In December 2024, the Federal Trade Commission caught a data broker called Mobilewalla holding more than 500 million advertising IDs paired with people’s precise location — and selling the ability to draw a circle around a building and get a list of every phone that had been inside it.
Super helpful information, and thanks so much for providing it! I tried ADP and it’s requiring me to remove my iPad from the account because it can’t be updated to the version necessary. But it is updated to the latest IOS version. Removing it isn’t ideal for syncing reasons. Is there a work around that you know of?
Thank you for this. My phone will not allow me to turn on Advanced Data Protection. After beach balling for a couple of minutes a window opens that says Advanced Data Protection Not Available, Check your network connection and try again.
I did. My network connection seems fine.
I had already accomplished many of the thing you suggested, such as turning off Apple Advertising and denying apps permission to access my location. If you published this advice in the past, maybe that's where I go the ideas to shut these things off.
My bad phone habit has been rarely shutting it down completely. I'll be doing that way more often.
Solved the problem. Apple apparently didn't like that my phone and my desktop, a Mac mini, were associated with each other. Once I deleted the mini it let me turn it on.
do you have a guide for the latest Samsung phone too? or can point to that info?
I have an Android Version out earlier this week:
https://theramm.transparencycascade.org/p/harden-your-android-the-settings
And it is still getting attention, so that is probably the best place to post info on the latest Samsung Phone details.
BTW: Thanks for reading and for working to help others.
amazing!!! this is truly great info.
stupid algorithm doesn't push people i follow. gonna pass this on to my hubby . we are a mixed tech household lol. TYSM!!!
Very useful information. Thanks, Mark!
Super helpful information, and thanks so much for providing it! I tried ADP and it’s requiring me to remove my iPad from the account because it can’t be updated to the version necessary. But it is updated to the latest IOS version. Removing it isn’t ideal for syncing reasons. Is there a work around that you know of?
Thank you for this. My phone will not allow me to turn on Advanced Data Protection. After beach balling for a couple of minutes a window opens that says Advanced Data Protection Not Available, Check your network connection and try again.
I did. My network connection seems fine.
I had already accomplished many of the thing you suggested, such as turning off Apple Advertising and denying apps permission to access my location. If you published this advice in the past, maybe that's where I go the ideas to shut these things off.
My bad phone habit has been rarely shutting it down completely. I'll be doing that way more often.
Thanks again.
Solved the problem. Apple apparently didn't like that my phone and my desktop, a Mac mini, were associated with each other. Once I deleted the mini it let me turn it on.