The apps and online services you use sometimes gather your data and use it for analytics or advertising purposes. There's no question about that. It's a fact of life at this point. And it's only a matter of whether you've been asked permission, whether your data is used fairly and in accordance with the law, and whether it's transferred and stored securely.
But a recent report by TechCrunch claims some popular iPhone apps fail on at least two counts. Apps from companies like Air Canada, Hollister, Expedia and Hotels.com record everything you do on your phone's screen while you use them — often without asking for permission.
These apps, TechCrunch has found (with the help of analytics companyApp Analyst), use technology from a company called Glassbox, which creates so called "session replays," letting app owners see exactly how their customers behave while using the app.