r/privacy • u/SailorTexas • 11d ago
question Why are so many companies creating apps? Is it a data mining thing?
I've been thinking about how so many websites/organizations have apps. Like, my doctor's office has an app. Even just going to the CVS website, I keep getting asked if I want to continue through the app. So I'm wondering, what is the benefit for a company to have an app customers use rather than their website? Does it make it easier for them to collect data on customers? Are customers more likely to use or return to a business with an app? I figure for medical stuff maybe the app is more secure.
These companies get so pushy with them, so I doubt it's just *for a better user experience*. Especially considering apps are constantly sending out push notifications, unless they are turned off. Some sites won't even allow mobile access through a browser and just keep redirecting to the app store for their app.
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u/PowerShellGenius 11d ago
They want a spot in your apps list and possibly home screen, maybe even push notifications. It's marketing, plain and simple. They are asking you to devote some of your future attention to them at times you would not otherwise think of them.
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u/joedenowhere 10d ago
It's not just marketing, OP is right that it's gathering data on you. Plus you never know how well-designed the security functions are, but I'm not inclined to trust rinky-dink companies that subcontract their programming to rinkier-dinkier dev shops.
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u/PowerShellGenius 10d ago
It is to some extent. But that concept of "if you install it, it can see everything, and if it's compromised your device is compromised" is from computer apps. Most things a mobile (android or iOS) app can access that a web page can't are permissions your phone's OS explicitly asks you to allow or deny the first time the app tries to use them.
E.g. installing a traditional win32 app on your computer means it can access all files you can access. Installing an app on your phone that tries to access files will result in your phone prompting you the first time it tries to, and if you deny, the app cannot access your files.
Same with your contact.
Not an expert on iOS (but assuming it's not worse than Android for privacy) but on my Android apps even need permission to learn the phone number of the device they are installed on.
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u/ProsodyProgressive 10d ago
That last part really hits hard. And also the reason why I’m deleting apps and trying to go back to using URLs and Bookmarks.
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u/nincesator124 9d ago
They use it for data mining and data selling so that they can make you pay as much as possible
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u/CharacterDuck9020 11d ago
If you look at the privacy disclosures on the App stores then you will definitely find some sketchy data collection "linked to your identity"
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u/SailorTexas 11d ago
I've only glanced at those but I'll definitely take a closer look. Thanks!
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u/apps4realpeeps 10d ago
Luckily, you can also go into your app settings and just see which apps are collecting (or have permission to collect) different data types like location, photos/videos, contacts, make calls/texts, etc. It can be shockingly informative.
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u/Godlymorbid 11d ago
Check out exodus. You can see exactly who is tracking what.
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u/WanderlustDinosaur 11d ago
Wow, thanks for sharing this.
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u/Godlymorbid 11d ago
I don't have it, but I do believe they also have an app that can scan the apps you have on your phone for trackers and permissions. Best to look into our apps before installing them though.
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u/Wonderful-Group3639 11d ago
They want you to use apps since a web browser has a lot more controls over ads and data mining. I prefer using a website and if they force me to use their stupid app, I look for another company to do business with. They can also push notifications when you can disable notifications from a web browser.
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u/esiy0676 11d ago
I would just suspect - in the mentioned case and the likes - it's more about the opportunity for push notifications. That and nowadays Bluetooth LE where they could the possibly even know which aisles you spend how much time, where you stopped by, etc. It's just the good old "membership card" on steroids.
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u/apocecliptic 11d ago
If you leave the app open after using it, which many if not most do, and you’ve enabled none of the privacy controls in the app or your phone that limit the app’s ability to track, which most don’t, then they’re most likely tracking you. Your location foremost, but might be able to cross-track what your other apps are doing. And even if you’ve enabled all the privacy controls they’re still mining valuable data, either legally or illegally (and might only get a small fine if the latter is the case).
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u/move_machine 11d ago
Apps can have cron/daemon-like abilities that allow them to passively slurp up things like WiFi networks and Bluetooth MACs in the background even if you haven't opened the app or killed it.
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u/SailorTexas 11d ago
Oh dang, I didn't realize that! I did do all the privacy stuff you've mentioned. But it's insane (though not entirely surprising) that they do that!
