2024-08-27 14:34:35
Experts already know the answer to the question of whether websites or apps are the best choice for your security and privacy; the majority will lean towards websites on one of their smartphone’s browsers.
This shouldn’t discourage you from using apps. But if you only do something on your phone occasionally — shopping on a new shopping site or researching home insurance — it’s probably smarter and safer to use the company’s website rather than its app.
Why do websites usually win over apps?
Once you download a mobile app to your phone or tablet, manufacturers have the ability to collect information that websites typically can’t easily obtain, including your approximate location, your battery level, and what other devices, like an Xbox, are connected to your Wi-Fi network. Apps can also pass this information on to advertising companies and data brokers.
Well-designed apps generally do a good job of protecting your security and privacy, but it’s not always possible to distinguish good apps from bad ones.
Tracking on the web is harder
Compared to apps, websites can’t spy on you or track you as easily, or access confidential information without permission.
Major web browsers—including Apple’s Safari, Mozilla’s Firefox, and Microsoft’s Edge—have some of the best security engineers in the world. Their security measures apply to every website you visit. And updates are frequent to ensure your browsers are as secure as possible.
Compared to phone apps, browsers also offer more options to enhance your privacy, including blocking targeted ads. Third-party IT companies can also audit the security of browsers, websites, and information-sharing activities, which apps don’t allow.
Not everything is equal everywhere…
If you use Firefox, Edge, or Safari, a website is probably safer than an app because these browsers automatically block many of the technologies used to build records about your interests and activities. Google’s Chrome, on the other hand, is considered adware because it generally allows these tracking technologies (like cookies) that you have to turn off in your settings.
The traps of the web
As we know, the Internet has its share of traps; for example, spam links that lead you to fake web pages, to a fake website of your bank or any site that is eyeing dollars, your dollars.
In such cases, mobile apps are generally more secure than their website counterparts, because it is easier to create a fake website than a fake app, and Apple and Google impose strict restrictions on app coding, while not all websites are monitored.
In closing…
- For an infrequently used service, go to the website;
- If you are using an Android phone and Chrome, consider installing Firefox or another browser;
- Also consider deleting apps that you don’t use regularly.
Happy browsing!
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