Five phone & tablet apps to uninstall
Ditch UC Browser www.snipca.com/41031
This mobile browser, which has been installed by more than half a billion people, claims to be “safe, fast and private”. It undermines this boast by containing trackers that collect your information and target you with ads (see the Exodus report at www.snipca. com/41032).
Replace with Duckduckgo Privacy Browser
www.snipca.com/41033 As recommended in Issue 625’s Cover Feature (page 53), this app lets you browse anonymously by blocking adverts and trackers, keeping searches private and deleting cookies in one tap.
Ditch EX File Explorer www.snipca.com/41037
This file manager tries to fool you that it’s a better known app called ES File Explorer, which was itself banned from the Google Play Store three years ago. It’s stuffed with ads and should be avoided. Replace with Files by Google www.snipca.com/41038
Google has achieved perfection with this free app (pictured), which combines a file manager with a clean-up tool and makes removing junk from your phone or tablet easy and even fun.
Ditch Youtube www.snipca.com/41034 Youtube has ruined its app with a surfeit of ads (which are harder to block on your mobile device than your PC) and nags to upgrade to its Premium version (to remove said ads).
Replace with Newpipe https://newpipe.net
This alternative Android app for Youtube lets you watch videos without any adverts or risk of having your data collected. See www.snipca.com/41036 for instructions on installing the app (it’s not in the Play Store).
Ditch BBC Good Food www.snipca.com/41040
A recent update to this app was a recipe for disaster. You now need to pay £4.50 a month or £25 a year to access content and features that were previously free – though there is a three-month free trial.
Replace with Cookpad www.snipca.com/41042 This global recipe-sharing app is a great source of culinary inspiration that you can search by ingredient, cuisine or dietary requirements. It has a paid-for plan but most content is free.
Ditch Life360 www.snipca.com/41045
Last December, it emerged that this family-safety app was selling its users’ location data to “virtually anyone” (www. snipca.com/41044). It’s since changed its privacy policy, but can you still trust it?
Replace with Owntracks https://owntracks.org
This open-source app lets you share your location with friends and family, and vice versa, so you can always keep track of each other. It’s basic compared to Life360, but won’t sell your data.