Mobile apps could access your private data

Those free apps you download could cost you so much more.

That's because developers find more value in your personal information than your wallet.

Is your smart phone tracking you?

Every time you install an app, the private information stored in your phone could be accessed and recorded by developers.

“There's no way that I would actually give someone that permission on purpose and I don't think anyone would do that on purpose," said Valerie Golay, Department Chair of Computer and Informatics at Ivy Tech Community College. "But that's exactly what we're doing in a lot of the apps that are out there today.” 

The rights to your phone are called permissions.

Even without reading the fine print, you can unknowingly sign them over to apps simply by clicking accept.

“What in the world am I agreeing to?" said Golay. "I should have read it, but did I? No, because I wanted that app immediately, so I could get to something right then.” 

Your location, phone numbers, social media logins and even your home wifi information could be accessed through some of those games on your phone.

But other apps, like Snapchat, have access to users' unique device identifiers.

That's information third-party advertisers can use to track behavior on mobile phones by users.

“Information that they're collecting that they can use, whether they say they're using it a certain way or not, you don't know if that's true or not true,” said Rex Davis, student at Ivy Tech Community College.

Experts at Ivy Tech Community College say it's always best to do your research on developers before you download their apps.

To find out how vulnerable your phone information is you can download the Clueful App.