Google knows more about us than perhaps any other company. The search giant stores our emails, tracks our location, and indexes our photos—and that’s just the beginning. In an attempt to offer users a more personalized experience, Google has been integrating its services with third-party apps and websites. As a result, Google collects an increasing amount of user data in order to serve up tailored ads and recommendations. While many users see this as a positive thing, others are concerned about how much Google knows about them and what the company does with their information. Let’s look at the top 5 ways that Google is tracking you and what you can do about it.
Google tracks your online behavior
In order to provide the most relevant content and advertisements to users, Google tracks your behavior online. This may include the websites you visit, the apps you use, the purchases you make, and more. Google may also analyze the content of your emails and calendar in order to present more relevant information to you. Google also stores your location data and maps your routes when you use Android devices. This can be very helpful in some situations, but it’s also a huge invasion of your privacy.
Google knows where you are
As part of its effort to collect data about your location, Google logs your location data even when you’re not using an app or website. This can be helpful at times, such as when you’re using a ride-sharing app and need to know how far away your car is. However, it can also be a major invasion of your privacy. Google’s services are enabled by default, and users are often unaware that Google is collecting this data. This can result in Google knowing your every move. Google can also track your movements when you’re walking around with your phone. A new feature called “Continuous Location” allows Google to track you even when the app is closed. This means that Google can see your every move and knows exactly where you are at every moment. Needless to say, this is a huge privacy concern and should not be enabled unless you’re absolutely certain that you need this feature. And even if you do, it would be best to keep it to yourself and not share your location with friends and family members.
Google has access to your email
Google offers its own email service called Gmail. While Gmail is a great email platform and integrates very well with Google, it also comes with a few drawbacks. One of these is that Google has full access to your email account. This means that Google may scan your emails to determine what type of ads to show you or to see if you qualify for certain promotions. Google may also use your emails to create a “Customer Relationship Management” (CRM) profile, which is a marketing strategy used to collect data about your preferences, interests, and history. Google has been criticized for this practice in the past, but the company now lets users opt out of it. If you’re concerned about Google having access to your email, you can choose to use an alternative email address. This way, all of your sensitive emails will stay private and away from the prying eyes of Google. You can also use a decentralized email service like Tutanota to keep your data private from Google.
Google is partnering with other apps and websites
Google is working with a number of apps and websites to share user data. This means that when you log into a website or app, Google may ask you to sign into your Google account. This allows the website or app to access your data and personal information stored with Google. Google partners with more than 50 apps and websites, including Airbnb, Lyft, and Tinder. These agreements come with both advantages and disadvantages. For example, logging in to Airbnb with your Google account allows you to access your bookings and travel information from a single account. However, it also means that Google has access to your profile and personal information. Some users may be uncomfortable with this level of access, especially since Google collects so much information and doesn’t always tell you how it’s using your data.
Google uses voice recognition
As if tracking your online data and emails weren’t enough, Google also uses voice recognition to identify your voice and collect data about your speech patterns. This allows Google to create a voice profile, which the company uses to improve speech recognition and to better understand how you speak—including your accent and how your speech patterns change over time. While this may sound like an interesting feature, it’s actually a major privacy concern. Google keeps a record of your voice and the ways you speak. This may include a list of phrases you use, the pronunciation of certain words, and even the background noise you’re speaking in. While most people probably don’t have anything to hide, it’s still a big invasion of privacy that Google doesn’t always explain.
What can you do?
The more you know about how Google is tracking you and what the company is doing with your data, the better equipped you’ll be to protect your privacy. If you’re worried about what Google knows, here are some things you can do to protect your data. – Avoid Google products whenever possible – Limit the data you store on Google – Use P33k@boo VPN – Delete your Google account – Change your privacy settings
Conclusion
Google is an amazing company that has revolutionized the way we live and work. Unfortunately, this also comes with a few drawbacks, including how much Google knows about you and your online behavior. There are a few things you can do to protect your privacy, including avoiding Google products whenever possible, logging out of your account when you’re done using it, and using P33k@boo VPN. With these tips, you can significantly reduce the amount of data Google has on you and protect your privacy online.