SAFETY CHECK: What is tracking you, and what can you control?

Phones, TVs and cars can collect information about where we go or what we do. Free Wi-Fi and the apps we use can collect information too. You do not have to master every privacy setting in one sitting. Start with the services you use most and ask what access you are giving them.

Your phone: On an iPhone, open Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. Select each app and decide whether it needs your location. For an app that only needs your general area, turn off Precise Location. On Android, open Settings → Location → App location permissions, or search Settings for “location permissions.” Check which apps have access all the time, only while in use or not at all. Where available, review each app’s precise-location setting.

People and saved trips: On an iPhone, open Find My → People to see whom you are sharing your location with. In Google Maps, tap your profile picture and check Your Timeline to review its settings and saved trips. App permissions and location sharing are separate settings, so check both.

Free Wi-Fi: Before accepting Wi-Fi at an airport, restaurant or hotel, pause at the sign-in page. What are you agreeing to? Is it asking for an email address, permission to send marketing messages or consent to collect information beyond what is needed to provide internet access? Joining a network may give its operator information about your device and connection, but the terms and choices differ from place to place. Read the boxes before you check them, especially if a marketing option is bundled with the Wi-Fi agreement.

We ask these questions in our own work. When Herbert and I work with geofenced audiences, we look for data that has been collected through a clear, double opt-in process. To us, meaningful consent requires people to understand that they are agreeing and to have a real opportunity to choose.

Your smart TV: Open Settings and look for Privacy, Advertising, Viewing Information or Smart TV Experience. Review options for viewing-data collection and personalized ads. Samsung calls one viewing-data feature Viewing Information Services; Roku TV owners can look under Settings → Privacy → Smart TV Experience. Check any streaming device and streaming accounts separately.

Your car: If your vehicle has a companion app or connected services, check the privacy settings in both the car and the manufacturer’s app or website. Look for Location, Driving Data and Data Sharing. Review who can see the vehicle’s location and whether you enrolled in a driving-behavior or insurance program. Available controls vary by vehicle, and turning off a connected feature may affect a service you use.

A few more places to look: Check location access for weather, shopping, social media and photo apps. Review family safety apps and location tags on public posts. Look through accounts linked to devices you no longer use.

The practical rule is to give each service only the access it needs for a feature you choose to use. Check again after a major update or when you sign up for something new.