Stefan Mileschin

Google has just released a new tool to manage your privacy and information. Here's some of the things the new My Account tool can do: Take the Privacy Checkup and Security Checkup, our simple, step-by-step guides through your most important privacy and security settings. Manage the information that can be used from Search, Maps, YouTube and other products to enhance your experience on Google. For example, you can turn on and off settings such as Web and App Activity, which gets you more relevant, faster search results, or Location History, which enables Google Maps and Now to give you tips for a faster commute back home. Use the Ads Settings tool to control ads based on your interests and the searches you've done. Control which apps and sites are connected to your account. Google has always been at the forefront of providing its user insight into and control over the information it has on you, and this tool fits right into that. It'd be great if the other tech giants - who collect the same information on you but act secretive and deceptive about it - were to follow in its footsteps. Good thing this stuff isn't tied to Android updates, though, or we wouldn't be able to use it until 2034. Anywho, in the same blogpost, the company also introduced a site where it answers questions regarding your information and privacy. In it, the company dispels a persistent myth - namely, that the company sells your information. No. We do not sell your personal information. We do use certain information, such as the searches you have done and your location, to make the ads we show more relevant and useful. Ads are what enable us to make our services like Search, Gmail, and Maps free for everyone.

http://osnews.com/story/28600/Google...d_account_tool