Contact info.
Yes. BFF Messenger's developer declares contact info as data used to track you — data that can be combined with other companies' data for targeted ads or ad measurement, or shared with data brokers. On iPhone you can refuse: tap Ask App Not to Track, or switch off tracking requests for every app in Settings.
What “tracking” means on an iPhone
Apple defines tracking as linking data from this app with data from other companies' apps, websites or offline sources for targeted advertising or ad measurement, or sharing it with a data broker. It is narrower than “collecting data”: an app can collect a lot without tracking you, and a small app can track you with a single advertising SDK.
Since iOS 14.5, App Tracking Transparency requires every app to ask before it accesses your device's advertising identifier or otherwise tracks you. The App Store label is where the developer declares which of its data is used that way. BFF Messenger declares 1 data type, so expect the “Allow BFF Messenger to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites?” prompt.
The data BFF Messenger uses to track you
Contact Info
Your name, email address, phone number or postal address. Contact details identify you directly and are what marketing lists and account recovery rely on.
How to stop BFF Messenger from tracking you
- When BFF Messenger shows the tracking prompt, tap Ask App Not to Track.
- Already said yes? Open Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking and switch off the toggle next to BFF Messenger.
- To refuse every app in one go, switch off Allow Apps to Request to Track on the same screen. Apps then cannot ask, and are treated as if you declined.
- For Apple's own ads in the App Store, News and Stocks, see Settings › Privacy & Security › Apple Advertising and turn off Personalised Ads.
- Inside BFF Messenger, look for an analytics or personalised-ads switch in its own settings; it covers data the iOS switch does not.
BFF Messenger's full privacy label
Do other secure messengers track you?
14% of the 172 secure messengers with a label in our snapshot declare tracking; 29% say they collect nothing at all. Nearby in the list:
| App | Tracks you? | Data types |
|---|---|---|
| NetSfere Secure Messaging | No | 0 |
| Celo | No | 6 |
| QTel Secure | No | 0 |
| Startel Secure Messaging Plus | No | 0 |
| Diligent Messenger | No | 4 |
| VChat Messenger | No | 3 |
| SecEMS | No | 2 |
| Tato Talk | No | 0 |
Check your settings
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
True or false?
- Right.Not quite.
True: it lists contact info under Data Used to Track You.
- Right.Not quite.
Labels are self-reported by developers. Apple can reject or remove apps that misrepresent practices, but it does not audit each label.
- Right.Not quite.
True: Location appears on its label, in the Not Linked to You section.
- Right.Not quite.
It is collected and sent; the developer says it is de-identified rather than tied to your account or device.
FAQ
How do I stop BFF Messenger from tracking me?
Will BFF Messenger still work if I decline tracking?
What is the difference between tracking and data linked to me?
Does declining tracking stop all data collection?
Can apps track me without asking?
Is BFF Messenger safe? Full privacy report →How to lock BFF Messenger on iPhone →Who tracks you? A–Z →All social networking apps →