How to find and remove all that Google knows about you and your travels

If your smartphone installed Google apps, it means that the search giant is constantly monitors your movements. Even if you turn off GPS and location history recording settings.

It was noticed by several security researchers after the appearance of pop-up messages with a proposal to evaluate the places in which they have visited before. You yourself are likely to receive such questions and suggestions.

In principle, that Google collects personal information provided in response to additional services, there's nothing to worry about. It is simply the exchange of informationIn which each party gets its benefit. But the problem is that in this case the users deliberately turned off Location Services, to not share with Google the history of their movements. However, the company continued its track. It's a raw deal.

It turns out, Do Not track in the settings does not disable Location History as it would be logical to assume. In fact, you should still go to your account settings and disable all the switches in the "Action Track." This can be done either through

Web-based interfaceAnd in the Google Settings app on your phone ( "Settings" → "Google" → "Google Account" → "Data and Personalization").

And if you are still in doubt whether to do it, then check already collected information about you. For this poscholkayte on the links "Manage History" on the page "Data and Personalization." Here you will find the history of your movements on the web and the real world, the list of searches, the list of visited sites and running applications, record voice calls. In general, a detailed diary of his life.

Any file can be deleted from the history. To do this, click on the icon with three dots next to its title and select "Delete." There is also a tool for mass deletion of records at the indicated parameter. For example, for a certain period of time or collected by a separate application.

However, it provides no guarantee of final and irrevocable disappearance assembled dossiers on you. We would not be surprised if the information is just hiding from the user perturbed, but continues to be stored safely somewhere on Google's servers.

see also

• As security professionals protect personal data →
• 6 myths about Internet security, the belief that could get expensive →
• How to become a guru cybersecurity →