Today was the deadline for Google to reveal how it’s complying with Judge James Donato’s order to crack open Android for third-party app stores, stop illegally tying its Google Play Billing system to its app store, and let developers link to ways to download their apps outside the Play Store in the US.
Technology
5 mobile privacy terms you need to know to protect yourself
Your smartphone might be your closest companion, tracking your steps, saving your passwords and remembering your favorite takeout. But how much do you know about how it protects (or exposes) your privacy?
We’re breaking down five key mobile privacy terms that could make all the difference when it comes to keeping your personal info safe. Whether you’re team iPhone or Android, understanding these concepts can help you take control of your digital footprint — right from the palm of your hand.
Stay tuned for more in this series as we dive deeper into privacy-related tech terms and other essential concepts, answering the top questions we get from readers like you.
STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS — SIGN UP FOR KURT’S THE CYBERGUY REPORT NOW
A woman working on her laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
1. Location tracking
Your phone’s GPS isn’t just for directions
Every time you check the weather, tag your location on Instagram or ask Google Maps for the quickest route, you’re sharing your whereabouts. That’s thanks to Location Tracking, a feature built into most apps and devices that uses GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cell towers to pinpoint your location.
Here’s the catch: Many apps track you even when you’re not using them. Some use this data to serve local content or ads, while others collect and sell it to third parties.
How to protect yourself:
- Check which apps have location access in your settings
- Switch from “Always” to “While Using the App”
- Consider turning off location services entirely when you don’t need them
Knowing when and how you’re being tracked is the first step to stopping it.
More: Top 20 apps tracking you every day
2. App permissions
What your apps know about you (and maybe shouldn’t)
Before you can use that new photo editor or budgeting tool, it probably asked for a few things — access to your camera, contacts, microphone, maybe even your calendar. These are called App Permissions, and they determine what parts of your phone an app can interact with.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
While some requests are necessary (e.g., a video app needs camera access), others can be excessive or even suspicious. For example, why does a flashlight app need your location or call logs?
Tips for staying in control:
- Review permissions when installing apps
- Regularly audit your app settings
- Delete apps you no longer use
Your data shouldn’t be the price of convenience. Set boundaries.
More: Did you say ‘yes’ to allowing apps permission to your Google account?
A woman looking at her phone while working on her laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
TOP 20 APPS TRACKING YOU EVERY DAY
3. Two-factor authentication (2FA)
A second lock on your digital front door
Passwords aren’t perfect. That’s where two-factor authentication (2FA) comes in. It adds an extra layer of protection by requiring two forms of identification before granting access to your account, typically something you know (a password) and something you have (a text code or authentication app).
Many major apps and platforms now support 2FA, and enabling it can help block hackers, even if they steal your password.
Most common types of 2FA:
- Text or email codes
- Authenticator apps like Google Authenticator or Authy
- Biometric verification (fingerprint or face ID)
Activate 2FA where you can. It’s one of the simplest ways to level up your mobile security.
4. Mobile ad ID
The invisible label that tracks your habits
Behind the scenes, your phone is assigned a unique string of numbers and letters called a mobile advertising identifier (Mobile Ad ID). It helps advertisers track your behavior across apps and websites to build a profile of your interests.
While it doesn’t include your name, it can be linked to your device and used to serve targeted ads. Think of it as a digital name tag for marketing purposes.
Want to opt out? You can:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking
- Android: Settings > Privacy > Ads, and reset or delete your Ad ID
You’re not obligated to let your phone advertise you.
More: How to escape Facebook’s creepy ad tracking
A laptop and external storage devices on a desk (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
10 SIMPLE STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SMARTPHONE’S SECURITY AND PRIVACY
5. VPN (virtual private network)
Your personal privacy tunnel
A VPN is like a secret tunnel for your internet connection. It hides your online activities and helps keep your personal information safe when you’re using the internet, especially on public Wi-Fi.
In addition to protecting your information from prying eyes, a VPN also hides your real location. It allows you to connect to the internet through a server in another part of the world, which makes it appear as though you’re browsing from a different location. This is useful for security (protecting your privacy) and for accessing content that might be restricted in certain areas.
When you connect to public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or airport, your data can be exposed to hackers and snoops. That’s where a VPN (virtual private network) comes in. It encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, hiding your IP address and protecting your activity.
Think of it as a private tunnel for your internet usage, shielding your data from prying eyes.
What VPNs are great for:
- Protecting your connection on public Wi-Fi
- Accessing region-locked content
- Hiding your online activity from advertisers or your internet provider
Just make sure to choose a trustworthy VPN. Some free VPNs may log your data or slow your phone down. A reliable VPN is essential for protecting your online privacy and ensuring a secure, high-speed connection. 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
DATA REMOVAL DOES WHAT VPNS DON’T: HERE’S WHY YOU NEED BOTH
Kurt’s key takeaways
Your mobile device is powerful, but so are the privacy risks associated with it. By understanding these five mobile privacy terms, you can take simple yet impactful steps to protect your digital life. From turning off unnecessary app permissions to enabling two-factor authentication, these small tweaks can help you stay in control and keep your information safe.
