Steps to Guard Your Privacy on Google and Facebook
Also see: Virtual Private Network Software for Maximum Privacy on the Internet
Recently a good number of fellow Internet users and neighbors have asked about how they could tighten up security over their information on the Internet, especially
1) In using Google (or other search websites)
and
2) In using popular sites like Facebook.
This is true also about Bing, AOL, Yahoo, Microsoft; Email providers; service providers like your cable or phone based Internet access; and sites like YouTube, Pinterest, and other popular webpages.
Google and Facebook just get the most news coverage, so I focus on them here as good examples about how you can tighten up your privacy and security online.
Despite startling news reports about personal security for people using Google or Facebook or the like, it is possible to limit access to your personal information and activity on the Internet by using the privacy and security settings they make available.
These can be a bit confusing for a lot of people, but with a little help it does not take very long to tighten up your privacy and security so you can enjoy your time on the Internet without nearly so much worry.
Feel free to contact me for help, but I'll provide the main links for settings on Google and Facebook below to give an idea what kind of controls they provide.
Google provides the privacy management options below at https://privacy.google.com/take-control.html?categories_activeEl=sign-in
You can get into this area through the 3x3 square icon at the top right of your Google screen on most web browsers.
Following is the summary info Google currently provides concerning these settings:
"We use data to make our services as useful as possible, but you decide what types of data we collect and use. We built My Account to give you quick access to easy-to-use tools that help you manage your privacy and security. You decide how your data can make Google services work better for you by reviewing the following settings.
Manage your privacy settings with the Privacy Checkup
In just a few minutes, you can manage the types of data Google collects, update what personal information you share with friends or make public, and adjust the types of ads you would like Google to show you. You can change these settings as often as you want.
Secure your account with the Security Checkup
The first thing you can do to protect your Google Account is take the Security Checkup. We built it to help you verify that your recovery information is up to date and that the websites, apps, and devices connected to your account are ones you still use and trust. If anything looks suspicious, you can change your settings or password immediately. The Security Checkup takes just a few minutes, and you can take it as often as you like.
Decide what data is associated with your account
From better commute options in Maps to quicker results in Search, the data we save with your account can make Google services more useful to you. Using Activity Controls, you can decide what gets associated with your account and pause the collection of specific types of data — like your searches and browsing activity, the places you go, and information from your devices.
Control ads based on your preferences
In your Ads Settings, you can control ads based on what topics you are interested in. For example, if you use the Ads Personalization settings to tell Google that you like pop music, you might see ads for upcoming releases and shows near you when you are signed in to YouTube.
If you turn off Ads Personalization while you are signed in, we will stop showing you ads related to your interests across Google services as well as websites and apps that partner with us. If you are signed out, turning off Ads Personalization affects only Google services where ads are shown.
See what data is in your account at My Activity
My Activity is the central place where you can find things you have searched, viewed, and watched using our services. To make it easier to recall your past online activity, we give you tools to search by topic, date, and product. You can permanently delete specific activities or even entire topics that you don’t want associated with your account.
Go to My Activity
Review your basic account information
Control what personal information you share on Google services — like your name, email address, and phone number.
Take your content anywhere with Download Your Data
Your photos. Your emails. Your contacts. Even your bookmarks. You are in control of the content stored in your Google Account. That is why we created Download Your Data — so you can make a copy, back it up, or even move it to another service."
FACEBOOK
Facebook controls for privacy and security are in the Settings area, at https://www.facebook.com/settings
You can get into this area by clicking on the down-arrow triangle icon in the dark blue strip that runs across the top of your Facebook page, and clicking on Settings.
Facebook provides Privacy Settings and Tools on Facebook for you to exercise control over who can find you or see any of your info. Key features include controls over:
- Your Activity
- Your Posts, Future and Past
- How People Find and Contact You
- Who can send you friend requests
- Who can see your friends list?
- Who can look you up using the email address you provided?
- Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?
Facebook also provides Security options such as:
Changing to stronger password
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Options that can help you strengthen secure access and control of your own account
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Options for more conventient ways to log in or to reset your password
-
"On tap" access to click your profile picture to log in, instead of using a password
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Get alerts about unrecognized logins, such as if anyone logs in from a device or browser you don't usually use
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Using two-factor authentication
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Logging in with a code from your phone as well as a password
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Trusted contacts list
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Encrypted notification emails
Taking advantage of these features can do a lot to strengthen your privacy and security online.
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