Apple’s iPhone was born 10 years ago, launching a smartphone transformation that changed the way consumers use and depend on their devices. A lot of that usage hinges on mobile apps. They tap into the information stored on your smartphone to remind you about appointments, find stores and restaurants near you, or tell you whether there’s heavy traffic on your commute. But that convenience comes with a price: the loss of some privacy.

Information about your location, activities, and accounts is being shared with the app maker’s computers. It can then be used for marketing purposes, be sold to other companies, or even be stolen if the app — or the app maker’s servers — are hacked.

“Apps may request administrative privileges to your data, and those privileges could be used by the app later on, or by some malware, to steal your personal information,’’ says Ed Cabrera, chief cybersecurity officer at TrendMicro, a digital security company.

For instance, a game might have access to your phone app so that it knows when to pause for incoming calls. But that access might also allow the app’s maker to listen in.

Fortunately, there are easy ways to limit the intrusion while still getting the benefit of the app itself. The first step is to delete any apps you no longer use because data is still being shared with the app’s maker. Then go through the remaining apps and adjust the privacy settings on each one.

As a broad rule, give the app access only to information you know it really needs. Does your calorie-counting app ask to know your location? Try shutting that off to test whether it can still function the way you want it to.

For Facebook, turn off access to your phone’s calendar, contacts, microphone, and location data. But leave on access to the camera if you want to post your photos.

Like other social media services, Facebook also has its own unique settings for privacy and security, which can be accessed online or from inside the app. Facebook’s settings include topics such as “Who can see my stuff?’’ and “Who can contact me?’’

Here’s how to check — and change — the app settings on your phone:

Android-based phones

1. Go to “manage applications’’ or “applications’’ under Settings.

2. Make sure the “All apps’’ tab is ­selected.

3. Scroll down to and click on the app you want to change. (This menu also contains the “uninstall’’ button, which will delete the app.)

4. Click on “permissions.’’

5. Switch off permissions that seem unnecessary.

iPhones

1. Open Settings.

2. Scroll down to the app you want to adjust.

3. Click on it to open its permissions menu.

4. Switch off permissions that seem unnecessary.