How can I keep eBay/FB/X etc off my (new) phone?

nottsphil

I've just ordered the Moto G32 which I'm hoping comes with much less bloatware than the Samsung it will be replacing. Despite never using the sites I mention, they seem to be all over my phone collecting data they're not entitled to and using up my storage. I want to cut down on the cleaning chore so was wondering if there was anyway to block them. Or  should I be doing something before actually connecting to the internet, e.g. installing software via an SD card?

Neil_Jones

If you don't visit the sites they can't collect data.  Simple as.

If you don't use the appropriate apps they can't collect data.

I suspect you're referring to adverts/cookies.

Anyway since its an Android Phone you've probably haemorrhaged more data to Google than you ever have to the mentioned sites even in passing.

SiliconChip

I'm on my second Motorola G phone and you're right about the lack of bloatware compared to some other companies' products. Neither phone has had any social media apps provided as standard, and I have never loaded any of them from the App store so it's very easy not to share anything with them. Although as Neil says Google will have a lot of data from you and who knows what they'll do with it?

Neil49

I have a Samsung phone and there is the option to uninstall the apps you mention. 

Settings / Apps - and select eBay or Facebook etc, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click uninstall. 

wongataa

Just uninstall any apps you don't want on your phone.  If you can't uninstall them disable them.  Job done.  Now they are not available and cannot do anything.  Though if you had never used an installed app like Facebook it cannot have done anything as you won't have logged in.

km1500

I really hate it when you cannot for example uninstall apps such as Facebook because they have made them system apps

yes you can disable them but that is not the same

Neil_Jones

km1500 said:

I really hate it when you cannot for example uninstall apps such as Facebook because they have made them system apps

yes you can disable them but that is not the same

May I introduce the honourable poster to the following web link:

https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/

Note that this may break some other apps that depend on the functionality of the system app, so very much at you own risk.

PHK

Neil_Jones said:

If you don't visit the sites they can't collect data.  Simple as.

If you don't use the appropriate apps they can't collect data.

I suspect you're referring to adverts/cookies.

Anyway since its an Android Phone you've probably haemorrhaged more data to Google than you ever have to the mentioned sites even in passing.

It's worth pointing out that other companies using Facebook, Google etc advertising and include Facebook advertising modules in their code. (App developers  use Facebook's SDK to make their app which shares the users data with Facebook)

So even if you never install Facebook etc or never visit their websites, they can still collect data through their advertising partners. 

So, the OP asks a very good question. The partial answer is AD Blockers. 

glennevis

If you really want to know about tracking, install the DuckDuckGo browser and enable App Tracking Protection. That way you'll find out just how many companies are in the business of collecting data about you from your installed apps.

Am-I-Paranoid

I think anything with Android14 allows you to completely uninstall ANYTHING - use wisely, but Twitter/FB/eBay should be safe uninstalls!  

nottsphil

Am-I-Paranoid said:

I think anything with Android14 allows you to completely uninstall ANYTHING - use wisely, but Twitter/FB/eBay should be safe uninstalls!  

Thanks for all the replies, especially to PHK. I'm wondering if there is any point in shunning Google's browser if I'll be using lots of apps from their store.

Alas it is coming with Android 12. That's supposed to updatable to Android 13, but buyers have been complaining that they've had their phones for months with no sign of it.
 I'm sure there must be a thread or two somewhere with advice on what to do with a new Android phone regarding anti-virus and stuff like settings for tracing a lost handset. Could someone direct me to one please?