How to stop your phone listening to your conversations

Aug 16, 2023

Technology can tune in to your chats

Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox

We have more newsletters

Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox

We have more newsletters

How many times have you been chatting about a topic - only to then see ads related to it appear on your phone? While some put it down to coincidence, others have the sneaking suspicion that their phone may be listening in. Well, it appears those with suspicions could be right.

Technology can, in fact, tune in to your chats. Dublin Live reported that the practice is a common trick called ultrasonic cross-device tracking that's supposedly being used by advertisers. If the idea of this is uncomfortable and you are worried about it, do not fret - there is a way to turn it off so you can't be tracked so easily.

According to NordVPN, ultrasonic cross-device tracking sees apps use ultrasonic "audio beacons" which can't be heard by the human ear to "link all the devices you own to track your behaviour and location". They are then picked up to be used by the likes of advertisers.

Should the TV licence be scrapped? Have your say here

As you are probably aware, a lot of apps ask for permission to use your microphone. Some find this scary and many others haven't a clue how to prevent it.

One way to limit how much it can happen is to go to the 'privacy' option in your phone settings. From there you can see what apps can access your microphone and limit it if you choose to. Other options are to get a secure browser like Brave, Tor, or DuckDuckGo or download a VPN which encrypts your online activity.

NordVPN's Adrianus Warmenhoven said: "While it's impossible to stop the ultrasonic beacons working, you can reduce the chance of your smartphone listening for them by simply restricting unnecessary permissions you have granted the apps on your device."