Is Hiya Safe?

If you use or plan to use Hiya, you need to know: Is Hiya safe? 

Below, we explain whether Hiya is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this service. 

What Is Hiya?

Hiya is a technology company that provides caller identification, spam detection, and call-blocking services. 

Hiya identifies incoming calls from unknown numbers and provides users with information about the caller, including the name, type of business, and location. When spam and fraudulent calls are detected, it flags and blocks them, helping users avoid unwanted interruptions and potential scams.

Users can block specific numbers and types of calls, such as telemarketers or robocalls. 

Hiya maintains a constantly updated spam and fraud numbers database to ensure effective call blocking. 

Users can report spam and fraudulent calls, contributing to Hiya’s database and improving the accuracy of its services. The community-driven aspect helps keep the service up-to-date with the latest threats.

Is Hiya Safe?

Hiya is generally considered safe to use, especially given its focus on enhancing call security by identifying and blocking spam and fraudulent calls. 

It is a well-established company with partnerships with major mobile carriers around the world, which adds credibility to its safety and reliability. Users rate the app well, too—it has an average score of 4.2 on Google Play. 

Some internet users have found that the app sometimes flags legitimate business numbers as spam. 

As of this writing, there have not been any major data breaches associated with Hiya. 

Is Hiya Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.” 

Hiya requires certain permissions to function effectively, such as access to call logs and contacts. Users can control these permissions within their device settings. The service uses encryption to protect user data, ensuring that information shared with the service is secure from unauthorized access.

As per its privacy policy, Hiya may share data with third parties, such as mobile carriers and service providers. It may also disclose statistical, anonymized, and aggregated user data without restriction. 

In 2019, it was reported that Hiya sent user data to third parties without obtaining user permission.

Hiya’s privacy policy has not been reviewed by external review sites such as Terms of Service; Didn’t Read at the time of writing.

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Hiya

Follow the steps below for a more private and secure experience on Hiya. 

• Review and limit permissions. Go to your device settings and review the permissions granted to Hiya. Only allow access to necessary data, such as call logs and contacts, and deny access to any unnecessary data.
• Use strong privacy settings. Within the Hiya app, explore and enable any privacy settings available. Adjust settings to your comfort level, such as enabling call blocking and spam detection while limiting data sharing.
• Opt-out of data sharing. Users living in certain areas (Europe and some states) can contact Hiya to restrict how much of their data is collected and shared.
• Regularly update the app. Keep the Hiya app updated to the latest version. Updates often include security enhancements and privacy features that can help protect your data.
• Report spam and fraud. Actively report spam and fraudulent calls to improve the accuracy of Hiya’s database and protect the community. By contributing to the database, you help refine the service without compromising your own privacy.
• Monitor and manage call logs. Regularly check your call logs within the Hiya app. Delete any logs or entries that you no longer need to keep, reducing the amount of stored data.
• Disable unnecessary features. Turn off any features you do not use or need within the Hiya app. For example, if you do not use certain notification settings, turning them off can limit data processing.
• Educate yourself on privacy practices. Familiarize yourself with Hiya’s privacy policy and terms of service. Stay informed about how your data is collected, used, and shared, and adjust your usage as necessary.
• Contact Hiya support. If you have specific privacy concerns, contact Hiya’s support team for assistance. They can guide you through better security for your account and data.