How to Stop Apps and Websites From Tracking You
To stop apps from tracking you, turn off ad tracking and tighten location, microphone and contacts permissions in your phone settings, then switch to a browser that blocks third-party cookies and ad trackers by default. You will not get to zero — some tracking is baked into how the internet works — but you can cut the noise dramatically in about 20 minutes. Below is the exact order to do it on iPhone, Android and the web, plus how the Getshure app handles tracker blocking for you on an ongoing basis.
Why apps and websites track you in the first place
Tracking is how most free apps and websites make money. Advertisers pay to know which ads you saw, what you tapped, which store you walked into and what else is on your phone. Some tracking is useful (a weather app needs your location). A lot of it is not — your flashlight app does not need your contacts, and a recipe site does not need to follow you across the internet for weeks.
The good news: most of this is controlled by a handful of switches. You do not need to be technical. You just need to know where to look.
Step 1: Turn off ad tracking on your phone
This is the single biggest switch. It tells apps they are not allowed to use the advertising ID your phone hands out.
On iPhone
- Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
- Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track. New apps can no longer ask.
- Go back to Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising and turn off Personalized Ads.
On Android
- Open Settings → Security & privacy (or Privacy) → Ads.
- Tap Delete advertising ID. On newer phones this replaces your ad ID with a string of zeros, which blocks most cross-app tracking.
- If you only see Reset advertising ID, reset it and then turn on Opt out of Ads Personalization.
Step 2: Clean up app permissions
Most apps ask for more than they need. Go through them once and cut off anything that does not make sense.
The permissions that leak the most
- Location — set to "While Using" or "Ask Next Time" for anything that is not maps, weather or rideshare.
- Microphone — only for apps that record you (calls, voice memos, meetings). A shopping app does not need it.
- Contacts — rarely necessary. Turn off unless you use the app to message people.
- Photos — choose Selected Photos (iPhone) or Allow limited access (Android) instead of "All."
- Bluetooth — used to detect nearby devices and even beacons in stores. Keep off unless you use headphones or a smartwatch.
On iPhone
Open Settings → Privacy & Security. Tap each category (Location Services, Microphone, Contacts, Photos, Bluetooth) and review every app in the list. If you do not remember why an app would need it, turn it off. The app will ask again if it truly needs it.
On Android
Open Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → Permission manager. Review the same categories. Android also has a handy Privacy dashboard that shows which apps used your camera, microphone or location in the last 24 hours. If something surprises you, revoke it.
For a deeper walkthrough, see our guide on checking app permissions.
Step 3: Delete the apps you do not use
An app you have not opened in six months is still sitting there, often phoning home in the background. The simplest privacy move is to uninstall it.
- iPhone: Settings → General → iPhone Storage. Apps are sorted by size and "last used" date. Delete anything you do not recognize or have not opened recently.
- Android: Settings → Apps → See all apps. Tap the three-dot menu and sort by "Last used." Uninstall what you do not need.
Rule of thumb: if you have not opened it in 90 days, you probably will not miss it.
Step 4: Stop websites from following you around
Phone apps are only half the story. Websites track you using cookies, fingerprinting and third-party scripts. Browser choice matters.
Switch to a browser that blocks trackers by default
Safari (iPhone and Mac), Firefox and Brave block most third-party trackers out of the box. Chrome does less by default. You do not have to abandon Chrome, but at least turn on its tracking protections.
Tighten your browser settings
- Safari on iPhone: Settings → Apps → Safari → turn on Prevent Cross-Site Tracking and Hide IP Address (from Trackers).
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies → Block third-party cookies. Also turn on Send a "Do Not Track" request.
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection → set to Strict.
- Clear cookies and site data every few weeks. It logs you out of things, but it also wipes the trackers that have piled up.
Say no to cookie banners that matter
When a site asks you to accept cookies, look for Reject all or Necessary only. If the only button is "Accept," look for a small gear or "Manage preferences" link and turn off advertising and analytics there.
Step 5: Lock down your email
Marketing emails often contain a tiny invisible image that tells the sender when you opened the message, where you were and what device you used. You can stop that.
- iPhone Mail: Settings → Apps → Mail → Privacy Protection → turn on Protect Mail Activity.
- Gmail on the web: Settings → General → Images → choose Ask before displaying external images.
- Unsubscribe from lists you do not read instead of just deleting. Fewer emails means fewer trackers.
Step 6: Reduce what data brokers already have
Even if you lock your phone down today, your name, address, phone number and relatives are probably already listed on dozens of people-search sites. Those sites feed scammers and marketers. You can file removal requests one by one — it is tedious but free — or have a tool do it for you. See our walkthrough on removing your personal information from the internet.
