For example, if you use Google Maps and share your location, Google will know exactly where you are now, where you have been and what you have searched for. The same goes for Google Search, Google Photos and all other services, so the company can place targeted ads. You can find out what is being tracked on Google's website and have the option to delete certain data. In this tip, we explain how this works.Go to https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity and you'll see a complete overview of what you've been up to in the past few minutes:

How useful is this information? For yourself, not very much: it will be rare that you will want to look back at searches you did last year. It often works faster to just look in Safari's history. But it's good to realize how detailed the data Google collects is and what you can do about it.

Google started this survey of activity in 2018. This came at a time when the GDPR was being implemented and online services were sending around an email almost weekly that their terms of use were going to change. During this period, Google made it easier to find out what data is being captured. You can go to https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity with icons to go through the various Google services and see what the company is recording of you. For example, you can use the rightmost icon (four colored spheres) to see what the Google Assistant has recorded.

Clearing Google search results and websites

Google is perhaps the most widely used search engine in the world, but as you could see earlier, all these search results are also stored (unless you disable it), including the websites you viewed as a result of the searches. At https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity find your complete overview.

To delete parts of your search history or your entire search history, follow these steps:

1. Go to this website: https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity.
2. You can disable web and app activity here with the button Plot. You are warned that this may limit the functionality of Google's services. For example, the ads you are served will be less tailored to your interests.
3. On this web page you also have the option to delete your entire history, or part of it.
4. Tap the Google Search icon (the second icon) and click on Remove. Next, click on Delete all activity.
5. You can also delete the history in a specific period, for example, if you have been looking for a gift for your partner and want to delete all traces of it. Confirm your choice again and all items from that day are deleted.
6. You can also delete a separate item. To do so, go to the item and click on the cross.

Google Maps timeline

Google Maps records all the places you've been unless you turn it off. You can see exactly which parts you traveled on foot, in the car or by public transport. On the website https://www.google.com/maps/timeline, you see the complete timeline of places you've been.

Deleting this timeline is done in the following way:

1. Go to the aforementioned web page: https://www.google.com/maps/timeline.
2. You now see the complete list of locations. You can now delete a location or delete everything at once.
3. You delete the entire location history by clicking on the trash can at the bottom right. You check that you understand the consequences and click Delete location history.
4. If you only want to delete one location, go to that specific day and click on Remove next to the location.
5. You can also delete an entire day from the location history. To do so, select a time period.

Manage Google ads

You probably use Google regularly to look up something you want to buy, but Google records all of this (as you saw earlier). Based on that, it builds a database of topics you find interesting. If you have a dog, a rare disease or love crafting, Google knows that about you and adjusts the ads you see based on that. You can view and remove these topics from the list.

Google has a complete database of everything you find interesting. On these interests, Google tailors the ads for you. You can also add or remove topics from the list yourself. You can find your interests on this website: https://myadcenter.google.com.

As an example, these are the interests Google has captured for a particular person: cell phones, vehicle parts, home heating, industrial goods and home audio. If you find the items ‘vehicle parts’ and ‘industrial goods’ less interesting, you can remove them with the minus button.

Google also thinks we will find the Apple, LG, Belkin, Philips and Amazon BE brands interesting. Here, for example, you can disable LG and Amazon BE if you have a Dutch Apple-fan are.

Removing them is as follows:

1. Open the aforementioned web page: https://myadcenter.google.com.
2. You will then see a list of all the topics that Google thinks you are interested in. You can remove the topics one by one by clicking on the minus sign.
3. You can also click on the Customize ads click to refine this further.

Of course, the question is: to what extent do you want to help Google with this? Do you only want ads that match your interests, or do you prefer no personalized ads at all. But in the latter case, you may also see ads for ‘crazy’ topics that have nothing to do with you, such as orthotics and stair elevators, when you are not part of the target audience.

You can also see on the aforementioned web page under ‘Your recent ads’ which ads you have viewed and what topic it falls under. For example, viewing a thermostat ads from Coolblue falls under the topic ‘Home heating’.

Also note the tab Manage Privacy. Here you can see which target group you fall into: gender (e.g., female) and age group, number of languages you speak, relationship (e.g., married), what industry you work in (e.g., technology), whether you are a homeowner and if you have children. Is certain information incorrect? Then you can correct it yourself. But here again the question arises: do you really want Google to be able to create an even better profile of you?

You could choose to fool Google by entering completely different attributes. But then you'd better turn off showing personalized ads.

If during a Google search you see an ad that does not fit you at all, you can click an icon on the ad to see why it fits within your profile.

Downloading Google data

Through Google, it is also possible to download all your data. This way you have an overview of everything you do with Google's services. To do this, follow your next steps:

1. Open the web page: https://takeout.google.com.
2. Check which data you want to download. By default, almost everything is checked.
3. Now scroll all the way down and click on Next.
4. You can choose which file type you want, whether you want it divided into several small files and how large each archive file can be. Click on Create export
5. Google is now going to create the archive. However, this may take several hours to several days, especially if you want to download all the data. With Cancel export you can stop the process.

Google's various services also allow you to delete individual data or history.

Do you need help with your google account or your google workspace? We at Analyst ICT are happy to help. Please take a moment contact on.

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