Smartphone privacy: How to manage app microphone and location permissions

Smartphone users are advised to conduct digital privacy reviews to manage app permissions for microphones, cameras, and location services. While research from Northeastern University found no evidence of Android apps secretly transmitting audio, many popular applications request microphone access that is not essential to their core functions.

To protect privacy, users can manually revoke permissions through device settings. On iPhone, this is managed under ‘Settings’ > ‘Privacy & Security’ > ‘Microphone’. Android users can adjust these via ‘Settings’ > ‘Apps’ or the ‘Privacy Dashboard’. Experts recommend limiting location access to ‘only while using the app’ and ensuring software is kept up to date to prevent security vulnerabilities.

To further mitigate risks, it is recommended to download software exclusively from official app stores to avoid malware and to carefully read terms of service before granting access to sensitive hardware.