Mental health apps may not be as private as you think
This past year has been unlike any other, filled with stress, anxiety and sadness for millions of us. So, perhaps it s not surprising that many people are downloading mental health apps for support.
Posted at 5:37 AM, May 10, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-10 08:52:01-04
(WXYZ) â This past year has been unlike any other, filled with stress, anxiety and sadness for millions of us. So, perhaps it s not surprising that many people are downloading mental health apps for support.
Consumer Reports is warning people that sharing deeply personal, sensitive information on some virtual platforms might not be as private as you think.
Apple s new tracking setting means more privacy for users with one big drawback
By: Erica Greenway , Consumer Reports
Posted at 5:00 AM, May 06, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-06 09:07:28-04
Sometimes it feels like all you have to do is
think about something, and you ll see an ad for it on your phone a few minutes later.
While it s not quite that extreme, companies are able to get all kinds of information from you based on what you search online and the apps you use.
If you don t want companies to know everything about you, a new setting Apple just rolled out could help.
Apple's new software update allows iPhone users to keep apps from collecting their personal data and then sharing or selling it to other companies, which then use the information to send targeted ads.
Got an iPhone? Here’s what Apple’s new privacy update means for you
Latest software update requires apps to get your permission to track your data
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SAN ANTONIO – Apple iPhone and iPad users now have more privacy power at their fingertips. The tech giant rolled out its new software update that includes more than new Siri voices and emojis. It also has a major change to its privacy policy in a feature called App Tracking Transparency.
With the ios 14.5 update, users will begin to see prompts on their screens when they open apps asking for permission to track their data. That information is often shared or sold to companies that then use it to target ads.
Why mental health apps aren’t as private as you might think
Jodi Mohrmann, Managing Editor of special projects
Consumer Reports
Updated:
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The past year has been filled with stress, anxiety and sadness for millions of us, and many people are downloading mental health apps for support. But Consumer Reports warns, sharing deeply personal and sensitive information on some virtual platforms might not be as private as you think.
Mental health apps offer a range of options from guided meditations to appointments with a licensed therapist but Consumer Reports says they aren’t always covered by the same medical privacy laws, like HIPAA, that protect the information you share with a doctor in person. And even when HIPAA rules do apply, they may not cover all the data an app collects.