Technology

Allstate sued for allegedly tracking and selling 45M Americans' location data

Published

1 year ago

January 25, 2025

Allstate sued for allegedly tracking and selling 45M Americans' location data

Nowadays, almost every app you download asks for location permissions, meaning it wants to track where you are and your movements. For an app like Google Maps, requesting location access makes perfect sense. It’s also reasonable for apps like Uber or DoorDash, which rely on location for their services.

However, many apps that have nothing to do with location still ask for it, and we often grant these permissions without thinking twice. When you give an app access to your location, that data is stored and, in some cases, might even be sold. According to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, this practice is not uncommon.

A recent lawsuit filed by Paxton alleges that the insurance company Allstate collected and sold the location data of 45 million Americans’ smartphones.

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Illustration of a company tracking customer’s data. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Allstate was allegedly collecting and stealing data

In a press release, Paxton announced that he had sued Allstate and its subsidiary, Arity, for unlawfully collecting, using and selling data about the location and movements of Texans’ cellphones. The data was gathered through secretly embedded software in mobile apps, such as Life360. “Allstate and other insurers then used the covertly obtained data to justify raising Texans’ insurance rates,” the press release stated.

The insurance provider allegedly collected trillions of miles’ worth of location data from more than 45 million Americans nationwide. The data was reportedly used to build the “world’s largest driving behavior database.” When customers sought a quote or renewed their coverage, Allstate and other insurance companies allegedly used the database to justify raising car insurance premiums.

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Paxton claims the actions violated the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act. The lawsuit alleges customers were not clearly informed their data was being collected and did not consent to the practice.

“Our investigation revealed that Allstate and Arity paid mobile apps millions of dollars to install Allstate’s tracking software,” said Paxton. “The personal data of millions of Americans was sold to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent in violation of the law. Texans deserve better and we will hold all these companies accountable.”

We reached out to Allstate and Arity for comments. A rep for the Allstate Corporation provided CyberGuy with this statement: “Arity helps consumers get the most accurate auto insurance price after they consent in a simple and transparent way that fully complies with all laws and regulations.”

Illustration of a person laying out how company tracking works. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Car manufacturers apparently do this all the time

Car manufacturers have also been accused of selling similar data to insurance companies. Last year, Paxton sued General Motors for allegedly collecting and selling the private driving data of more than 1.5 million Texans to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent. In addition to insurance companies, data brokers are frequent buyers of customer data. Critics say these brokers fail to adequately protect the information, leaving it vulnerable to hackers. Earlier this month, hackers claimed to have breached Gravy Analytics, a major location data broker and the parent company of Venntel, which is known for selling smartphone location data to U.S. government agencies.

Illustration of a hacker looking at someone’s personal data. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET

5 ways to stay safe from unwanted tracking

1. Avoid installing the insurance company’s app: Many insurance companies encourage users to download their apps to “simplify” claims, payments or policy management. However, these apps often collect and track your location data under the guise of improving their services. If the app is not absolutely essential, manage your account through the company’s website or contact customer service directly instead.

2. Don’t give location permissions unnecessarily: When an app requests location access, ask yourself whether it genuinely needs this information to function. For example, a weather app may need approximate location data, but a flashlight app does not. Always choose “Deny” or “Allow only while using the app” unless absolutely necessary. Most modern devices also allow you to provide an approximate location rather than a precise one, which is a safer option when location access is unavoidable.

3. Review and manage app permissions regularly: Over time, you may forget which apps have been granted permissions. Regularly go through your device’s app settings to check and adjust permissions. On most devices, you can access this under settings > privacy > app permissions (specific steps vary by operating system). Revoke access for any apps that don’t need it or seem suspicious.

4. Turn off location services when not in use: Keep location services off when you don’t need them. This reduces the chances of apps or devices tracking you passively in the background. For tasks like mapping or food delivery, turn location services on temporarily, then turn them off when you’re done. For added security, avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, which can also be used to track your location indirectly.

5. Use privacy-focused tools and apps: Invest in tools designed to safeguard your privacy. Virtual private networks (VPNs) can mask your location online and prevent unwanted tracking while browsing. VPNs will also protect you from those who want to track and identify your potential location and the websites that you visit. For best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices

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Kurt’s key takeaway

If Allstate is indeed unlawfully collecting and selling people’s location data, Attorney General Paxton is right to hold them accountable by filing a lawsuit. In an era where cybercriminals exploit every opportunity to scam individuals, companies that fail to protect customer data are unacceptable and should face consequences. Data has become the new oil, and everyone seems eager to exploit it — often at the expense of ordinary people. Businesses that prioritize profits over privacy erode trust and put consumers at risk, making it crucial to enforce strict accountability for such practices.

