Your phone's camera is running all the time and spying on you - stop it immediately

Most users of Android-based smartphones are unaware that the camera app on the device continues to run and consume valuable resources even when it is not in active use. In the "ANDROID MAN" channel, they explain in a video that default settings give the camera complete freedom of action, which leads to hidden activity, consumption of data packages, and accelerated battery drainage.

"Note that by default, the camera app is allowed almost everything," warns the channel operator. "It can run in the background without any restriction, utilize your internet traffic, and holds many permissions - without most users even being aware of it."

Disabling "Usage and diagnostics"

In the "ANDROID MAN" channel, they recommend first disabling the "Usage and diagnostics" setting, which is found under the Google services category on the device. According to the guide, this setting is mainly used for sending statistical data to developers for crash analysis and system improvement. For the average user, it does not provide direct benefit in daily life, and therefore those who wish to reduce background activity and data collection can turn it off without fear of harming the ongoing functioning of the device.

Blocking "Personalization with general data"

The next setting presented in the video is "Personalization with general data". Google uses this mechanism to allow various apps, including Maps, Gmail, and Chrome, to share internal information among themselves. In the channel, they explain that this information is used, among other things, for adjusting targeted advertisements. However, it is worth knowing that turning it off may also affect the device's ability to offer you recommendations and personalized content within these apps.

The hidden tip: deleting the advertising ID

The third stage in the "ANDROID MAN" channel's guide concerns the device's advertising division. Inside the ads menu, Google assigns each phone a unique "Advertising ID", which serves as a digital fingerprint through which the system learns your interests on the web. The main tip revealed in the video is not just to reset the ID, but to delete it completely from the system. In the channel, they note that performing this action may lead to a noticeable decrease in the level of annoyance from persistent ads on the web and make the remaining ads completely random. It is important to manage expectations: deleting the ID is not an "ad blocker" that will make physical ad spaces in apps disappear, but it will mainly prevent them from being targeted and focused on you personally.

Summary of action steps:

1. Access to Google menu: enter the main settings of the smartphone, scroll down and go to the Google category.

2. Disabling usage and diagnostics: go to all services, enter "Usage and diagnostics" and turn off the switch to stop data collection in the background.

3. Blocking personalization in apps: enter the personalization menu and cancel tracking permissions for apps like Chrome and Maps.

4. Resetting the advertising ID: go to the ads menu (Ads) and first perform a reset of your existing advertising ID.

5. Deleting the advertising ID permanently: click on the option to delete the advertising ID to block Google's targeted tracking ability.

6. Extending battery life: upon completion of the process, you will notice a decrease in hidden background activity and an improvement in the battery's operating duration.