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How to Get Google to Quit Tracking You
Google still tracks you, even when you think you've opted out. Here's how to actually turn off Google's
tracking abilities for Google Maps on both iOS and Android devices.
Any Device
There are a few things you can do regardless of
what kind of device you have. To stop Google
ByChandra Steele andJason Cohen
from tracking, you can go
August 14, 2018 4:10PM EST to myactivity.google.com under your Google ac-
count. On the left-hand drop-down menu, click
"Activity Controls. You can toggle off "Web & App
Activity" and "Location History" to stop Google
from storing your precise locations on your ac-
count. Note that turning these services off will di-
rectly affect Google Assistant and Google Home.
To delete any past location tracking that Google
has saved up to this point, you have to do so man-
ually. On myactivity.google.com, you can view
everything you have done on your device, includ-
ing Google searches and Google Maps directions.
Go through this list of activities and delete individ-
ual results by tapping on the three dots icon, then
tapping "Delete."
Where you go, Google goes. According to a re-
cent report, Google continues to track your mobile Android
device even if you've opted out of its tracking ser- When you upgrade to the latest version of Google
vices; Google's Location History continues to Maps and check out your Timeline (Hamburger
store location data. If you're looking to shut down icon > Your timeline), Google asks you to turn on
Google's ability to see where you are, here are a Location History. You can then check out where
few steps you can take. you've been. I signed in on a borrowed Galaxy
When you have location services turned on, Note 4, so the only thing it had tracked was my
Google constantly pings your phone from cell tow- location at the office
ers and Wi-Fi and is using GPS to see where you
are. The frequency with which it finds you can be
every few minutes or every few seconds, which
paints a pretty accurate picture of where you are
at all times.
And Google Maps keeps track of every step you
(and your smartphone) take. Your activity is then
archived in your Google Timeline. The fea-
ture, introduced in 2015, can be a walk down
memory lane, but it can also leave the door to
your privacy wide open.
With Timeline, Google Maps can not only show
you where you're going but also where you've If you'd rather not have your Android phone track-
been. There might even be photograph- ing your location, go back to Your timeline and tap
ic evidence, since Timeline syncs with any shots on the three dots on the upper-right corner.
uploaded to Google Photos. You can also share
your locationwith anyone in real time on iOS and • Select Settings
Android. • Scroll down to Location Settings.
• Tap "Location History is on."
If this all seems less helpful and more harmful, • A new window will appear; toggle the switch to
you can remove your location history and tell turn off for your specific device or all Location
Google to quit it already and stop following you. History across your entire Google account.
Here's how. (Continued on page 13)
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