Some applications are consulted daily if not at any time of the day. Facebook and Instagram are the perfect example. However, this innocuous action can turn into a real threat. Indeed, these applications and social networks can spy on you without you realizing it. Here is the trick that will prevent this from happening.
Consulting popular applications such as Facebook and Instagram can carry some dangers, especially when it comes to your sensitive data. Explanation.
Over the years, this has turned into a habit, not to say a reflex. Indeed, the first thing that comes to mind when we take our smartphone, is to consult the news feed of many social networks, especially those concerning Facebook and Instagram. Keeping up with the latest trends, rumors or other indiscretions has become a real fun hobby. Nevertheless, this practice can be dangerous without you realizing it. For good reason, Facebook and Instagram use built-in browsers that allow users to open links while continuing to use the applications in question. A feature that allows these popular apps to spy on you, among other things.
Built-in browsers can spy on your internet activity
This is nothing new, but the majority of social media applications, Facebook and Instagram in particular, have their own built-in browser. A feature that may seem innocuous at first glance but is no less dangerous.
Indeed, according to cybersecurity researcher Felix Kraus, the use of built-in browsers would allow you to spy on and record all your activity on the web, especially on iOS devices. Indeed, by allowing users to open website links without having to leave these applications, JavaScript code is injected into the pages visited, without your consent or that of the website. In this way, built-in browsers can spy on and record all the interactions made on the pages consulted, but also the text entered, in the image passwords or bank details, putting the privacy of each user at risk, as relayed by the scientific magazine Futura-sciences.
Assertions quickly denied by Meta, Facebook’s parent company, which claimed that the JavaScript code put in place, was in no way used for targeted advertising campaigns or to monitor the activity of any user.
The trick to avoid being spied on by Facebook and Instagram
Despite the denials and to avoid any type of surveillance or spying, there is a fairly simple solution that will allow you to consult links from Facebook and Instagram safely.
This trick can be applied on both Android and iOS. To do this and when accessing a link or clicking on an advertisement while on Facebook or Instagram, You will only have to tap on the menu icon represented by three vertical dots in the upper right corner, and choose the option “Open with browser”. In this way, the web link will open in a browser outside the application.
In addition, and if you do not have this possibility, you can always copy the web address of the link in question and paste it later into the browser of your choice. Finally, and to permanently escape any attempt at surveillance or spying, do not hesitate to opt for the web versions of Facebook and Instagram.
As you can see, using popular apps can be problematic, especially when it comes to private data. To avoid any risk of surveillance and espionage, do not hesitate to opt for this trick as simple as effective.
See also It is now possible to spy on your contacts on WhatsApp to know who and what they are talking about
