We all know that Google, the internet juggernaut has been spying on its users from the past few years. But have you ever imagined that the web search giant keeps a record of what you have browsed in the past 10 years?
Yes, this happens to be true and was proved in a secret operation carried out by UK’s popular news resource Daily Mail which even went forward by saying that the company is breaching new data regulations which are due to be put forward next month.
Now, to those who are in an assumption that browsing in “Incognito” mode will keep their online browsing secrets intact. That absolutely false, as the said company also keeps a history of what you are browsing in the secret mode.
The data which is being tracked includes emails, Youtube content, GPS Systems, search engine history, visits made to restaurants, shopping malls, hospitals and such places along with the info of the mode of transport used to get to those places. Also every photo you have taken on your Android smartphone and the devices which are being used for web searching are on the radar of being spied. This includes text-based browsing and the latest voice-based browsing using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Note- The “My account” feature on the Google Android-powered phone is said to be transferring data to servers.
UK’s Former Liberal Democratic leader Lord Ashdown was surprised to know that his smartphone and laptop interactions are being recorded by Google. He desires the company to pay users an annual fee for making money with their data that too without their consent.
So, what does the web search giant do with all this gathered data might be your next question? It is simple, it just sells the info to the highest bidder who pays and is ready to use the info for marketing or sales purposes.
Then how to get out of this menace- Cybersecurity Insiders has an advice for you. Simply switch off your data connection on your smartphone and just access the web only when you are in need of it. Otherwise, make it a point to connect to the web once or twice daily in your leisure time. Because apps connected to the web can gather more data and send the feed to the servers than those which aren’t connected to the web in any way all the time- means through “WiFi or Mobile Data”.
