo (36% of collected personal data)
9. Duolingo (36% of collected personal data)
10. eBay (36% of collected personal data)

“YouTube isn’t the worst when it comes to selling your information on. That award goes to Instagram, which shares a whopping 79% of your data with other companies. Includes everything from purchase information, personal data, and browsing history. No wonder there is so much promoted content on your feed.

But just because the apps share a huge amount of your data doesn’t mean it’s for shameful reasons. In most cases, your data will be passed on to third parties associated with the app.

Apps that collect data for their own benefit

Speaking of the biggest social media apps, they also top the list of collecting your information for their own benefit. This is done for several reasons, but the most common is to serve you ads.

In other cases, the data collected is for your benefit. Remember to receive a discount coupon on your birthday. The app saved that information to send you a code and hopefully make a purchase.

Top 10 apps that collect data for their benefit:

1. facebook
2. Instagram
3. Klarna
4. Grubhub
5. Uber
6. Uber Eats
7. eBay
8. just eat
9. LinkedIn
10. Twitter

Most Invasive Apps

Considering all the data from the study, you’re probably eager to know who the main culprits are. Would it be a shock if 40% of the top 10 list are social media applications? Probably not.

Top 10 Most Invasive Apps:

1. Instagram (62% of personal data is tracked)
2. facebook (55% of personal data is kept)
3. Uber Eats (50% of personal data is kept)
4. train line (43% of personal data is tracked)
5. eBay (40% of personal data is kept)
6. LinkedIn (40% of the personal data kept)
7. Twitter (40% of personal data is kept)
8. YouTube (36% of personal data is tracked)
9. YouTube Music (36% of personal data is tracked)
10. Grubhub (36% of personal data is tracked)

The safest apps

With the most personal data-hungry apps out of the way, some of the most secure apps can be surprising in terms of the amount of data being kept. Apps such as Clubhouse, Netflix and Microsoft Teams are at the forefront during the ongoing pandemic and are in the top five.

Even with video calling service Zoom’s conference flaw from last year, it managed to crack the top 10.

Apps that don’t share your data:

1. Signal
2. Clubhouse
3. Netflix
4. Microsoft teams
5. Google Classroom
6. Shazam
7. Etsy
8. skype
9. Telegram
10. boo

Apps like Signal, Telegram and Clubhouse are very outspoken about user privacy and actively advocate for data protection. Signal and Telegram saw a huge influx of users earlier this year when WhatsApp updated (and then retracted) its terms of service.

Source: command & pcloud