How to Improve the Data Privacy of Your Mobile Service

Limit your personal information to avoid unwanted advertising and more

Considering how much personal data we have stored on our smartphones, it’s only natural to ask, does my mobile carrier have my best interests in mind when it comes to my data privacy and security?

The question is especially relevant given that mobile providers are among the companies most vulnerable to data breaches. AT&T, for example, suffered a massive data breach in 2023 that affected 8.9 million customers and resulted in the company paying a multimillion-dollar penalty. T-Mobile, meanwhile, agreed to a $350 million class-action settlement for a 2021 breach that exposed the personal information of 76 million consumers.

Concerns about mobile data security have even led one startup company, Cape, to launch what it calls a secure mobile service that strictly limits the type and amount of personal data it tracks and stores. According to the company’s website, “We ask for the minimum amount of personal information possible...and store your data for as little time as possible...Any data that does pass through our systems is protected with security measures of the highest standards.”

What types of data do mobile carriers collect?

The Big 3 U.S. mobile carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—all collect and track a range of personal data. Some of it is gathered automatically, while some is pulled in from outside sources like the websites you visit and the apps you use. Collected data from all sources could include your name, home address, email address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, passport number, physical location, credit information, and search history.

While the carriers say that this data collection is needed primarily to improve things like mobile services, network reliability, and the customer experience, know that they’re also using your information for targeted marketing and advertising purposes, and they often give third parties access to this data.

How to improve your mobile data privacy

First, you should become acquainted with the privacy policies of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. These policies can be quite lengthy, but the more you understand about what you’re agreeing to when you sign up for their services, the better.

If you’ve reviewed the policy and you’re not comfortable with certain types of data collection or tracking by your mobile carrier, you can fix it. Check your account settings or visit the carrier’s privacy dashboard to make any necessary adjustments. Here’s how:

For AT&T accounts: Go into your account profile and select Privacy Choices. You’ll likely want to turn off “Share or sell my personal information” (which is on by default), to avoid receiving targeted ads. You should also consider turning off “Personalized,” which is a program that tracks your data for customized marketing and advertising.

For T-Mobile accounts: Go into your account profile and look for the Privacy Dashboard and Privacy and Notifications. You can opt into “Do not sell or share my personal information.” You can also opt out of “Share data for public and scientific research.” And you can manage Advertising and Analytics, Advertising Options, and Marketing Preferences, all of which allow T-Mobile and its partners to target you with personalized marketing and advertising.

For Verizon accounts: Go to your account overview, select Edit Profile and Settings, then Manage Privacy Settings. Verizon has a program called Customer Proprietary Network Information, which shares your data for marketing purposes; and another called Custom Experience, which tracks your web and app usage and interests. Consider turning both off. You can also manage “Business and Marketing Insights”—while the data it gathers is anonymized, it’s still your choice to limit what the carrier can collect from you.