Unexpected things Google stores about you and how to delete them

Everything you do online after signing in to Google and some offline activity may be collected by this search giant.

According to Cnet, Google collects an incredible amount of data about the user's personal information , even beyond what you imagine: Every keyword you search for, every YouTube video you watch. Whether using Android or iOS, Google Map still keeps track of where you go, your commute, and how long you stay, even if you haven't opened the app.

A series of data breaches and privacy breaches are reducing user confidence in technology empires. Google responds by creating a security center that allows you to access, delete and restrict company data held from customers. However, it's not easy to adjust all the different settings or it's not always clear what you allow Google to do.

Worse, whenever you make a change to limit the time and amount of information Google tracks, the company will issue a warning that the service is not working properly without access to the data. Despite Google's efforts to increase transparency, recent revelations show that the giant is secretly sharing user personal information with third-party advertisers.

Information that Google considers to be "public".

Here's how to access your data system that Google holds, as well as how to delete some or all.

Most likely, Google knows your information including your name, face, date of birth, gender, other email addresses you are using, including passwords and phone numbers. Some of this information is listed as public (not a password, of course).

Change as well as the option to disclose information in the introduction section about yourself. (Screenshots).

First, open a browser window and log in to your Google Account. From the menu bar, select the 'Personal information' section and review the information. You can change or delete photos, names, birthdays, genders, passwords, other emails and phone numbers. If you want to see which of your information is publicly available, scroll down and select 'Go to self-introduction page'.

From here, the option to display information about gender and birthdays in private or public. To change your birthday or gender, return to the previous page. Currently, there is no way to make your account completely private.

Review online activity history

To enhance data control and personalize Google services like search and maps, you should set the data to automatically delete after 3 months. If not, delete all data and set Google to stop tracking. For most everyday actions you do with Google, it's not easy to notice the difference after the change.

First, log into your Google Account, select 'Data and Personalization' from the navigation bar. To see a list of all your activity that Google records, scroll down to the 'Activity controls' section  and select 'Web & App Activity'.

If you want Google to stop tracking web and image searches, browser history, map searches, directions, and interact with Google Assistant, uncheck the green ticks . Next, click on 'Manage activity control options'. This page displays all the information Google has collected about you from the activities mentioned in the last step since the day you created your account.

To set the automatic deletion of this data type every 3 or 18 months, select 'Select auto-delete' (or Retention period), select the appropriate time frame. Google will delete any data older than you specify. For example, if you select 3 months, all information older than 3 months will immediately be deleted.

It is possible to Delete Activity on web and applications automatically or manually. (Screenshots).

If you want to delete the history of manual activity, on the navigation bar select 'Clear activity by' and select "Last hour", "Last date", "Past history" or "Custom range". Once you've chosen the auto-delete setting or the data option you want to delete manually, select Delete on the popup.

To make sure a new installation has been made, go back to 'Operations Manager' to check.

Visit your Google profile for location history

Once you are signed in to Google Maps on mobile, Google will track your every step. This is how to access, manage and delete location data.

Sign in to your Google Account, select "Data & Personalization" from the navigation bar. To see a list of all your locations that Google records, scroll down to the "Activity controls" section , select "Location History". If you want Google to stop tracking location, turn off the functionality on this page.

Next, select "Operations Management" . This page shows all Google location information collected about you in the form of a timeline and a map, including places you've visited, routes traveled and returned, as well as frequency and date of access. counter.

To permanently delete all location history, click the trash icon and select "Delete location history". To have Google remove this type of data automatically every 3 or 18 months, select "Settings" with the gear icon, "Automatically delete location history," then select the appropriate time frame.

Manage YouTube history

Of all the personal data Google tracks, YouTube search and watch history is perhaps the most harmless. Not only that, allowing Google to track YouTube history has a clear benefit: Helping YouTube find the video topics you like to suggest similar content.

Here's how to view your YouTube history and delete it, manually or over a period of 3 or 18 months. Like Web & App Activity, YouTube should be set to filter data at least once every 3 months. This is a long enough time for YouTube recommendations to stay fresh, but do not leave personal data for years.

In the same way, select "Data & Personalization" from the navigation bar. To see a list of all your data that Google records, scroll down to the "Activity controls" section and select "YouTube History" . If you want Google to completely stop monitoring YouTube search and viewing history, turn off the functionality on this page.

YouTube search history information is probably the most harmless. (Photo: Cnet).

Next, select "Operations Management". This is a list of every search you've ever made and every video you've ever seen. Then, select the time frame for deleting the data similar to the instructions above.

Note, Google acknowledges that it can track your physical location even when you turn off location services, through information collected from Wi-Fi and other wireless signals near your phone. Also, like what Facebook has done for years, Google doesn't even need you to log in to follow you.

Not to mention, there seems to be a conflict between Google's claims about privacy. Typically, Google acknowledged scanning your Gmail messages to compile purchase lists despite the public statement in the 2018 press release.

"No one at Google reads your Gmail, except in specific cases when we receive your request and permission, or when we need it for security purposes, such as bug investigations or abuse , " Google said. But, Google defines 'nobody' as 'not human' , but what about AI intervention?