Has it ever happened to you that you talk to a friend about coffee and the next moment coffee advertisements start appearing on the phone? Or you open the phone while thinking about something and the same thing appears on the screen? This is not a mere coincidence. A special feature—or flaw—of your smartphone is working behind this. Yes, your phone is listening to everything you say, and all this is happening through microphone access. But the good news is that by changing some settings you can control your privacy. Let’s understand this spying game and find its solution.

How does the phone become a spy?

Smartphone is an important part of our life today, but it can also become a threat to our privacy. Technology expert Ramesh Agarwal explains, “The phone’s microphone remains active all the time, and many apps are given access to it. What you say can reach advertisers by converting it into data.” This is the reason why after your conversation, the content related to it appears in front of you. It may sound filmy, but it is a reality.
Microphone access is the real villain
Most of the apps present in the phone have access to the microphone. From social media to messaging, these apps can record your voice. A cyber security expert warned, “If this access is left uncontrolled, your private conversations can go into the wrong hands.” But there is no need to panic. You can control it. Just a little caution and changes in the settings are needed.
Change settings, save privacy
Follow these easy steps to prevent your phone from becoming a spy. First of all go to the phone settings. Here choose the option of ‘Security and Privacy’. Scroll a little and the ‘Privacy’ section will appear. Click on ‘Permission Manager’ inside it. Now you will get a list of all the apps that have microphone access. Tap on each app and change the settings.

For example, if you open YouTube’s settings, you will find an option to disable microphone access. If you want, you can also choose the option of ‘Ask Every Time’. This will make the app ask for your permission every time before using the microphone. A user said, “After making this change, the flood of advertisements has reduced. Now it feels like the phone is really mine.”

What will be the effect?

Changing the settings will not affect the daily work of your phone. Apps will continue to run as before, but their listening power will be limited. Technology expert Sanjay Mehta says, “This small step strengthens your digital privacy. Access of all apps should be turned off except for the essential ones.” This will not only stop spying, but can also reduce battery and data consumption.
Privacy is now in your hands

In today’s era, smartphone is our companion, but it is important to take care that this friendship does not turn into spying. You can protect your privacy by controlling microphone access. A common user expressed his relief and said, “Earlier I used to feel that the phone was peeping into my mind. Now I am relieved after changing the settings.” So what are you waiting for? Check your phone and make it a spy friend today.

Conclusion: Vigilance is the only security

Mobile spying is not a new thing, but it is in our hands to stop it. With the right settings and a little awareness, you can stop your phone from listening to you. Next time when you say something and the same thing is not seen on the phone, then understand that you have won the spying game. Make your privacy a priority—it is your right.