How to Log Out of the Amazon App for Enhanced Privacy

As an online security analyst, I research risks posed by staying logged into accounts on public, shared, and personal devices. With over 200 million Amazon users frequenting the platform via apps, mobile browsers, laptops, and PCs, their sheer scale warrants a closer look at appropriate safeguards.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll analyze the technical reasons to log out of Amazon and walk through platform-specific steps to completely revoke access rights to your account. Follow these best practices, and you can slash privacy risks while still enjoying Prime perks.

The Risks of Staying Logged Into Amazon

Convenience comes at the cost of security – when continually logged into Amazon, you become vulnerable in multiple ways:

Account Takeovers

Symantec‘s 2018 Internet Security Threat Report found that criminals compromised over 1.5 million Amazon accounts by stealing passwords from data breaches elsewhere. Victims lost cash and gift card balances.

Staying perpetually signed in enables this unauthorized access. Once hackers log into your account, they can exploit saved personal and payment information for fraudulent purposes before the typical user ever notices.

Shopping History Tracking

Research by Princeton Web Census shows Amazon utilizing over 400 tracking technologies to monitor browsing habits, serving personalized recommendations, ads and dynamic pricing based on your perceived willingness to pay.

While logged in, Amazon assembles extensive user profiles correlating shopping patterns with account details like your name, address and past purchases without full awareness or consent. VPN provider SurfShark calls this “surveillance marketing.” Signing out regularly mitigates these privacy risks.

Cookies and Cache Snooping

Amazon relies heavily on browser cookies to recall usernames, items in your cart and populate personalized touches like “Welcome back, [YourName].”

Shopping on a shared computer before logging out leaves session cookies and cached site data behind – meaning the next user could easily access your account simply by clicking previously visited Amazon pages. Signing out deletes identifying cookies and temp files.

So while the convenience of staying logged into Amazon seems harmless on the surface, doing so positions you for invasion of privacy or outright identity theft and financial fraud depending on who next accesses that browser or device.

Signing Out on Mobile: Apps vs. Browsers

When accessing Amazon on the go, you primarily engage via mobile apps or mobile browsers, each with distinct security architecture:

The Native App Advantage

Downloading the native iOS and Android Amazon apps keeps your credentials stored more securely with encryption versus visiting sites which leave unencrypted plaintext traces in browser histories. Apps sandbox account data from other apps, reducing outside access. Signing out of Amazon apps clear cached user info, adding protection.

Risks of Mobile Web Browsers

Despite encryption improvements, web browsers remain inherently more vulnerable than apps:

• Third-party trackers and ad networks abound
• Other open tabs create potential security holes
• Synced data exposes info across devices
• Autofill passwords prompt security popups to capture credentials

So accessing Amazon via app reduces exposure, yet signing out completely remains key either way.

Browser Privacy Comparison

I compared privacy controls across top mobile browsers using Mozilla Foundation‘s Browser Security Comparison Tool:

The evidence shows iOS Safari and Firefox focus most heavily on thwarting tracking by advertisers, analytics services and sites like Amazon itself. Still, signing out clears any lingering resources.

Having covered the risks, let‘s examine how to securely sign out of Amazon on all your devices.

Step-by-Step Guide: How To Log Out of Amazon

On iPhone or iPad

Via the Amazon Shopping app for iOS:

1. Launch the app then tap the hamburger menu
2. Scroll down then select Settings
3. Tap Sign Out to revoke access on that device

To sign out on iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch mobile browsers:

1. Open Safari or your preferred browser
2. Navigate to Amazon and tap Account & Lists
3. Choose Sign Out from the dropdown menu

On Android Phones or Tablets

If using Android devices like Samsung Galaxy phones or Kindle Fire tablets, use these steps:

To log out of the Android Amazon Shopping app:

1. Launch the Amazon app
2. Tap the hamburger menu icon on top left
3. Select Settings then tap Sign Out

When shopping Amazon via Chrome, Firefox or other Android browsers:

1. Use your browser to visit Amazon.com
2. Click the account icon next to the cart symbol
3. Choose Sign Out from the dropdown menu

On Laptops and Desktops

Shopping Amazon on shared home computers or logging into public machines at the library leaves you most vulnerable if you stay signed in.

To fully revoke access on laptops and desktops, head to Amazon.com and use these methods:

Via the Amazon Website

1. Click Account & Lists near the top right by search bar
2. Select Sign Out from the dropdown menu

Alternatively, click your account icon next to the cart then choose Sign Out.

Via Amazon Assistant Browser Add-On (if installed)

1. Click the Amazon Assistant extension logo visible while browsing other sites
2. Select the account icon shown in the popup
3. Choose Sign Out to log out of your account

These techniques ensure you fully sign out across all vectors – website credentials, apps and browser add-ons in one move.

Extra Security Precaution: Enable 2-Step Verification

For added safety, also secure your Amazon account via two-step verification, requiring both your password and a temporary access code generated in real-time sent to your phone or email when attempting to sign in:

1. Visit Your Account – Login & Security
2. Turn on two-step verification settings
3. Designate trusted phone numbers or email to receive codes

Activating this failsafe demands most hackers already know your password and possess your phone to intercept verification codes in order to access accounts.

How to Share Amazon Accounts More Safely

To manage shared access for families, couples or roommates, utilize Amazon Household profiles which allow linking two adult accounts to share Prime benefits under one login yet keep purchase histories and recommendations separate.

Compared to surrendering your credentials, Household lets authorized users still one-click buy under their own payment methods and viewing history without fully mingling accounts.

If however, you prefer keeping your personal account private while occasionally allowing others like guests to quickly reorder, browser privacy settings provide some options:

• Use a guest or incognito browsing mode then log out after placing orders
• Clear cache and delete cookies after each use to thwart leftover access

So by following my comprehensive security guidance – signing out every time, turning on two-step verification and exploring tools like Household profiles or guest browsing modes, you can keep Amazon activity both convenient and safe from intrusions.

Key Takeaways: Securing Your Amazon Account

To recap the top ways security-focused individuals can control access to Amazon:

• Log out after every session – clears login cookies, cached data, sync‘d devices
• Prioritize app over browser – apps sandbox account data better
• Enable two-verification – requires password + changing access code
• Utilize Household – profiles separate order history
• Shop via guest modes – allows temporary access if sharing

Between following my detailed instructions for signing out on all platforms, turning on added account protections, and managing multi-user access, you can keep Amazon activity secure without sacrificing the convenience you love.

As threats evolve, keep checking back for my latest research and recommendations as a cybersecurity professional seeking to arm consumers with knowledge to fend off growing privacy and fraud risks inherent to such immense online ecosystems.