Confused by a mobile tech term or want help tightening up your privacy settings? Drop your questions below. We’ve got more tips coming your way. Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover
Follow Kurt on his social channels
Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Even at $1,000, the Xbox Ally X handheld didn’t ship with magnetic drift-resistant joysticks, and neither did the $600 model. But for an extra $20 at Amazon, you can change that today — with officially Asus-approved and sanctioned TMR joysticks from Gulikit, the company that’s made a name for itself by supplying aftermarket drift-resistant sticks.
The company says it worked with Xbox Ally manufacturer Asus to create these sticks, that they’ll be “automatically recognized” when you swap them in, and that you can use the handheld’s built-in Armoury Crate app to calibrate them afterwards.
And while I haven’t tried these ones (I do have a pair in my Switch), I can confirm it’s pretty easy to pop open the Xbox Ally to install. Just loosen the Philips-head screws, poke in a guitar pick pry tool to create a small gap, and pull a little harder than you think you need to pop open the clips. The joystick modules are right underneath. There’s nothing blocking you — just pop a ribbon cable and undo their three screws.
Here’s the company’s walkthrough in case you want to see for yourself — though I do not recommend taking sharp tweezers to ribbon cables when your fingernails can do that job safer and easier. (I may have broken a few ribbon cables in my life.)
When we’re talking about TMR or the older and slightly less power-efficient Hall effect joystick technology, I usually write “drift-resistant” instead of “drift-free” because you may find your center point drifting over time — but the beauty of magnetic is you just have to recalibrate! Unlike the potentiometer joysticks that ship with Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox controllers, you’re not scraping away material that’ll lead to permanent drift as you use the magnetic versions.
Gulikit’s new Xbox Ally sticks are $20 in the US today, and should also be available in the UK for £20, and in Italy, France, and Spain for €22, this January.
Shyam Sankar, chief technology officer of Palantir Technologies Inc., speaks at the Hill & Valley forum at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2025. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images )
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– AI fuels blue-collar productivity boom across manufacturing, Palantir technology chief tells FOX Business
– New exoskeleton adapts to terrain with smart AI power
– Purdue becomes first university to require AI competency for all undergrads as universities race to adapt
RISE OF MACHINES: Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar told FOX Business artificial intelligence is fueling a blue-collar productivity boom, not mass unemployment as forecast by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Sankar said AI is accelerating hiring, training and American industrial growth.
SMART STEPS: Recreational exoskeletons have been popping up for years, but the new IRMO M1 exoskeleton feels like a turning point. This next-generation wearable blends artificial intelligence (AI), a forward-facing camera, LADAR sensors and lightweight robotics to give your legs a serious boost on trails and city streets.
With training and assist modes, the M1 adapts to your goals whether you want more power or more strength. (IRMO)
EDUCATION REWIRED: Purdue University has announced a new “AI working competency” requirement, the first of its kind at an institution of higher learning, for all undergraduate students on their main campus, Indianapolis and West Lafayette, to complete starting in 2026.
‘DISPARATE IMPACT’: White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks called out blue states Tuesday for inserting “woke” ideology into artificial intelligence as the Trump administration moves to cut what he described as “unnecessary” regulations on the rapidly developing technology.
EYES TO THE FUTURE: Artificial intelligence (AI) is charging into a new phase in 2026 – one that could reshape business operations, global competition and even which workers thrive, according to Goldman Sachs’ Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti.
Artificial intelligence enters a new phase in 2026 that could reshape business operations, global competition and workforce outcomes, according to Goldman Sachs Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)
‘MORE USABLE’: OpenAI announced an update for ChatGPT Images that it says drastically improves both the generation speed and instruction-following capability of its image generator. A blog post from the company Tuesday says the update will make it much easier to make precise edits to AI-generated images. Previous iterations of the program have struggled to follow instructions and often make unasked-for changes.
HANDS-FREE TECH: Chrome on Android now offers a fresh way to digest information when your hands are busy or your eyes need a break. A new update powered by Google Gemini can turn written webpages into short podcast-style summaries. Two virtual hosts chat about the content, making it feel easier to follow during your commute or while you multitask.
DESANTIS VS. TRUMP: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said on Monday that state officials have the right to regulate artificial intelligence despite President Trump’s recent executive order aiming to require a national AI standard the president argues would overrule state laws.
TECH FORCE: The Trump administration launched a new initiative Monday aimed at recruiting top-tier technical talent to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) at the federal level. The hiring program, known as “Tech Force,” plans to recruit roughly 1,000 early-career technologists for a two-year service term across various federal agencies.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, says state officials have authority to regulate artificial intelligence despite President Trump’s executive order seeking a national AI standard he says would override state laws. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
HOME RUN: Baseball teams have long searched for a way to study the entire swing without sensors or complex lab setups. Today, a new solution is entering the picture. Theia, an AI biomechanics company, debuted a commercially available video-only system that analyzes bat trajectory and full-body biomechanics together. This new approach works in real baseball environments and needs no reflective body markers, wearables or special equipment.