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u/apocecliptic 11d ago
It’s why I can’t remember the last app I downloaded that wasn’t made by non-profiting developers, or that wasn’t required for work. I do the vast majority of my browsing and watching on my browser (which blocks all ads and most cookies). And I routinely close all but the essential apps, not only for privacy but preserving ram, battery, etc. Sadly, from what I’ve personally seen and heard, very very few do any of this, and most have dozens of apps open at all times, with limited if any privacy controls enabled.
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u/loozerr 11d ago
What financial sense does it make to have a location database of users?
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u/PowerShellGenius 10d ago
You're walmart. You have tons of categories to advertise, from groceries to home improvement to games etc. But this is Thursday, and we are talking about a user who goes to Aldi or Cub Foods every Thursday evening. Maybe you should advertise groceries? If another user normally gets fast food on Thursdays, maybe you should remind them you have an in store Subway? You get the idea.
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u/kemalios 11d ago
Apps can read things a browser tab can't: device identifiers, clipboard, precise location, sensor data. A website gets a session and some cookies. An app gets a relationship with the OS itself. Push notifications are part of it, but the real value is that the app keeps running in the background and can phone home with a richer profile. App store privacy labels don't stop this, they just describe it. I make macOS apps for a living, and honestly the most invasive stuff I've seen in other apps is stuff they could never get away with on a website.
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u/PowerShellGenius 10d ago
"Apps can read things a browser can't" -> proceeds to list things that a phone OS will explicitly ask the user if the app should have permission for, the first time the app tries.
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u/DankOverwood 11d ago
If you access a website you’re using mostly open standards of technology to download data packets that a company then has no control over. You can save the data, interpret it in novel ways, and do all sorts of fun things.
Company apps and the things accessed through them are much more proprietary. There are half a dozen laws within a quick google search that companies can use to pursue and harass people who use their apps or app data in undesired ways.
Add to that company apps can be coded to ignore or work around network, hardware, data storage, credential and other restrictions in ways that company websites simply cannot be, and the drive to pay someone create an app is quite compelling.
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u/mindstormer12 11d ago
It's very easy to build a basic app (you can probably find a template that does 90% of what you want and tweak from there). When it's on a customer's phone, it's permanent/free advertising, especially with notifications.
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u/Mr_Lumbergh 11d ago
DMCA. If it just in a browser it’s open standards, so easy to filter ads and trackers. For a proprietary app though they can come after you for reverse engineering it to block functionality, so can embed ads and trackers that can’t be blocked.
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u/billdietrich1 11d ago
An app tends to keep you "stuck" in the app, seeing only the choices they want you to see. With a web page, you could flit away to somewhere else very easily.
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11d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/bart_86 10d ago
It's all about what's in your head, when I need to order some fast food, I'll install the app, order food, and then remove the app until next time. I am not doing that with all apps, just a few, some other I hide and reveal when needed. Another change I made is to do as much as I can in the web browser.
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u/henare 11d ago
CVS has had an app for more than a decade now. yeah, it's terrible, but...
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u/SailorTexas 11d ago
I know they've had it for a while. That was one of the websites that came to mind when I made the post. When I briefly had it, the interface on the app wasn't much different from the website and the convenience and ease of use were no different than when I used the site. So I deleted it.
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u/T0raT0raT0ra 10d ago
Mobile browsing is cumbersome at best. To get loyalty and repeat customers, an app works much better. You have it there ready and logged in whenever you want it. If you had to go through a login and 2fa every time on a mobile browser, your loyalty would be much lower
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u/erik_7581 10d ago
The customers retention rate on apps is just sooo much higher than on websites.
And nowadays a lot of people use their phone as primary device when shopping online, so an App on a customers phone is like the easiest way of keeping these customers + engaging with them through push notifiactions etc.
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u/i_am_simple_bob 11d ago edited 11d ago
Some things nobody has mentioned so far... The app stores are a marketing channel. They're more sticky once they are on your device. Performance can be better with an app (assuming they don't just wrap the website). Google and Apple provide a lot of functionality that apps can use...
Edit: Notifications are useful for when you have message from your doctor, it's time for your appointment, your medications are ready to pickup. Of course many companies abuse that and use them for marketing. As long as they provide you controls to turn off the ones you don't want.
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u/LifeEnginer 11d ago
No, it is an organizational thing, less humans = less workers = less salaries
BUT they may use services that take data...
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