Google knows what you type, watch and say – unless you take these steps
You might laugh thinking about all the random Google searches you’ve done over the years. Imagine someone getting access to that list, and you might instead shudder in embarrassment.
Did you know your entire Google history is accessible online? If you’re signed in, a snoop can poke through it all. Tap or click here for steps to password protect that page and your private info.
There are, of course, ways to keep your searches private. Tap or click for some clever methods, including hiding your activity from your internet service provider and wiping your browser sessions.
When you rely on Google and its services, though, you know many things are being tracked. Here are three you can stop.
1. Every email you type
Google scans the contents of your inbox, from receipts and private messages to medical documents and bills.
The handy Smart Compose setting even allows Google to scan your emails as you type them. It’s an AI-powered feature that tries to help you write faster. It helps finish common phrases. “Let me” becomes “Let me know if you have any questions.”
Although it’s useful, it means Google is watching what you type as you type it. You can turn Smart Compose off. Here’s how:
- Open Gmail.
- Tap the gear icon in the upper right corner for Settings.
- Select See all settings.
- Choose the General tab near the top of the page.
- Scroll to the Smart Compose section.
- Turn Writing suggestions off by clicking on the circle next to it.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Save Changes.
It’s worth noting: Google still has access to all the content in the emails you send and receive. If you want to stop that, you need to switch to a privacy-based email inbox.
2. OK, Google, are you listening?
Despite what Big Tech companies say, smart assistants often listen more than you intend. The reason is simple: Sometimes, your device hears one thing you say and interprets it as the wake word.
Remove Google Search results you don’t want people to find
We all have things we’d prefer that strangers didn’t know. What happens when those private facts and photos end up online?
Keeping tabs on yourself through search engines is your first line of defense. If you know the right ways to search and what to look for, you can find sensitive personal info you would have never known was public. Here’s how to perform an exhaustive search.
Google will auto-delete your records after 18 months - here's how to remove the data now
Let’s face it: Google already knows a lot about you. You might not realize it, but every search you perform, every YouTube video you watch and every question you ask Google Assistant is taken down, analyzed and converted into data that the search engine uses to make itself richer.