Dangerous apps 2025
Imagine hearing in the morning news that your personal data has been stolen or your phone is discharging faster than before, just because of the applications you use daily. Scary, right? What if I told you that some of the most popular applications on your phone could be putting you at risk without your knowledge?
In this article we’re sharing five popular apps that experts in the tech field advise deleting right now for your safety. These popular apps aren’t as innocuous as they seem. Let’s explore and find out why they could be a ticking time bomb on your hardware.
But Facebook had been collecting — perhaps “collecting” is too pale a word
Facebook is a household name by now but it’s also one of the most controversial applications when it comes to data privacy. Experts have cautioned that Facebook’s data collection practices are more invasive than most people think.
- The First Danger: A 2023 study conducted by privacy experts suggests that Facebook collects over 5000 data points about every user, ranging from your location, your browsing habits, you have ever messaged someone even your private messages. Yes those innocent-seeming status updates and photos of yours are being mined to create a very precise profile of you.
- Real-World Scenario: One notable case study is the Facebook data breach in 2018, in which the personal data of more than 50 million accounts was compromised. Regardless of these detrimental findings, Facebook has not eased its tracking on users, leading to questions of privacy.
TikTok: A Data-Collecting Machine in Camo
TikTok has rocketed in popularity and become one of the most downloaded apps globally. But what many users don’t know is what the app is really after when it comes to personal data.
- The Surprise: Cyber security experts say that TikTok’s parent, ByteDance, could have access to your clipboard data, keystrokes — even device information. That means the private conversations and passwords may be exposed — and that you’d never know.
- Expert Opinion: Dr. Helen Williams, a cybersecurity researcher, says, “TikTok raised red flags for its invasive data practices. Each swipe and scroll feeds its algorithm, which is exponentially better at accurately predicting and manipulating user behavior.”
Instagram: An ‘Ideal’ App That Isn’t So Ideal
Instagram is under similar scrutiny for how it collects data. As beautiful its photos and social features are, a darker side of Instagram lurks in the background.
- The Surprise: Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has been criticized repeatedly for allowing outside advertisers to target users with alarming precision. Even if you’re not a Meta account holder, experts have noted, your activity across the web is still tracked through Instagram’s advertising network.
- Real-World Example: In a recent study, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) discovered that Instagram already tracks users across websites, even if they haven’t opened the app in days. This relentless scrutiny means you are always on surveillance, even in those digital environments that seem private.
Snapchat: Secrets May No Longer Be So Secret
Snapchat, with its disappearing messages, used to offer a higher degree of privacy. Now, however, experts are urging users to think again about this “secret” app.
- The Surprise: Messages may disappear, but data doesn’t. Snapchat has also been criticized for saving location data and other private data even when messages expire. The situation has been further compounded by several cases of the app leaking personal photos as well as data breaches that resulted in the exposure of user information.
- Expert Opinion: “Snapchat may give you the false assurance of privacy, but once that data leaves your device, it’s not gone anywhere,” says Rachel Greene, a cybersecurity expert. “What users are unaware of, the ‘disappearing’ messages and photos can still be accessed by hackers, or even law enforcement.”
WhatsApp: End-to-End Encryption or End-to-End Exposure?
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, has long been hailed as a safe way to communicate, thanks to its end-to-end encryption. But new security vulnerabilities and revisions to its privacy policy have raised questions about how private their conversations actually are.
- The Surprise: Even with encryption, experts say WhatsApp still collects metadata — like who you talk to and at what time — that sits on Meta’s servers. Moreover, its security flaws were brought to light by a 2022 breach that showed hackers could access users’ private conversations by taking advantage of WhatsApp’s vulnerabilities.
- Real World Example: A hacking group exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in 2021 to hack over 1.3 million WhatsApp accounts, illustrating how even encrypted apps can have their security bypassed.
Why You Should Act Now
It’s easy to think that the apps you use every day are innocent, but, as we’ve learned, many of them are actively harvesting your data and stealing your privacy. With each app gathering absurd amounts of sensitive data, it’s no wonder that cyber threats are growing.
But not only do these apps leave you open to possible hacks, they also suck down your device’s battery, slow it down, and expose your personal data to malicious bad actors.
What You Can Do Now: Safeguard Your Privacy
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to be tech savvy to defend your digital privacy. This big surprise that you delete these apps and go for more secure options and take control.
- Alternative MeWe social network and more.
- Use TikTok alternatives like Triller or YouTube Shorts for short videos.
- Read encrypted messaging over WhatsApp, try Signal or telegram.
- Break out of the Instagram bubble, and look for alternatives like VSCO for photo sharing.
Bottom Line
Don’t wait – act now! Remove these apps, safeguard your personal information, and live a better life online. The longer you let it go, the more susceptible you are to invisible threats hiding in the apps you trust.
