Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
It is not just during the holidays. Each time you step out of your home for anything, Google likely knows where you are at any given time. Does that creep you out? The tech giant said it keeps track of users’ locations to be able to offer more meaningful and personalized services to everyone. However, several reports and lawsuits against the tech firm in recent years (see AGREEN1 Feb 6, 2023 issue) revealed its location-tracking activity exposes users to risks. Google eventually updated its location settings and made it more secure, but hackers could steal any user’s information, including their location.
So to be on the safe side, take these steps to turn off your location on your devices if you do not want Google to continue knowing your location again:
Open Google.com on your desktop or mobile browser and log into your Google account. Go to: Manage your Google Account. Select Privacy & personalization. Select Things, you’ve done and places you’ve been. Select Location History. Select: Off. This will open a pop-up window. Scroll to the bottom and select: Pause. These simple precautions should keep you safe.
