Apps are sandboxed and you choose which data you're entering into them and which access you're granting them via permissions or other access control. You can use our features like Storage Scopes and Contact Scopes to avoid granting the media/storage/contacts permissions. You can also keep the Sensors toggle disabled for most apps. It's up to you to decide which data you actually want them to have.
Duckduckgo tracker protection still blocks their attempts at tracking
This is highly misleading and not actually how things work. This app only blocks apps from connecting to a blacklist of specific domains. It can only block connections to domains that are not needed for apps to function, which doesn't provide any fundamental privacy improvement. It does not truly provide any significant privacy protection. The data and access you give to the apps can be used by them how they choose and they can and do simply make connections to third parties from their servers.
Have I compromised the privacy of my phone by installing too many apps / using the google play store? I use these apps (email apps, banking, 1 or 2 games etc.) almost daily so, it would almost leave my phone useless without them. I would appreciate any help or tips. Thank you in advance!
You should remember that apps are sandboxed and be careful with what you grant to them via the system file picker, photo picker, contact picker, permission system, etc. Use our Storage / Contact scopes features instead of permissions. Disable our added Sensors permission. Only grant one-time access to camera, microphone and location. These are the things that will improve your privacy. Installing more apps doesn't compromise your device or privacy. The data you give to them is what matters.