Technology
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.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
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.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.
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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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
YouTube’s mobile app finally lets you share timestamped videos
YouTube is making some changes that might affect how you share videos from the mobile app. From the app, you can finally share videos from a specific timestamp, which will make it easier to point someone to a part of a video you might want them to see while you’re on your phone. However, this change will replace the Clips feature that lets you make a shareable clip from a video.
You’ll still be able to watch any Clips that you’ve already made. But moving forward, “the ability to set an end time or include a custom description when sharing will no longer be available,” YouTube says. The company notes that while clipping is “important way for creators to reach new audiences,” it says that “a number of third-party tools with advanced clipping features and authorized creator programs are now available to do this across different video platforms.”
The company originally introduced the Clips feature in 2021.
Technology
Meta employee accused of accessing private images
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When you upload a photo to Facebook, you expect it to stay private unless you decide otherwise. That expectation just took a hit after a former employee of Meta was accused of accessing thousands of private images.
According to details confirmed by the company, the London-based employee allegedly created a program to bypass internal safeguards. Investigators say this may have allowed access to about 30,000 private Facebook images that were not meant to be viewed.
The individual is now under criminal investigation and is out on bail as authorities continue to review the case. Here’s how investigators say the access may have happened.
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META SMART GLASSES PRIVACY CONCERNS GROW
A former Meta employee is accused of accessing thousands of private Facebook images, raising new concerns about how user data is protected. (Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)
How the Meta employee allegedly accessed private images
Authorities believe the employee may have written a script to get around Meta’s internal detection systems. In simple terms, the system that should flag unusual behavior may not have caught the activity right away. This detail matters because large tech platforms rely on monitoring tools to detect suspicious access patterns. When those checks are bypassed, it raises questions about how internal access is controlled.
The investigation is being handled by the cybercrime unit of the Metropolitan Police in London. At the same time, security experts often point out that insider threats are difficult to eliminate. Even strong systems can be tested when someone inside the company misuses access.
What Meta says about the employee investigation
Meta says it discovered the improper access more than a year ago and took action after identifying the issue.
“Protecting user data is our top priority,” a Meta spokesperson told CyberGuy. “After discovering improper access by an employee over a year ago, we immediately terminated the individual, notified users, referred the matter to law enforcement and enhanced our security measures. We are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.”
Legal risks in the Meta private images case
Data protection experts say cases like this often come down to both intent and safeguards. If an employee accesses personal data without authorization, that can lead to criminal charges under data protection and computer misuse laws. However, the company’s responsibility depends on the protections it had in place. If proper safeguards existed, the focus usually remains on the individual.
If not, regulators may consider penalties or legal claims against the company. The Information Commissioner’s Office, the U.K.’s data privacy watchdog, has acknowledged the incident. The agency stressed that social media users should be able to trust how their personal information is handled.
Why the Meta investigation is drawing attention now
This case is unfolding at a time when scrutiny of major tech platforms is already high. Recent legal challenges have raised broader concerns about how companies protect users and manage risk. That context adds weight to this investigation. It reflects a larger conversation about privacy and accountability in the tech industry. As more people rely on digital platforms, expectations of data protection continue to rise. Incidents like this tend to reinforce those concerns.
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Mark Zuckerberg walks through the U.S. Capitol after a meeting on March 26, 2026. Investigators in London say a former Meta employee may have used a script to bypass safeguards and view about 30,000 private Facebook images. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Simple ways to protect your private photos
Even though this case involves an insider, there are still simple steps you can take to better protect your photos and limit who can see them.
1) Check your Facebook privacy settings
You cannot control what happens inside a company, but you can limit how much of your personal content is exposed. Start by reviewing your Facebook privacy settings.
(Settings may vary depending on device and app version)
Mobile (iPhone/Android):
Facebook: Menu > Settings & privacy > Settings > Audience and visibility > Posts > Who can see your future posts > select Friends (or a custom audience) > Save
Desktop (Mac/PC):
Facebook: Profile picture (top right) > Settings & privacy > Settings > Audience and visibility section > Posts > Who can see your future posts > select Friends (or a custom audience) > Done
2) Review older photos and albums
Next, go through older photos and albums. Many people forget that photos shared years ago may still be visible under outdated settings.
(Settings may vary depending on device and app version)
Mobile (iPhone/Android):
Facebook: Menu > Settings & privacy > Settings > Audience and visibility > Posts > Limit who can see past posts > Limit who can see past posts > Limit past posts > confirm
Desktop (Mac/PC):
Facebook: Profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > Audience and visibility section > Posts > Limit who can see past posts > Limit past posts > confirm
And check individual albums:
Mobile (iPhone/Android):
Facebook: Go to your profile > Photos > Albums > select an album > tap Edit (top right) > Who can see this? > choose who can see it > Done
Desktop (Mac/PC):
Facebook: click your name on the left > Photos > Albums > select an album > click the three dots > Edit album > choose who can see it > Done
Not all albums can be changed, and some system albums have limited privacy options.
