#Google my activity how to#

Scammers can also identify your contacts and send them fraudulent, malware-ridden messages purporting to be from you.īesides social engineering, a compromised My Activity feed enables hackers to locate devices tied to your Google account. With access to your activity data, a scammer has everything they need to devise a persuasive con.įor instance, they can send fake links and ads based on your buying preferences and search history to trick you into wiring money directly to the hacker’s account. Social engineering attacks involve manipulating potential victims to take a desired action such as clicking on dangerous links, disclosing sensitive information, and downloading malware. That means if cybercriminals gain access to your account, your organisation can be exposed to a host of cyberthreats, particularly social engineering scams. Data tracking may be a serious concern if you’re in industries like healthcare and finance, where organisations are required to ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information.įrom a security standpoint, Google compiles over 10 years’ worth of user activity into a centralised dashboard, but the only thing securing such information is a password. The risk of using Google’s My Activity platformĪlthough Google’s extensive data collection improves its services, organisations must be careful of the potential risks of collecting data. YouTube history – Keeps track of every YouTube video you watch and for how long you watch it for.Voice & audio activity – Records voice data to enhance the responsiveness of Google Assistant and other voice-activated services.Device information – Saves contact lists, calendars, alarms, battery level, touchscreen data, and Wi-Fi stability.Such data allows Google to give personalised directions and travel recommendations. Location history – Stores IP addresses and GPS data that indicate any noteworthy places you visited.Google then uses this information to refine search results and provide ads and services that are relevant to you. Web & app activity – Refers to search history, visited websites, recently used Google services, and online purchases.The types of data that appear in your My Activity feed may include: From there, you should be able to browse your personal account history, organised by date and time. To assess this, go to the Data & personalisation menu in your Google Account and select My Activity. Whenever you use services like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Search, Google logs all search and browsing activities.

#Google my activity how to#

That’s why it’s important to know what data Google collects and how to manage it. However, many people are worried that this may jeopardise their privacy.

It tracks tons of information and creates a custom data profile to ensure a seamless browsing experience. Google embodies this strategy more than anyone. From user profiles to behaviour, companies regularly capture and analyse large amounts of data to improve their products and services. It’s no secret that major tech companies run on data.