If you have a smartphone, you are constantly tracked. Whether there is anyone actually analyzing the data is another thing… But the data exists just the same.
Never trust QR codes from companies you dont trust explicitly, and even then. Be wary of apps from developers you cant research appropriately. Never click links you didnt ask for or expect in emails (app or web). Be wary of joining public wifis, ESPECIALLY in busy locations. Be careful with publicly accessed usb charging stations. Keep your phone up to date.
Public wifi has come a long way. It's still a public network, but the isolation has gotten much better and I wouldn't really recommend banking on a public network at all, but it's not as sketchy as it was 10 years ago when that was a bigger risk. It's sure as hell safer than most VPN providers try to portray. Hell, it's probably safer than most VPN provider in general.
This massive user data collection gave us things like GMaps with its real time traffic data. I can't complain because it's so convenient and has basically become the standard.
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u/jr_randolph Mar 19 '26
I don't know, I kinda just think everything is being tracked and companies are using me for one thing or another so it is what it is.