Do you think companies like Allstate should be required to make their data practices crystal clear to customers? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Adobe actually won’t discontinue Animate

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Adobe actually won’t discontinue Animate

Adobe is no longer planning to discontinue Adobe Animate on March 1st. In an FAQ, the company now says that Animate will now be in maintenance mode and that it has “no plans to discontinue or remove access” to the app. Animate will still receive “ongoing security and bug fixes” and will still be available for “both new and existing users,” but it won’t get new features.

An announcement email that went out to Adobe Animate customers about the discontinuation did “not meet our standards and caused a lot of confusion and angst within the community,” according to a Reddit post from Adobe community team member Mike Chambers.

Animate will be available in maintenance mode “indefinitely” to “individual, small business, and enterprise customers,” according to Adobe. Before the change, Adobe said that non-enterprise customers could access Animate and download content until March 1st, 2027, while enterprise customers had until March 1st, 2029.

Technology

Your phone shares data at night: Here’s how to stop it

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Your phone shares data at night: Here’s how to stop it

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If your smartphone stays on your bedside table overnight, it stays busy long after you fall asleep.

Even while it appears idle, your phone continues to send and receive data in the background. Some of that activity is expected. Your device checks for security patches, syncs system settings and keeps essential services running. Other data transfers are far less obvious and far less necessary.

Experts warn that smartphones routinely transmit tracking and advertising signals without you fully realizing it. In many cases, that data includes information that should only be shared with clear and informed consent.

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Even while you sleep, a nearby smartphone can continue sending and receiving data in the background. (Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages)

What data your phone sends while you sleep

Your phone is not just charging overnight. It operates in a continuous data loop that generally falls into two categories.

Legitimate system data

This includes updates, crash reports and basic diagnostics. Operating systems rely on this information to fix bugs, improve stability and protect against security threats. In most cases, this data collection is disclosed and configurable.

Tracking and advertising data

This is where concerns grow. Smartphones also transmit location signals, device identifiers, advertising IDs, usage patterns and app behavior data. Companies combine this information to build detailed user profiles and deliver targeted ads that promise higher engagement. The problem is that the line between necessary diagnostics and commercial tracking is often blurry. Many of us never realize how much data flows out of our phones overnight.

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Phones often stay active overnight, syncing apps, checking networks and refreshing data unless you limit background activity. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What we know about phone tracking today

Independent academic investigations found that some Android devices transmitted data linked to tracking behaviors involving major companies like Meta and Yandex. The research, conducted by teams from IMDEA Networks Institute and European universities, showed that certain apps and services continued communicating with external servers even after users attempted to limit tracking. The researchers observed data flows that could link web activity with app identifiers, raising concerns about how effectively privacy controls were enforced at the system level.

There is also long-standing concern around smartphones appearing to “listen” to conversations. While no public evidence shows that phones actively record private speech for advertising, many users report ads that closely mirror recent conversations. At a minimum, aggressive data collection combined with location, app usage and search history can make these moments feel unsettling.

Despite years of scrutiny, most smartphones still operate this way today. The good news is that you can reduce how much data leaves your device.

How to protect yourself from overnight data sharing

You do not need to give up your smartphone to regain control. Small settings changes can make a real difference.

1) Review app permissions

Start with your installed apps. Focus on those with access to your location, microphone, camera and tracking data. Only allow sensitive permissions while the app is in use. Be especially cautious with apps that run continuously in the background.

How to review app permissions on iPhone

Open Settings
Tap Privacy & Security
Tap Location Services, Microphone, Camera or Tracking
Select an app from the list
Choose While Using the App or Never when available

For tracking controls:

Go to Settings
Click Privacy & Security
Tap Tracking
Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track

This prevents apps from accessing your advertising identifier and sharing activity across apps and websites.

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Turning off app tracking on your iPhone blocks apps from linking your activity across other apps and websites. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to review app permissions on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Open Settings
Tap Privacy & Security or Security and privacy
Click More privacy settings
Tap Permission Manager
Select Location, Microphone, Camera or Sensors
Tap an app and choose Allow only while using the app or Don’t allow

To review background access:

Go to Settings
Click Apps
Select an app
Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi
Turn off Background data if the app does not need constant access

This limits silent data transfers when the app is not actively open.