How the Getshure app handles tracker blocking for you
Doing all of the above by hand works, but it is a one-time effort against a problem that keeps coming back. New apps install new trackers. Websites rotate their tracking scripts. Your ad ID gets regenerated. That is where the Getshure app helps.
Every GETSHURE protection plan includes the Getshure app on iPhone and Android. Among other features, it provides tracker blocking and safer browsing on public Wi-Fi, so trackers embedded in websites and ads get stopped before they load — you do not have to hunt through settings every month. The app also includes a browsing-history eraser, a breach check for your email and passwords, a phone security score with specific steps to improve it, and data broker removal requests sent on your behalf.
No app can block every tracker or every data leak — some tracking is baked into how apps and sites work — but the Getshure app catches a lot more than most people will catch on their own, and it keeps doing it in the background.
- Read what the app does and does not do: The Getshure App: What It Does and What It Can't Do.
- Android download: Getshure on Google Play.
- iPhone: use the download link in your GETSHURE order confirmation email. Then sign in with your order email to turn protection on.
Plans start at $9.99, $29.99 or $79.99 today depending on the plan you pick, then $29.99 every 30 days until you cancel. You can cancel in one step at getshure.com/cancel, and every plan charge is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, no reason needed.
Read the book: "Don't Get Screwed by AI"
If you want the bigger picture — why tracking matters, how your data ends up in scam call lists, and the plain-English habits that keep you out of trouble — pick up our hardcover Don't Get Screwed by AI ($29, free US shipping on orders of $40+). It covers AI-powered scams, data risks and the small daily settings that protect you across phone, email and the web. It is written for regular adults, not engineers. Ships in 3–5 business days after your order ships.
Your 20-minute tracker cleanup checklist
- Turn off ad tracking on your phone (iPhone Tracking setting, Android advertising ID).
- Review Location, Microphone, Contacts, Photos and Bluetooth permissions for every app.
- Delete apps you have not opened in 90 days.
- Turn on cross-site tracking protection in your browser and block third-party cookies.
- Set your email to not auto-load remote images.
- Start removal requests at the big data brokers (or let the Getshure app do it).
- Install the Getshure app to keep tracker blocking on in the background.
Why Getshure is a straightforward choice
GETSHURE is a small American publisher operated by MetaWise Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware company (file number 10336625), based at 11772 W Sample Rd, Ste 103, Ofc 240, Coral Springs, FL 33065. You can call us at (754) 812-1679 Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern, or email contact@getshure.com. Charges show on your statement as GETSHURE.COM.
Before you buy, you can verify the company record, our US address and phone, and read the written refund policy and subscription terms. That transparency is the point — you do not have to take anything on faith.
Ready to cut the tracking?
- Get the Getshure app on Android or check your GETSHURE order email for the iPhone link.
- Prefer the book first? Order Don't Get Screwed by AI.
- Questions? Call (754) 812-1679 or email contact@getshure.com. We answer.
Frequently asked questions
Will blocking trackers break my apps or websites?
Usually no. Most apps keep working fine without tracking permission — they just cannot build an advertising profile on you. A small number of sites may show more generic ads or ask you to log in again after you clear cookies. You can always re-enable a specific permission if an app you trust truly needs it.
Does turning off my advertising ID stop all tracking?
No. It stops most cross-app advertising tracking, which is the biggest category, but apps can still track behavior inside their own service, and websites can still use cookies and fingerprinting. Combining phone settings, browser settings and tracker blocking (like the Getshure app provides) catches far more than any single step alone.
Is the Getshure app a one-time purchase or a subscription?
The Getshure app is included with a GETSHURE protection plan. New plans are $9.99, $29.99 or $79.99 today depending on the plan, then $29.99 every 30 days until you cancel. You get a reminder email about 3 days before each renewal, you can cancel in one step at getshure.com/cancel, and every charge is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How do I cancel if I change my mind?
One step. Use the cancel link in your confirmation or renewal email, go to getshure.com/cancel and enter your order email, or email contact@getshure.com. Cancelling stops future renewals right away. If you also want a refund on a charge within the last 30 days, say so in the email and we will process it within 2 business days.
Can I check if my email or passwords have already leaked?
Yes. The Getshure app includes a breach check that shows whether your email or passwords appear in known data breaches, and you can read our guide on how to check if your email or password was leaked for a manual method. If something shows up, change that password immediately and turn on two-factor authentication.
This guide is general information for US readers, not legal or financial advice. If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Questions about a GETSHURE order: contact@getshure.com or (754) 812-1679.