Introduction
Ride sharing apps have changed the way we get around, but they’ve also introduced some privacy and security concerns. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to protect yourself.
Upgrade your phone to the latest version.
The best way to protect yourself is to keep your phone updated. The latest versions of iOS and Android are more secure, so it’s not just a good idea–it’s also the law. In fact, Apple has been fined by regulators in China for the company’s slow pace of updating devices with new security patches (a problem that has plagued Android too). You can check which version number your device is running on by opening Settings > General > About, then tapping Software Update if prompted.
If you’re still running an older operating system like iOS 11 or Android 8 Oreo and haven’t updated yet, there are several reasons why: firstly because newer versions come with new features that may not be compatible with some apps; secondly because sometimes they might break things that work perfectly fine now; thirdly because sometimes they require more storage space than previous versions did (which could mean upgrading from 16GB to 32GB). But all those things aside…the most important reason why everyone should upgrade their phones ASAP? Security updates!
You know how we said earlier that hackers target outdated software? Well guess what happens when attackers find themselves facing newer versions? They move onto something else! And since many people aren’t keeping up-to-date with patches for their mobile devices (or even computers), this means fewer opportunities for hackers who have already found ways into these systems through other means such as phishing emails or exploiting old vulnerabilities like Heartbleed.”
Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security feature that requires you to enter a second form of identification, such as a code sent to your phone, before you can access an account. It’s recommended that you enable this feature on all accounts that support it.
There are many 2FA apps available–you can find the best ones here–but we recommend using Google Authenticator or Authy because they’re free and easy to use. Once installed on your phone or tablet, these apps will generate codes for each service that supports 2FA automatically whenever needed (as long as they’re connected).
Delete unused apps from your device.
Delete unused apps from your device.
This is a no-brainer, but it’s also an easy way to make sure that you’re not giving up any unnecessary personal information. If an app doesn’t do what it says on the tin and doesn’t provide any value in exchange for your data, then delete it!
Turn on location services for only the apps you use.
You may be using location services without even realizing it. Location services are used by apps to track your location, but you can disable them for individual apps on your phone. To do so:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and tap on “Location Services” at the top of your screen (it’s usually under “Privacy”).
- Select an app from this list and then toggle “Location” off. You’ll see a red box around any app that uses your location data, so if there are any gray boxes in this section of settings–those are apps that aren’t currently using GPS tracking features or Wi-Fi triangulation to determine where you are right now.
Add a passcode or fingerprint lock on your phone.
If you have not already, set up a passcode or fingerprint lock on your phone. This will make it much more difficult for someone else to access your data if they get hold of it.
To set up a passcode:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or Android device, then tap “General”.
- Select “Passcode” from the list of options that appears at the top of the screen (it may also be titled “Passcode Lock”). If this option isn’t available on older versions of iOS or Android OS, look instead for something like “Lock Screen”.
- Enter an appropriate four-digit numeric code (not necessarily one that only contains numbers) when prompted; repeat this process again if asked to do so by iOS or Android OS.* To prevent people from guessing what number sequence might be used by others in general (and thus making it easier for them), try using random combinations such as birthdays plus years spent together as couple with each other
Don’t take pictures of yourself with strangers and don’t put them online.
It may seem obvious, but you should never take pictures of yourself with strangers and then post them online. The same goes for photos taken in public places, like restaurants or bars. Even if you’re not recognizable in the photo, someone could still use it to identify you later on.
It’s also important not to include photos of other people in your ride-sharing profile or social media posts — even if they consented at the time (which they probably didn’t). If they haven’t expressly stated that they want their picture shared publicly, then don’t share it!
Finally: be careful about where and how much personal information you share on dating sites; this is especially true if those sites require users’ real names as part of their profiles and search functionality
Practice good password hygiene by using strong passwords and changing them frequently.
Password security is a crucial part of protecting your privacy on rideshare apps. Passwords are the first line of defense against hackers, who can use them to access your personal information and even steal your identity.
To keep yourself safe, follow these password best practices:
- Use strong passwords that are at least 8 characters long and don’t reuse them across multiple accounts (e.g., don’t use the same password for both Facebook and Lyft).
- Change passwords frequently; aim for once every three months or so, but no less than once per year if possible.
- Don’t use personal information like birthdays or pet names as part of a password–and never write down passwords anywhere!
You can protect yourself when using ride sharing apps
- Use a VPN. A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in another location. This can be used to protect your privacy, as well as to get around geographic restrictions on content like Netflix or Hulu. If you don’t already have one, we recommend NordVPN because it has more than 5,000 servers worldwide and offers up to six simultaneous connections at no additional cost–and its user interface is simple enough for any novice to use.
- Use a password manager. Passwords are the cornerstone of online security; they let you access sensitive accounts like email, bank accounts, and social media profiles without having someone else’s login info stolen by hackers or identity thieves who might try guessing at random combinations until they find something that works (or just buy them from someone else). Since we’re all terrible about remembering long strings of random characters ourselves–even if we think we’re not!–it’s best practice nowadays for most people who use the internet regularly (which means everyone)
Conclusion
Ride sharing apps are a great way to get around, but they also present some security risks. By following these tips, you can make sure that your ride sharing app is as safe and secure as possible.
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