2) Limit background activity

Disabling background activity reduces how often apps sync data when you are not using them. This also limits automatic cloud activity. Keep in mind that this may affect real-time backups or notifications. Weigh the convenience against the privacy trade-off.

How to limit background activity on iPhone

Turn off Background App Refresh

Open Settings
Tap General
Tap Background App Refresh
Tap Background App Refresh at the top
Select Off or Wi-Fi

To disable it for specific apps:

Stay on the Background App Refresh screen
Toggle off apps that do not need to update in the background

This prevents apps from quietly syncing data when they are not open.

How to limit background activity on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Restrict background data

Open Settings
Tap Apps
Select an app
Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi
Turn off Background data

Restrict background battery usage

From the app’s settings screen, tap Battery
Select Restricted or Limit background usage

This reduces background syncing and prevents apps from running silently when you are not actively using them.

3) Turn off personalized advertising

Personalized ads rely on device identifiers and activity data collected across apps. Turning this off limits how your behavior is used for ad targeting, even when your phone is idle.

How to turn off personalized ads on iPhone

Open Settings
Tap Privacy & Security
Tap Tracking
Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track

To limit Apple ads:

Go to Settings
Click Privacy & Security
Tap Apple Advertising
Turn off Personalized Ads

This reduces ad targeting based on your activity within Apple services.

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Disabling personalized ads reduces how your behavior is used to target ads, even when your phone is idle. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to turn off personalized ads on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Open Settings
Tap Privacy & Security or Security and privacy
Click More privacy settings
Tap Ads or Advertising
Tap Delete advertising ID or Opt out of Ads Personalization
Click Delete advertising ID

You can also reset your advertising ID from this menu to break the link between past activity and future ads.

This limits how apps and advertisers track behavior across apps and websites.

4) Consider a VPN

A reputable VPN can help obscure your IP address and reduce certain forms of network-based tracking. It does not stop all data collection, but it adds a layer of protection, especially on shared or public networks.

For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

5) Remove your data from broker sites

Even if you lock down your phone, much of your personal information already exists online. Data brokers collect and sell details like your name, address, phone number and browsing behavior.

Using a reputable data removal service can help locate and remove your information from these sites. This reduces how easily advertisers and third parties can link your phone activity to your real identity.

For ongoing protection, these services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

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6) Use airplane mode or power off at night

If overnight data sharing concerns you, the simplest option is also the most effective. Turning your phone off or using airplane mode cuts off wireless communication while still allowing alarms to work.

How to turn on airplane mode on iPhone

Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner
Tap the airplane icon so it turns orange
Confirm that cellular, Wi Fi and Bluetooth turned off

How to turn on airplane mode on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings
Tap the airplane mode icon
Check that mobile data, Wi Fi and Bluetooth are disabled

If you still want Bluetooth for a watch or headphones, you can turn it back on manually after enabling airplane mode. This keeps most background data transfers blocked while you sleep.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Your smartphone works around the clock, even when you do not. Some background data sharing keeps your device secure and functional. Other data collection exists primarily to fuel tracking and advertising. The key is awareness and control. By tightening permissions, limiting background activity and disabling ad personalization, you reduce how much of your personal data leaves your phone while you sleep. Privacy is not about fear. It is about informed choices.

Do you leave your phone fully on overnight, or will tonight be the night you finally switch it off? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Department of Justice appeals Google search monopoly ruling

Published

16 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Press Room

Department of Justice appeals Google search monopoly ruling

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice and the plaintiffs in the antitrust case against Google filed a cross-appeal, as the DOJ Antitrust Division announced in a post on X: “Today, the DOJ Antitrust Division filed notice that it will cross-appeal from the remedies decisions in its case against Google’s unlawful monopolization of internet search and search advertising.”

Just a few weeks ago, Google itself filed a notice to appeal and requested a pause on the remedies ordered by DC District Court Judge Amit Mehta last year. Those remedies included requiring Google to share search data with its rivals and barring Google from making exclusive distribution deals for its search or AI products that could hinder distribution for competitors. However, Google was ultimately not required to sell its Chrome browser and wasn’t barred from paying distribution partners for preloading or premium placement of its search or AI products.

The DOJ’s cross-appeal suggests that neither party is fully satisfied with Judge Mehta’s ruling in the case, or at least the remedies ordered in September.