Limit and Privatize Your Search History
You may be aware that when you use google and are signed into your account, your search history is saved. The company is known for keeping data to enhance the experience for the users. The more the service is used, the more Google knows about you. This also lets Google target ads to what you search.
There has never been a good way to manage your history and delete it. Google has been introducing new privacy settings and tools that we can now use to limit how much is being saved. These new privacy features are also extending into YouTube searches, location history, and virtual assistant data. There are also going to be some updates to the maps app for private locations that you may need to visit, such as a doctor’s office.
Deleting the Data
There is an easy location to view most of your history and the website is myactivity.google.com. Once you log into your account, you can see your search activity and the websites you may have browsed. You can view your history by day, or you can choose to view each item separately. There is also a button on the left, called “other google activity,” where you can find other history searches, such as YouTube search history, web apps, and location history.
On the left bar, there is a “delete activity” button. This will allow you to erase search history by a number of different methods, including time, custom range, or activity.
You can do the same for YouTube by turning the video history “off” so there are no ads based on the videos you are watching at the moment. Once this is set, you can automatically delete the history after a set amount of time. There is also an “auto delete” option for location history with the same settings.
My personal settings are to always auto delete my history after 3 months for all platforms. This gives me the flexibility to always keep my searches, ads, and recommended videos relevant to what I’m searching for that month. I recommend tweaking the default settings in your google accounts to make sure that your history from years past is not saved.
If you have any questions, reach out to LI Tech Advisors.
Anthony has been in the MSP business since before the acronym existed. Managed IT once started as break-fix solutions and some light phone support.
Since then, he has seen the industry flourish into a landscape of platforms, cloud servers, software tools and AI . Tailoring network configurations and software stacks to the specific needs of each business.
In his current role, he focuses on proactive planning, ensuring clients can avoid potential issues altogether. This involves meticulous planning for enhanced business continuity, allowing swift resolution of any unforeseen challenges. What initially began as addressing "fires" through break-fix solutions has evolved into a proactive approach, ensuring that such issues are prevented from arising in the first place.