3) Be careful what you upload
It also helps to limit what you upload in the first place. Sensitive images, documents or anything you would not want widely seen may be better kept off social platforms entirely.
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Authorities are investigating whether a former Meta employee improperly accessed private Facebook photos that users never intended to share. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
4) Turn on account activity alerts and two-factor authentication
You can also enable alerts for unusual account activity. While this case involves an insider, account alerts still help you spot unauthorized access to your own profile. You can also turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) to add another layer of protection to your account.
How to turn on account activity alerts
(Settings may vary depending on device and app version)
Mobile (iPhone/Android):
Facebook: Menu > Settings & privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Password and security > Security Checkup > review and complete recommended security steps
Desktop (Mac/PC):
Facebook: Profile picture (top right) > Settings & privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Password and security > Security Checkup > review and complete recommended security steps
How to turn on two-factor authentication
(Settings may vary depending on device and app version)
Mobile (iPhone/Android):
Facebook: Menu > Settings & privacy > Settings > Password and security > Two-factor authentication > choose text message or authentication app > follow prompts
Desktop (Mac/PC):
Facebook: Profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > Password and security > Two-factor authentication > choose text message or authentication app > follow prompts
5) Check third-party app access
Take a few minutes to review which apps have access to your Facebook account. Third-party apps can sometimes hold more access than you expect.
(Settings may vary depending on device and app version)
Mobile (iPhone/Android):
Facebook: Menu > Settings & privacy > Settings > Apps and websites > Active > tap an app > Remove
Desktop (Mac/PC):
Facebook: Profile picture (top right) > Settings & privacy > Settings > Apps and websites > Active > click an app > Remove
If you don’t see any apps listed or options like “Active,” it likely means you don’t have any connected apps to review.
What this means to you
If you use Facebook or similar platforms, this situation highlights something many people overlook. Even with strong safeguards, insider access still exists. Employees often need certain permissions to keep systems running. That creates a level of trust between users and the company.
When that trust is broken, it can feel personal. At the same time, there are still steps you can take on your end. Reviewing your privacy settings, limiting what you share and enabling security features can reduce how much of your content is exposed. It also shows why detection and response matter.
In this case, Meta says it identified the issue, removed the employee and notified users. Those steps can limit damage, but they do not erase the concern. The bigger takeaway is that privacy depends on both technology and human behavior. Systems can reduce risk, but they cannot remove it completely.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
This case is still under investigation, and no final legal outcome has been announced. Even so, it highlights a risk many people rarely think about. Most privacy conversations focus on hackers. This situation is different. It shows how access from inside a company can create its own set of risks. Meta says it acted quickly by removing the employee, notifying users and strengthening its systems. Those steps matter, but they also show how much trust users place in the platforms they use every day. The reality is simple. Once you upload something online, you are trusting more than just the technology behind it.
If someone inside a company can access private data, how much control do you really have over what you share online? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Govee’s new LED Lightwall comes with its own self-standing frame
Govee has announced an upgraded version of its hanging Curtain Lights Pro that can instead be used nearly anywhere you have access to an outlet or large battery. At $449.99, Govee’s new Lightwall is more than twice as expensive as the $199.99 Curtain Lights Pro, but comes with more LEDs in a denser array and a self-standing aluminum frame that can be assembled in 10 to 15 minutes without the need for any tools.
When hung from its stand the Lightwall measures 7.9 feet wide and 5.3 feet tall and features 1,536 color-changing LEDs spaced about 1.96 inches apart in a 48 x 32 grid. It’s water-resistant, and with the ability to refresh at up to 35fps the Lightwall almost sounds like it could be used as a personal backyard Jumbotron, but it’s not designed for watching TV or movies.
The Lightwall instead connects to Govee’s Home app where you can select from over 200 preset scenes and simple animations, choose from 10 different music modes that generate lighting patterns matched to beats, or synchronize its colors to other Govee lighting products to create a cohesive mood.
The app can also use AI to create custom animated GIFs from simple text prompts, or you can take matters into your own hands and create custom designs by sketching in the app with your finger and stacking up to 30 layers of doodles. The Lightwall is smart home compatible and supports Matter, too, so in addition to managing it through Govee’s app you can control it using voice commands through smart devices with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
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