Most people do not wake up thinking about data privacy. They wake up thinking about messages to reply, places to go, money to make, and content to scroll. Privacy feels distant, technical, and easy to postpone, but that is exactly why it matters: because the way apps and websites handle your data quietly shapes your safety, your exposure to risk, and how much control you truly have over your digital life.

In fact, nearly two‑thirds of internet users who responded to a poll, reported receiving a notice that their personal data was included in a breach within the last year, showing how real and immediate the risk can be. Privacy by default is a principle that ensures your personal data is protected automatically, without requiring extra effort or technical knowledge. It directly affects everyday users, often without them even realising it.

To understand why this matters, we need to start with what actually happens when you go online.

Every Digital Action Leaves a Trail

The moment you open an app or visit a website, data starts moving.

Your device type, location, time of access, browsing behaviour, and interactions are logged. Sometimes this is necessary for the service to work. Often, it goes far beyond that. In 2025, research shows that around 90 percent of mobile apps collect user data, and about 80 percent of those apps share that data with third parties such as advertisers and analytics firms.

This is not inherently illegal or malicious. The problem lies in scale and invisibility. Most users have no clear view of how much data is collected, who receives it, or how long it is kept.

Once you accept that data collection is constant, the next question becomes unavoidable.

Who Actually Controls That Data?

Data control is often framed as a user choice, yet the structure behind most apps limits how much control actually exists. Many apps only function properly if broad permissions are accepted, forcing users to share personal data in order to use the service as intended. 

Some widely used apps request permissions that go beyond what is needed to provide their main service. Investigations have shown that some smartphone apps request dozens of permissions, including access to microphones, files, contacts, and precise location data.

Even more troubling, about 60 percent of children’s apps request permissions unrelated to their functionality, exposing minors to unnecessary tracking and profiling. Most users assume these permissions are required for the app to work and rarely stop to question them.

This is where default settings can quietly decide your privacy for you.

Why Default Settings Matter More Than Choice

While opting out is technically possible, default settings strongly influence how people behave. 

Most users follow the easiest path presented to them. When an app installs with tracking enabled, location access allowed, and data sharing switched on, most users never change it. That does not mean they agree with it. It means the design made the decision for them.

This is why privacy by default exists.

Privacy by default means systems are designed to collect the minimum data necessary from the start. Optional data collection stays off unless a user deliberately enables it. This principle is embedded in regulations like the GDPR and Nigeria’s NDPA, which require organisations to protect user data proactively rather than reactively.

Without privacy-first defaults, responsibility shifts unfairly to users who may not have the knowledge, time, or clarity to protect themselves.

And when that protection fails, people can face real-world consequences, from stolen identities to financial loss.

When Data Escapes, Damage Follows

Today, data breaches are a common occurrence rather than an unusual event.

Globally, billions of personal records are exposed every year through breaches affecting companies large and small.

These incidents expose emails, phone numbers, passwords, location histories, and sometimes far more sensitive information.

Some breaches cause inconvenience, while others permanently change lives.

A genetic testing company breach exposed data from nearly 7 million users, including deeply personal genetic information that can never be changed.

Dating platforms have leaked private messages, photos, and personal details, leading to harassment, stalking, and emotional harm.

What these incidents share is not just poor security. They share excess data collection. Data that did not need to exist became data that could be stolen.

This leads to a deeper question.

Why So Much Data Is Collected in the First Place

The digital world runs on data. Advertisers, analytics teams, and product managers all rely on it to make decisions. More data means more value for companies. For users, it means more risk.

Location data is especially sensitive. It is often collected, sold, and traded through advertising networks without meaningful oversight. One of the largest leaks in recent years came from Gravy Analytics, which exposed billions of location records from thousands of popular apps, including social media and dating platforms. The data revealed where people lived, worked, or visited and included tens of millions of smartphone location points worldwide.

Advertisers and data brokers could track someone’s movements today, last week, or even last year, whether the user consented or not. Some datasets even exposed visits to medical clinics, political rallies, or other private locations. Regulators have flagged these risks, but oversight remains limited.

Once data leaves the app, control fragments and even companies with good intentions often cannot track where it ends up.

What Many Users Do Not Realise About “Anonymous” Data

One of the most misunderstood ideas in digital privacy is anonymisation. It means removing personal identifiers, like your name, email, or phone number, so data cannot be directly linked to you.

However, anonymised data is not always fully safe. Research has shown that so-called anonymous datasets can often be re-identified when combined with other information, especially location and behavioural data. A few location points, combined with time and movement patterns, can uniquely identify most people; names and emails are not always required. Companies may claim data is anonymised to reassure users, but in reality, detailed behavioural, location, and usage information can still reveal identities.

Understanding this gap is important because it shows that even “anonymous” data carries risks, and why privacy-first practices are still essential.

Data Does Not Expire When You Think It Does

Another overlooked reality is data longevity.

Deleting an app does not always delete the data it already collected. Closing an account does not guarantee immediate erasure. In many cases, data is archived, backed up, or retained for long periods under internal policies.

This means decisions you made years ago can still affect you today. Old data can resurface during breaches, acquisitions, or internal misuse. Privacy by default limits how much historical data exists in the first place, reducing future exposure.

The Quiet Influence of Data on Real-Life Outcomes

Data does not just describe you. It shapes how systems respond to you.

Behavioural profiles influence credit decisions, insurance pricing, job screening tools, and content visibility. These systems are often opaque, automated, and difficult to challenge.

A Pew Research study found that most people feel they lack control over how their personal information is used, despite daily interaction with data-driven platforms.

This lack of transparency creates imbalance. Decisions are made about users without their awareness or consent.

Privacy by default reduces how much raw material feeds these systems.

Who Suffers Most When Privacy Fails

Privacy failures do not affect everyone in the same way. Some research shows that people with fewer resources, or limited digital knowledge often face greater harm when privacy fails. A leaked phone number might just mean extra spam for one person but lead to stalking or harassment for another. A hacked email can be a minor inconvenience for some and a financial nightmare for others.

Privacy by default provides a safety net. It assumes users should not need to be experts or spend every day defending themselves. By protecting everyone from the start, it prevents harm from falling disproportionately on those who are most vulnerable.

Privacy by Default as a Safety Net

Privacy by default works quietly, but its impact is tangible.

When systems collect less data, breaches expose less information. When permissions are limited, surveillance is reduced. When users start from a protected position, choice becomes meaningful rather than performative.

Research shows that users are more loyal to companies they believe respect their privacy.

Trust is fragile, and privacy by default provides the foundation to maintain it.

What Users Can Realistically Do

Protecting your privacy doesn’t need to be complicated. Taking small, consistent steps like these can make a real difference:

• Review app permissions and remove anything unnecessary

• Choose browsers and services known for privacy-first defaults

• Enable two-factor authentication

• Delete apps you no longer used

• Keep devices and software updated

Each of these steps strengthens your privacy in a real, tangible way. They won’t make you invincible, but they make it harder for your data to be misused.

To stay updated on insights that help protect your digital identity and understand where your data goes, follow the Cyberkach blog. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive practical, straightforward privacy tips delivered directly to you.