Technology

How to manage app permissions on your iPhone

Published

2 years ago

March 2, 2024

How to manage app permissions on your iPhone

Every time you install an app on your iPhone, it comes with permissions attached — permissions that determine what it can and can’t do. These permissions cover some pretty fundamental parts of iOS, including access to the iPhone camera, microphone, and current location. The permissions get asked for one by one as they’re needed, so you’ve got plenty of control over how your apps are behaving.

But sometimes, especially when you’re in a hurry, it’s easy to accidentally give permission for an app to access data it doesn’t really require. Does your note-taking app really need to see your contact list, for example?

As a result, it’s well worth your while to do a regular audit of these permissions just in case you’ve previously allowed a permission you now want to revoke or vice versa. It’s not difficult to change your settings, and it gives you an extra layer of privacy and security.

Before installing

You can assess the permission that apps ask for before you install them.

Apps need to reveal the data they’ll collect — and how it’s used.

You can check out the data an app is going to collect before you install it — it’s right on the app’s page in the App Store. Reading through this list before you do any downloading or installing can give you a good idea of how much access to your iPhone and data an app wants.

On the app’s App Store page, scroll down to App Privacy and tap See Details for a full rundown. You may not see every permission that the app is going to ask for here, but a lot of the data categories that are listed correspond to certain permissions on your phone — your phone’s location and its contact list, for example.

As well as listing the types of data that get collected, the list will also offer a general reason for the collection. It might be to improve app functionality, for example, or to target marketing messages or personalize the product. If you’re not happy with the app’s practices and policies, leave it uninstalled.

If you do install an app, you’ll find it requesting permissions as and when it needs them. Most of these permissions should be pretty essential to the function of the app — it’s hard to get an Uber if the app doesn’t know where you are, for example — but use your discretion with permissions that don’t seem necessary. Ideally, an app should explain why it needs each permission, though not all of them will.

Configuring permissions

To manage the permissions on your iPhone, head to Settings. If you want to see which permissions a specific app has been permitted:

Scroll down to the app you want to look more closely at and tap on its name.
You’ll see a list of permissions the app has and hasn’t been granted.
Tap on any permission to change its setting.

If you want to check out a specific permission and see all of the apps that are using it:

Choose Privacy & Security from Settings.
You’ll see a list of permissions (like Contacts and Photos). Tap on the one you’re interested in to see which apps have been given permission and which have not.

It’s up to you which way you approach it, but you’ll find the same permission settings in either case.

Partial permissions

Some permissions aren’t just on or off. Photo access is a good example: apps can be given full access to your photo and video library or just to selected files. This is useful if, for example, you want to upload a few pictures to Instagram but don’t want to give the app access to your whole gallery.

You don’t have to give apps access to your whole media library.

iOS will tell you when apps are using your location.

The location permission works differently from the others in that it offers much more granular control.

Tap Location Services at the top of the Privacy & Security screen.
You’ll see a list of apps; to the right of each will be the current status of its location permission.
In the list of apps, you’ll notice that some have a gray or purple arrow next to them. The gray arrow means they’ve used your location in the last 24 hours, and the purple arrow means they’ve used your location recently — another way to tell if an app might be overreaching in terms of the data it’s gathering.
Select an app to change its access to your iPhone’s location.
You’ll see at least three options: Never, Ask Next Time Or When I Share (so, on a case-by-case basis), and While Using the App.
Some apps (like weather and mapping apps) have an Always option, too, which means the app can also access your location while it’s running in the background.
The page also has a Precise Location toggle switch: turn this off, and the app is only allowed an approximate positioning for where you are.

When you install an app, it will probably run through the required permissions.

If you enable the privacy report, it will give you more detail about what apps are doing.

At the bottom of the Privacy & Security screen, you’ll find the App Privacy Report option. Once this is turned on (it’s off by default), you can come back here to get a more detailed breakdown of how apps have been using the permissions you’ve given them.

Technology

The latest iPad Air is $400 for the first time and arrives by Christmas

Published

6 minutes ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

The latest iPad Air is 0 for the first time and arrives by Christmas

If you have $400 and want an iPad, your options are usually kind of limited to either just the base iPad, or better yet, the latest iPad Mini — if it happens to be on sale when you’re shopping (it is now, but that’s not always the case). But right now, you should consider getting the 128GB version of Apple’s 11-inch iPad Air with the capable M3 processor. At Target, multiple colors of this model are $399.99, beating the previous low of $449.99 we’ve seen during large-scale deal events. Currently, no other retailer is matching this price. This sale ends Saturday night.

$400 is a sweet price for this model, as it debuted in early 2025 for $600. In terms of how it stacks up to other iPad models, Verge editor-at-large David Pierce said in his impressions that the M3 Air is “exactly what you think it is. Which is fine.” I know, that sounds like a back-handed compliment, but it’s been a while since iPads peaked in terms of utility, design, and fast performance. This one carries the torch in Apple’s tablet dominance, and its M3 processor means it’ll be a fantastic tablet for longer than any other iPad at the $400 price point. Read our in-depth impressions.

Other Verge-approved deals

Technology

Facebook settlement scam emails to avoid now

Published

36 minutes ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Facebook settlement scam emails to avoid now

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Millions of Facebook users filed claims in a recent privacy settlement after the platform was accused of mishandling user data. The approved payouts have been rolling out, which means people are watching their inboxes for updates. Scammers know this and are sending look-alike emails that push you to click a “Redeem Virtual Card” button. Arlene B emailed us to share what landed in her inbox.

