Google knows everything about you, but Dashboard can change that
Dashboard shows the data or privacy settings that Google records, and gives users control of the data.
The Internet is buzzing with startled reports of people logging into Google Dashboard and realizing just how much information Google has about them. I’m not surprised, however. It occurred to me one day as I checked my Gmail, watched YouTube, set-up Google Contacts, searched Google.com, made appointments in my Google Calendar, posted on my Blogger page, and uploaded a few spreadsheets to Google Docs…hey, this company must have a mountain of information about me.
There’s an obvious nervousness that comes from one central account on the web being tied so closely to the bulk of your online activity. I don’t want this to happen because I use my Google account for both work and personal purposes, so I’d like to have a little more control over what’s stored. That’s the point of Dashboard.
Google Dashboard is not your enemy. There may be cause for concern, but Dashboard thankfully gives everyone the opportunity to easily manage the information Google stores regarding your online activity. Here’s how:
- Log into Google Dashboard.
- Scroll through the page to see what type of data Google stores on you and select a service (Google search history, Google Reader, Gmail, etc.). Click either “Manage settings” or “Remove items”.
- Decide how to manage your data. For instance, when I select “Remove items” for Web History, it allows me to remove only certain items, all entries for a day, or the entire web history. My search history goes back to 2007, so I’m just going to delete it all.
The concerns about Big Brother are obvious, but there’s also something else to be considered: Dashboard linked me to an archive of things that I may want to rediscover. If I clear the history/form data in my browser, it’s gone. But Google web history can serve as a backup. Did you forget the source of an important claim in your document but seem unable to find it by re-searching on Google? Go to Dashboard and filter through history for a way to rediscover your search term or web address.
Browse around the Dashboard page to access links to better manage your privacy settings and Google’s stored data of your online activity. It can either be an uneasy data center that you delete, or a time-saving archive that you cherish.
Filed Under: Privacy-Security