Google privacy settings to change now - The Washington Post

Whether you have a little or a lot of Google in your life, you should stay on top of these account settings. AccessibilitystatementSkiptomaincontentSearchInputSearchSectionsMenuSectionsMenuTheWashingtonPostDemocracyDiesinDarknessSigninProfileSolidSigninProfileSolidPrivacyResetGoogleprivacysettingstochangenowWhetheryouhavealittleoralotofGoogleinyourlife,youshouldstayontopoftheseaccountsettings.Loading...Googlehostsasprawlingnetworkoftoolsandappsweuseforeverything—fromschoolassignmentsandemails,towatchinghow-tovideosandmakingcalls(iStock/WashingtonPostIllustration)ByHeatherKellySeptember23,2021at5:30a.m.EDTByHeatherKellySeptember23,2021at5:30a.m.EDTSharethisstoryThere’sprobablyalittlebitofGoogleineverypartofyourlife.Thecompanyhostsasprawlingnetworkoftoolsandappsweuseforeverything—fromschoolassignmentsandworkemails,towatchinghow-tovideosandmakingcalls.ThegoodnewsisthatGooglehastriedtocollectitsmostimportantprivacysettingsintooneplace,whichmeansyoucanprotectyourdatainGmailandGoogle-ownedYouTubeatthesametime.IntroducingHelpDesk:TechnologycoveragethatmakestechworkforyouArrowRightAdvertisementStorycontinuesbelowadvertisementGoogleoffersa“PrivacyCheckup”togetthroughsettingsquickly,butdefaultstomoremildoptionsthanwe’velistedbelow.Therearesometrade-offswhenyoulimitGoogle’sdatacollection,accordingtothecompany.Googleservicesthatgiverecommendationsmightnotbeashelpful,andanyadsyouseewillbelessaccuratelytargeted.TheseprivacysettingrecommendationsarebasedonyourGoogleAccountsettingsontheWeb.YoucanalsoaccessthemthroughindividualGoogleappsoryoursettingsonanAndroidphonebygoingtoSettings→Google(orGoogleServices).IfyouonlydoonethingStartwiththeonesettingthatdoesthemosttostopGooglefromtrackingyoursearchandbrowsingactivity.Googleproductsareprivytosomedeeplypersonalinformationaboutyourlife.Forexample,Googlesearchescanleavecluesaboutyourillnesses,whileitsMapstoolscancollectyourcomingsandgoings.Whileknowingthatinfohelpsitmakepersonalizedproducts,italsohelpsthecompanytargetads.OntheWeb,gotomyaccount.google.com→Data&Privacy→Web&AppActivity.YoucanalsogetheredirectlyontheActivitycontrolspage.TurnoffthetoggleforWeb&AppActivitysoitisgrayinsteadofblue.Apop-upwillaskyoutoconfirmyou’rereadyto“pause”thedatacollection.Ifyou’restillconcernedaboutprivacyWhilethatonesettingcoversalotofbaseswhenitcomestohowyourpersonalinformationisused,there’smoreyoucanadjust.Youcanlimitotherdatathecompanycollectsaboutyou,likevideosyouwatchonYouTube,yourlocation,productreviewsyou’veleft,evenyourGoogleprofile.Thenyoucanaskthecompanynottotargetadstoyouatall,ifyoufindthemmoreinvasivethanhelpful.Startinthatsamesettingsscreenandtakecontrolofmoreofyourdata.AdvertisementStorycontinuesbelowadvertisementStoplocationandYouTubedatacollectionFromtheActivitycontrolspage,scrolldownandturnoffthetogglebyLocationHistorysoitisgray.(CuriouswhatlocationinformationGooglealreadyhasaboutyou?Gototimeline.google.com)ContinuescrollingdowntoYouTubeHistoryandtoggletheswitchoffsothatitisgray.DeleteoldactivityInadditiontostoppingfuturedatacollectioninallthosecategories,youcandeleteallpreviouslygatheredinformation.Undereachsectionclick“ManageActivity”tostarttheprocess,orsetupautodeletionfor3monthsandwait.(IfyoufindGoogleproductsaren’tworkingaswellwithstrictsettings,comebackandtryturningthemonwithauto-deletionafterasetperiodoftime.Giveittimetostartcollectingdataagainandseeifservicesworkbetter.)HideyourproductreviewsInyourGoogleAccountsettings,gotoPeople&sharing→Managesharedendorsements.Makesuretheboxonthispageisunchecked.LockdownyourprofileInyouraccountsettingsgotoPeople&sharing→Choosewhatotherssee→Aboutme.Makesureanysensitivedetailsaboutyouaresetto“Onlyyou”insteadof“Anyone.”Turnoffad-personalizationGotoyourAdSettings,eitherthroughthelinkattheendoftheMyActivitypageordirectlyatadssettings.google.com.Turnoffthetogglesoitisgray.CutoffoutsideappsAndlastly,checktoseewhatotherappsareconnectedtoyourGoogleAccount.InGoogleAccountsettings,gotoSecurity→Third-partyappswithaccountaccess→Managethird-partyaccess.Makesureyoutrustandknowanylistedcompanies.AdvertisementStorycontinuesbelowadvertisementIfyouwanttobeextracautiousTofurtheravoidGoogledatacollectionwithoutquittingitsapps,you’llwanttoavoidsomeofitsproducts.Don’tusetheChromebrowserifpossible,andoptforamoreprivacy-mindedoptionlikeFirefoxorBrave.IfyoudouseChrome,staysignedoutandconsideratoollikethePrivacyBadgerbrowserextensiontoblocktrackers.YoucouldalsoavoidusingtheGooglesearchenginewithanalternativelikeDuckDuckGo.Goodbye,Chrome:Google’sWebbrowserhasbecomespysoftwareHelpDesk:MakingtechworkforyouHelpDeskisanewdestinationbuiltforreaderslookingtobetterunderstandandtakecontrolofthetechnologyusedineverydaylife.MeettheHelpDeskteam.Godeeper:TechinYourLife|TechatWork|YourDataandPrivacy|InternetAccess|What’sNew|EthicalIssuesDataandPrivacy:Aguidetoeveryprivacysettingyoushouldchangenow.Wehavegonethroughthesettingsforthemostpopular(andproblematic)servicestogiveyourecommendations.Google|Amazon|Facebook|Venmo|Apple|AndroidAskaquestion:SendtheHelpDeskyourpersonaltechnologyquestions.CommentCommentsGiftOutlineGiftArticleMOREONPRIVACYSETTINGSHANDCURATEDPrivacyReset:AguidetotheimportantsettingsyoushouldchangenowDecember1,2021VenmoprivacysettingstochangenowSeptember23,2021AmazonprivacysettingstochangenowSeptember23,2021View3morestoriesChevronDownLoading...Loading...