“I received an email stating that it was from (Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator) and that I needed to click on the button below to “Redeem Virtual Card.” Do you know if this is a scam or not?”

Her question shows how convincing these fake messages appear. A real settlement did happen, and people have been getting payments. Still, criminals are now piggybacking on the rollout with messages that look official but lead to dangerous sites that steal your information. Let’s walk through how to tell real emails from fake ones.

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NEW SCAM SENDS FAKE MICROSOFT 365 LOGIN PAGES

Scammers send fake settlement emails that mimic the real payout notices to trick you into clicking. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to check if your Facebook settlement email is legitimate

Scammers rely on confusion and urgency. These steps help you confirm the message before you click anything.

Confirm the sender’s address

Real settlement emails come from facebookuserprivacysettlement@notifications.kroll.com. Kroll is the official administrator.

Look for your claimant ID

Real notices include your unique claimant ID and reference the claim you filed last year. Fake emails skip this personalized detail.

Check where the link leads

Real payout links go to DigitalPay / Veritas or domains tied to krollsettlementadministration. If the link points to a strange or shortened URL, it is likely unsafe.

Watch for common red flags

Pressure to act right away. Clumsy wording or spelling mistakes. A button that goes to a suspicious URL. You never filed a claim in the first place. Any sender address that is not the official Kroll domain.

Remember that you are not required to click anything

If your claim was approved, you have already received a legitimate notice. Emails that say you must “redeem” again or “confirm” payment are signs of a scam.

GEEK SQUAD SCAM EMAIL: HOW TO SPOT AND STOP IT

A quick hover over the “Redeem Virtual Card” button often reveals a suspicious link that gives the scam away. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why scammers target large settlements

Whenever a major payout occurs, criminals blend in with legitimate messages because people expect money and may open emails quickly. When fake notices look similar to real ones, it only takes one careless click for scammers to grab your data.

DON’T FALL FOR FAKE SETTLEMENT SITES THAT STEAL YOUR DATA

A person logging onto Facebook (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Ways to stay safe from settlement scams

Use these simple habits to protect yourself from Facebook settlement scams and any future payout scam.

1) Verify the sender every time

Look at the full address. Scammers often change one character in hopes you will not notice.

2) Hover over links before tapping

Check the destination without clicking. A strange URL is your warning sign.

3) Never share sensitive information through email

Real administrators do not ask for banking info or logins.

4) Use a data removal service

Data brokers often collect your email address, phone number and other personal details that scammers use to target victims. A data removal service can pull you out of those databases, which reduces the amount of scam email that reaches you in the first place.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. 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.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

5) Go directly to the official settlement site

Type in the address yourself instead of using a link from an email.

6) Use strong antivirus software

Good security software blocks dangerous links and pages. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

7) Delete emails that push urgency

Scammers want fast reactions. Slow down and confirm details.

Kurt’s key takeaways

The Facebook settlement payout created the perfect moment for scammers to slip fake messages into inboxes. Once you know the signs, it becomes much easier to separate real notices from dangerous ones. Stay alert, trust your instincts and verify before you click.

Would you open a payout email if you were not expecting money in the first place? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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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

The first Dolby FlexConnect soundbar is coming from LG

Published

12 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

The first Dolby FlexConnect soundbar is coming from LG

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect technology debuted this year with the TCL Z100 speakers, and now we’re getting our first FlexConnect soundbar thanks to LG. The new H7 soundbar — which runs on the same Alpha 11 Gen 3 chip as LG’s OLEDs and new Micro RGB LED — is a part of the LG Sound Suite, a modular home audio system the company will debut at CES 2026. In addition to the soundbar, the Sound Suite will include the M5 and M7 surround speakers and the W7 subwoofer. All of the speakers feature Peerless Audio components.

The two main drawbacks of TCL’s Dolby FlexConnect implementation were the limitation of only allowing four connected speakers, including a sub, and the need for a 2025 QM series TCL TV. So you needed to pick between better sound coverage with a fourth speaker or more bass performance with a sub. LG’s Sound Suite, on the other hand, will allow you to connect the soundbar with up to four surround speakers and a subwoofer for a potential 13.1.7-channel system.

And while the speakers can be used with a compatible LG TV (including the 2026 premium LG TV lineup and 2025’s C5 and G5 OLEDs), it isn’t required. It’s possible to use the H7 soundbar with any TV — or without — and have it act as what’s called the lead device to connect the surround speakers and sub. LG says there are 27 different speaker configurations possible, from using two speakers as a stereo pair up to the full system with soundbar, surrounds, and sub.

In my experience with the TCL Z100, calibrating FlexConnect speakers to your space is also fast. Once they’re in place and plugged in, a short musical clip is played for a few seconds and then setup is complete. The system is able to know where the speakers are placed and how to optimize the surround and Atmos sound for your room. With other room correction software, the process can take much longer, requiring taking sound readings from multiple locations in the room.

LG is using ultra-wideband technology to adjust the sweet spot based on your listening position that it’s calling Sound Follow. What will be interesting to see with the LG Sound Suite’s Dolby FlexConnect implementation is how customizable it is after setup (for instance, adjusting subwoofer levels).

I’ll be hearing the system at CES and plan on reviewing the system when it’s available to see how well the technology translates into a home.