POLICING PUSH: Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., helped advocate for the AI Civil Rights Act last week in order to prevent companies from using what Democrats describe as “biased and discriminatory AI-powered algorithms.”
PRICING GAP : Instacart is using AI-enabled pricing experiments that are substantially raising the prices of identical products for different customers, according to an investigation by Consumer Reports and Groundwork Collaborative.
FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
X
LinkedIn
SIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS
Fox News First
Fox News Opinion
Fox News Lifestyle
Fox News Health
DOWNLOAD OUR APPS
Fox News
Fox Business
Fox Weather
Fox Sports
Tubi
WATCH FOX NEWS ONLINE
Fox News Go
STREAM FOX NATION
Fox Nation
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.
But Google isn’t just letting app developers do things however and whenever they’d like. The company’s quietly updated its support pages with a January 28th deadline to enroll in specific Google programs for “alternative billing” and “external content links” — and these programs will come with large alternative fees of their own, assuming Judge Donato doesn’t opt for Epic and Google’s proposed settlement instead.
While it isn’t collecting fees yet, Google says it will charge developers $2.85 for every app and $3.65 for every game a user installs within 24 hours of clicking a link that takes you outside Google’s app store to download them outside the Google ecosystem.
Plus, it’ll take a 20 percent cut of any in-app purchases and 10 percent of any auto-renewing subscriptions. Apps still need to be submitted to Google for review, use a Google API to track them, and developers have to report all transactions (including $0 free trials) if they want to participate.
Meanwhile, developers who want to offer their own billing solutions will only get a 5 percent discount compared to Google’s current fees, likely making it not worth the effort to try alternative billing at all. Google will charge 25 percent for in-app purchases and 10 percent for auto-renewing subscriptions there; devs will need to integrate a Google API to track those, and report all transactions within 24 hours.
The company will cap some of these fees at 10 percent of a developer’s first $1 million of earnings, making it a bit easier for small developers, but perhaps no easier than it is currently. Google already offers a similar cap at 15 percent, so this too is a 5 percent discount.
How will Judge James Donato react? When Apple told Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers it would require a 27 percent fee for external payments in the parallel Epic v. Apple case, she found Apple in contempt of court, and an appeals court backed up that decision just days ago. However, the appeals court did suggest that Apple may be able to collect some fee, writing that:
Apple should be able to charge a commission on linked-out purchases based on the costs that are genuinely and reasonably necessary for its coordination of external links for linked-out purchases, but no more.
Google currently claims that “the fees associated with the external content links program reflect the value provided by Android and Play and support our continued investments across Android and Play.”
But Google also says it won’t collect any fees quite yet, writing:
In the future, Google intends to apply a service fee on successful transactions and downloads completed via external content links. At this time, however, Google is not assessing these fees and is therefore not requiring developers in this program to report these transactions or downloads to Google.
In their joint progress report today, Epic and Google’s lawyers write that while Epic agrees with the January 28th deadline and other requirements, “Epic has indicated that it opposes the service fees that Google announced it may implement in the future and that Epic will challenge these fees if they come into effect.”
Of course, none of this will come to pass if Judge Donato accepts Google and Epic’s proposed settlement instead, which would generally apply worldwide (instead of just in the US) and comes with lower standard transaction fees.
But Google signaled that settlement, too, would come with fees on alternative billing and external app downloads, and Judge Donato seemed skeptical of the settlement in November. He’s ordered an evidentiary hearing on January 22nd before he makes a decision.
Since Google’s support pages seem to be fluid as Epic v. Google continues, we’ve archived copies of their current text below.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
Tennessee1 minute ago
Unseen Tennessee Williams radio play published in literary magazine
Texas7 minutes ago
Johnny Manziel Replaced by a Different Texas A&M Great As ‘College GameDay’ Guest Picker
Utah13 minutes ago
Players Arizona Should Watch on Utah’s Women’s Team
Vermont19 minutes ago
‘On the cusp of something very special.’ In Q&A, Vermont’s education secretary ponders the challenges and opportunities of ed reform. – VTDigger
Virginia25 minutes ago
Colorado, Deion Sanders to hire former highly-touted DC as defensive assistant
Florida1 year ago
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Connecticut2 years ago
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
Oregon2 years ago
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Virginia1 year ago
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Education2 years ago
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Politics3 hours ago
Sen Murphy warns ‘people are going to die’ as Congress punts on expiring Obamacare subsidies
World4 hours ago
Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan, wife sentenced to 17 years in corruption case
News4 hours ago
U.S. launches strikes in Syria targeting Islamic State fighters after American deaths
Politics15 hours ago
Trump administration touts ‘most secure border in history’ as 2.5 million migrants exit US
World16 hours ago
How the reparations loan for Ukraine fell apart at the eleventh hour
-
Iowa5 days agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Iowa7 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine4 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland5 days agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
Technology1 week agoThe Game Awards are losing their luster
-
South Dakota6 days agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
New Mexico3 days agoFamily clarifies why they believe missing New Mexico man is dead
-
Nebraska1 week agoNebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class