What companies know about you and how to limit it

The data economy

You may not pay with money when you use a free app or browse a website, but you are paying with something far more personal: your data.

In today’s data-driven economy, companies collect vast amounts of information about you: who you are, what you like, where you go, and even how you feel. This information is then used to personalize ads, shape your experience, or sold to third parties. Most of the time, this happens without your clear consent.

This article breaks down what companies know about you, how they gather that data, and most importantly how you can limit their access.

1. What kind of data are companies collecting?

Here’s what many digital companies track:

a. Basic Identity Data

Full name, email address, phone number
Age, gender, nationality
IP address and device information

b. Behavioral Data

Browsing habits
Click patterns
Time spent on pages

c. Location Data

GPS data from mobile phones
Wi-Fi or IP-based geolocation
Check-ins and tagged locations

d. Financial & Transactional Data

Credit card details (via e-commerce)
Purchase history
In-app transactions

e. Social & Emotional Data

Likes, shares, comments
Sentiment analysis based on your posts
Voice or facial data (e.g., from smart assistants or photo apps)

2. How do companies collect all this?

Companies collect your data using a mix of visible and invisible methods:

Cookies & Trackers: Tiny files stored in your browser to track your activity.
Terms of Service: Many users click “Accept” without reading what permissions they grant.
Mobile Apps: Some apps request permissions they don’t need like a flashlight app accessing your contacts.
APIs & Third-Party Integrations: Data is often shared across platforms.
Smart Devices: Voice assistants, smart TVs, and wearable tech all collect behavioral and sometimes biometric data.

3. Why do they collect it?

The short answer: money and influence.

Targeted Advertising: Knowing your interests helps advertisers target you with products you’re more likely to buy.
Behavioral Profiling: To create detailed user personas.
Content Personalization: To keep you engaged longer (think Netflix, YouTube, or social feeds).
Data Resale: In some cases, companies sell your data to brokers or third parties.

4. The hidden risks of oversharing

Even if you think you have “nothing to hide”, oversharing can have consequences:

Identity Theft: Data leaks can expose sensitive personal information.
Manipulation: Algorithms can shape your opinions by showing you curated content.
Loss of Control: Once your data is out there, it’s nearly impossible to get it back.

5. How to limit what companies know about you

It’s not easy to live completely off-grid but you can minimize exposure with these smart moves:

a. Adjust Privacy Settings

Take time to review the privacy settings of every app, browser, and device you use.

Start with:

Google (My Activity → Data & Personalization)
Facebook (Settings → Privacy Checkup)
Apple ID → Privacy Settings
Android → Permissions Manager

Red more: How to Protect Your Personal Data Online

Secure Browsers in 2025

b. Use Private Browsing Tools

Switch to browsers and extensions that block trackers.

Tools to try:

Brave Browser or Mozilla Firefox
DuckDuckGo search engine
uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, or NoScript

c. Limit App Permissions

Don’t give apps access to features they don’t need.

Examples:

Deny camera/microphone access unless necessary
Revoke location permissions from apps you don’t use
Disable ad tracking in your device settings

d. Say No to “Free” Services When Possible

If a product is free, you are the product. Consider alternatives that respect privacy.