Smartphone users have multitudes of apps taking up space on their devices. A majority of the apps will request information about you as well as the system you're using. Typically your name, email, and at times your physical address are required. With the power generated by smartphones, most apps are able to obtain the precise location of the user from the phone. There are apps that will ask permission for access to the phone camera or microphone as well. What do they need that for?

None of this can be done without the Smartphone user's consent, but it is still surprising the level of access that apps are able to reach with your personal data. Even with app privacy policies in line, users generally aren't aware of what they have actually consented to. Each app has its own varied required permissions and app privacy policies, but there are factors that make things much more complex.

• There are those apps that are self-contained, but there are a good many apps out there that need additional apps or require a link to third-party sites in order that they can function properly including additional levels with gaming or installing specific themes.

• Every added app is also going to have its own app privacy policy or may not have one at all and it should never be presumed that the beginning app privacy policy is going to cover the added-on app that has been downloaded from their site. Usually, though, you will see a disclaimer to this effect.

App Privacy Complexities

Basically, you know where you stand if you're dealing with one app and one app privacy policy. But when you start to plug in additional apps into that single app, things become very complex and the privacy is then not so clear, especially with third-party apps.

It seems a growing number of apps that are requesting risky permissions from users are related to third-party apps. With these apps, usually normal app function is disrupted by ads or there are links to a third-party app as opposed to normal function such as a purchase link for a site to a seller.

Tips On Guarding Your Privacy

There are things that you need to do prior to installing an app that will help in guarding your privacy.

• Read over the app permissions that are required.

• Consider what the reason is for the app permission. If it seems excessive, try to reason if it may be that they are simply trying to obtain personal data.

• Read the app privacy policy. If they don't have one or if it is not clear where the data is going to go, don't install.

Protecting your personal information

• Read the app privacy policy for each social site and with every app you use.

• Ideally, you don't want to sign onto an app by using a social site account. If you do, see what data that app is going to be getting from that site.

• When setting up a social site, be limiting about how much information you provide for your public profile.

• Actively make a point of checking which apps are using what data from which social accounts.

In this day and age, apps are really convenient and make things easy, but it's also a sure-fire way to lose personal information to the wrong place. You need to be diligent and selective when signing on to a new app and make sure you truly understand the permissions and the app privacy policies thoroughly. Guarding your personal information should always be first and foremost.