Google has announced a series of changes for how users can protect their privacy when using the services of the American company, and below you have all the available details.
"Google is announcing a package of privacy enhancements that will make it easier for Google Account holders to protect and manage their personal and sensitive information. Here are the most important news and how they will help people who use Google services:
Easier access to Incognito mode: Last year, Google expanded Incognito mode (where the service does not retain usage data) beyond the Chrome browser to Search, Maps and YouTube. Now the Incognito mode is much easier to access: to activate the Incognito mode in any of the Google services where it is available, the user just has to press and hold on his "profile photo" in Search, Maps or YouTube.
Tips for better privacy protection: In your Google Account, there is the Privacy Settings Checker service, where users can view and manage settings related to personal information. From now on, Google will constantly provide personalized recommendations for better privacy protection, as well as useful tips in this area. Currently, more than 200 million people do this check every year.
Password checking is improved. In many cases, people use the same password for multiple accounts. According to a 2019 study, 66% of US residents were doing so. To remedy such situations, Google offers the "Password Checker" service, which analyzes saved passwords and tells the user which have been compromised, and provides recommendations for stronger and more secure passwords. In the coming period, the "Password Check" service will be part of the "Security Check" process, and users will be automatically notified if there is a risk that their credentials have been compromised and will be helped to change their passwords. With this integration of "Password Checker" in Google Account and Chrome, Google will retire the Chrome extension dedicated to checking passwords.
Management of personal data. Last year, Google launched the auto-delete feature of “Location History” and “Web & App Activity” where users can choose to have Google permanently delete location, search and voice data every 3 or 18 months. From now on, the first time someone turns on "Location History" and "Save web and app activity", the auto-delete feature will automatically be set to 18 months. Users can choose to disable it or set it for a shorter deletion interval – 3 months. For those who already had the two features enabled, the settings will not change. But they will receive notices about the auto-delete feature, so they can choose their preferred interval in which the historical data will be deleted.
Also, for new YouTube accounts or those where the user activates YouTube history for the first time, the auto-delete feature will automatically be set to 36 months. This interval was chosen so that YouTube can make relevant recommendations based on what the user has watched in the past – for example, it will tell you when a new season of your favorite series is coming out or when your favorite band releases a new album. People who already have a YouTube account can still choose between 3 and 18 months for the self-delete option.
For products such as Gmail, Drive or Photos, Google will not introduce the data retention period, as in the case of Search, Maps or YouTube, as their purpose is to store personal content as long as the user wishes. We emphasize that Google does not sell users' personal information to anyone, and does not use information from applications where personal content is stored, such as Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Photos, for marketing and advertising purposes."
